Reply #13: Or in some cases a Socialist Party sect

[cheeseit]

Particularly in the case of Social Democrats USA- the direct (although far altered ideologically and far reduced in number by the exit of most of its members to less war-mongering socialist groups) descendant of the Socialist party of Eugene Debs and Norman Thomas (neither of whom I think for a minute would have much respect for the organisation as it is now). They became fanatically anti-communist under the direction of Max Schactman (who, almost needless to say, was himself a former communist) in the 1960s, to the point where they supported Reagan over Carter in 1980, and became known sardonically during the 1980s as "State Department USA" because so many of their members worked in his administration. Paul Wolfowitz was closely involved with this organisation in the 1970s, and I think William Kristol may have been as well. They're still around (though tiny) and are indeed still left-of-centre on most domestic issues (especially relating to labor); in fact, they're still a member of the Socialist International- I believe Tony Blair is their current idol, naturally enough.