"That's communism!"

[Rev. Rye]

‘Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor.’

‘COMMIE!!’

Boru

An actual quote from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

'Fella named Hines-got 'bout thirty thousan' acres, peaches and grapes-got a cannery an' a winery. Well, he's all a time talkin' about 'them goddamn reds.' 'God- damn reds is drivin' the country to ruin,' he says, an' 'We got to drive these here red bastards out.' Well, they were a young fella jus' come out west here, an' he's listenin' one day. He kinda scratched his head an' he says, 'Mr. Hines, I ain't been here long. What is these goddamn reds?' Well, sir, Hines says, 'A red is any son-of-a-bitch that wants thirty cents an hour when we're payin' twenty-five!' Well, this young fella he thinks about her, an' he scratches his head, an' he says, 'Well, Jesus, Mr. Hines. I ain't a son-of-a-bitch, but if that's what a red is-why, I want thirty cents an hour. Ever'body does. Hell, Mr. Hines, we're all reds.''

Apparently, this is something Steinbeck asked a Salinas Valley grower and the question and initial answer are damn near identical for what he asked and was told. I don't think Steinbeck said the last response out loud. Nice to know that reactionaries haven't changed a whit on this front in the past 82 years.