Originally posted by Crom:
McCarthyism was not really a "hysteria". At that time, communism really did have devotees who were actively trying to destroy the basis of America: the free-market economy, in favor of the world-wide communist movement, figure-headed by Russia. Russia really did have leaders who had promised to "bury us".
"McCarthyism" was a natural reaction by sane people to a real threat. The only reason it has been PORTRAYED as a "hysteria" is because the "narrative" about McCarthyism is delivered by Hollywood...a bunch of Leftists.
As an example of the American Leftists' attitudes about how great communism and the Soviet Union were, I refer you to an essay written by the founder of the ACLU. Roger Baldwin :
www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/blog/baldwin.pdf