Michael Rotkin loved telling this story. Canvassing for his first Santa Cruz city council election back in the early 80's or late 70's, an elderly woman whose door had been knocked on previously by the conservative (self described as, "moderate") candidate related this exchange to Mike. "But, Ma'am he's a socialist!" "I don't care what religion he is, I'm voting for him!"
A later election, I worked on, to re-elect Mike and the rest of the socialist (self-described as, "progressives") majority on the city council, the , "All Santa Cruz Coalition, " (the out of state mainly, funded conservatives, same folks fought the Tom Hayden Campaign for Economic Democracy/Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, left Democrats statewide) had this hilarious leaflet. "Ten Steps To Socialism." Step four was bicycle paths, so we were half way there.
Think it was that electoral cycle that Gary Arnold, a raving John Birch Society member, won the Republican primary (unopposed) to be able to run against Rep. Leon Panetta. Arnold was invited to the Reagan White House with the other Republican congressional candidates. Arnold created some ruckus when meeting Reagan, and Reagan told him to, "Shut Up!"
Arnold had this extensively annotated spider web chart of the CFR, Trilateral Commission, Bilderbergers and Illuminati Conspiracy.