[jdminhbg]

It is no more true that Obama is unpopular because people call him a "socialist" than it was true that Bush was unpopular because people called him a "fascist." You are confusing cause and effect.

I think foreign observers think that the American public is atavistically motivated by invocations of "socialism" because they view the US through the lens of their own politics. In reality, Obama is unpopular because the economy is in the shitter and unemployment is running near 10%. It doesn't matter whether that's fair or not.

[nanairo]

I'll take your word for it.

My impression of cause and effect was that it started pretty much from the beginning, when Obama tried to push for economic stimulus first and universal health service later.

And now the teaparty are a force to be reckoned... and their whole point is to have a small government, and they don't want stimuli or similar (as well as no health service).

But please tell me more. American politics is quite interesting. :)