Spin by reactionary conservatives, that's how. They are attracted by fascism, but repelled by economic systems that make some effort towards economic justice. And it's not really 'socialism' but social democracy, a mixed economy, a balance of public and private sectors, which even exists in 'capitalist' America, but is always under threat by toxic conservatives, too stupid to understand that the majority of Americans want the same things are Europeans -- a fair shake -- or rather the conservatives know but are driven by greed, selfishness, and power over the powerless.

Definitely the same now.