Many on the political Left remain skeptical about claims from people on the Right that the passage of so-called health care reform (a.k.a., “ObamaCare”) will give socialism a stronger-than-ever foothold in the United States.  Perhaps they’ll change their mind after taking a look at at 47-year-old entry into the Congressional Record that shows communist goals — perhaps worse than socialism — are being met.

Flashback to Jan. 10, 1963, when U.S. Rep. Albert S. Herlong Jr. (D-Fla.) entered into the Congressional Record 45 items described as “Communist Goals” that he had excerpted from “The Naked Communist” by Cleon Skousen.

“Come on!  Communist goals?” you ask incredulously.

Yes, communist goals.

As a former Air Force officer who served during the last few years of the Cold War, I’ve told people for years that I did not believe communism, as best embodied by the former Soviet Union, had died and was no longer a threat.  Instead, I told them it was simply following a different, non-violent path.  Apparently, I was on the same philosophical “sheet of music” as Congressman Herlong.

Consider item #3 on the list:

Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the US would be a demonstration of “moral strength.”

As the people the Heritage Foundation, producers of the documentary, 33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age (above), know all too well, President Barack Obama is slashing missile defense and other key weapons systems while our enemies and potential adversaries continue their own efforts.

And what about item #29 on the list:

Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

During a September 2001 radio interview, then Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama used words such as “imperfect”, reflecting “deep flaws” and containing “blind spots” to describe the Constitution.

Finally, take a look at item #32 on the list:

Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture – - education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

ObamaCare, if it becomes law, involves a government takeover of one-sixth of the U.S. economy represented by the nation’s health care system.

Of course, there are 43 more items on the list, and many of them have already been crossed off the list and filed under “mission accomplished.”  How many more must we see crossed off the list before enough freedom-loving Americans “see the light” and take action?