In the early 20th century the American Communist party were known as progressives. That term was unsavory to normal Americans. They began calling themselves Liberals.
That sounded OK to people believing anyone that believed in liberty must be OK.
They infiltrated the Democrat party and the Communists run it today.
I call them leftists, because that is what they are.
History is hard, especially when the information I compiled over 20 years ago is buried so deep that you can't find it anymore.