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Historians have debated the degree to which McCarthyism permeated the American mood and popular culture. Anti-Communist liberals at the time said it played to isolationism (especially strong in McCarthy's Wisconsin) by diverting attention away from the real threat, Stalin's Soviet Union as an external power.  The Left said that they had a First Amendment right to their beliefs and that McCarthyism had a chilling effect.  Dussere (2003) shows that comic strip artist Walt Kelly in "Pogo" parodied McCarthyism and promoted leftist politics as old-fashioned American common sense, representing a time when concerns about art and politics with respect to popular culture were in the forefront.   

Historians have debated the degree to which McCarthyism permeated the American mood and popular culture. Anti-Communist liberals at the time said it played to isolationism (especially strong in McCarthy's Wisconsin) by diverting attention away from the real threat, Stalin's Soviet Union as an external power.  The Left said that they had a First Amendment right to their beliefs and that McCarthyism had a chilling effect.  Dussere (2003) shows that comic strip artist Walt Kelly in "Pogo" parodied McCarthyism and promoted leftist politics as old-fashioned American common sense, representing a time when concerns about art and politics with respect to popular culture were in the forefront.   

Hoover's FBI targeted retired film comedian [[Charlie Chaplin]] because of his status as a cultural icon and as part of its broader investigation of Hollywood. Some of Chaplin's films were considered "Communist propaganda," but because Chaplin was a British citizen and was not a member of the Communist Party, he was not among those investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. Nevertheless, he was vulnerable to protests by the American Legion and other patriotic groups because of both his sexual and political unorthodoxy. Although countersubversives succeeded in driving Chaplin out of the U.S., they failed to build a consensus that Chaplin was a threat to the nation. Chaplin's story testifies to both the power of the countersubversive campaign at mid-century and to some of its limitations.<ref> Sbardellati and Shaw (2003)</ref>

Hoover's FBI targeted retired film comedian [[Charlie Chaplin]] because of his status as a cultural icon and as part of its broader investigation of Hollywood. Some of Chaplin's films were considered "Communist propaganda," but because Chaplin was a British citizen and was not a member of the Communist Party, he was not among those investigated by the [[House Un-American Activities Committee]] in 1947. Nevertheless, he was vulnerable to protests by the American Legion and other patriotic groups because of both his sexual and political unorthodoxy. Although countersubversives succeeded in driving Chaplin out of the U.S., they failed to build a consensus that Chaplin was a threat to the nation. Chaplin's story testifies to both the power of the countersubversive campaign at mid-century and to some of its limitations.<ref> Sbardellati and Shaw (2003)</ref>

    

    

Strout (1999) looks at ''The Christian Science Monitor'' during the McCarthy era (1950-1954); it was a highly influential newspaper at home and abroad. Strout asks: (1) Was the ''Monitor'' a consistent critic of McCarthy? (2) How did the coverage compare to other elite and popular press newspapers? (3) How did the pressures associated with McCarthyism effect individuals at the ''Monitor'' and its news product? An extensive review of editorials and news articles suggests that it was thorough and fair in reporting, yet outspoken and responsible in editorial criticism. [[Mary Baker Eddy]]'s original 1907 statement that, "The purpose of the ''Monitor'' is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind," was referred to repeatedly in interoffice correspondence during the McCarthy era. The ''Monitor'' did not attack McCarthy personally as other papers did; rather, its criticism centered on the actions of the senator and the negative effects they were having at home and abroad. The ''Monitor'' served as a voice of moderation, yet at the same time, remained a persistent critic of McCarthy's tactics.  Individuals were affected by the pressures of McCarthyism.  For instance, veteran Washington correspondent Richard L. Strout was suspended from covering McCarthy for eight to 12 months after being mentioned in McCarthy's book, ''McCarthyism: The Fight for America.''

Strout (1999) looks at ''The Christian Science Monitor'' during the McCarthy era (1950-1954); it was a highly influential newspaper at home and abroad. Strout asks: (1) Was the ''Monitor'' a consistent critic of McCarthy? (2) How did the coverage compare to other elite and popular press newspapers? (3) How did the pressures associated with McCarthyism effect individuals at the ''Monitor'' and its news product? An extensive review of editorials and news articles suggests that it was thorough and fair in reporting, yet outspoken and responsible in editorial criticism. [[Mary Baker Eddy]]'s original 1907 statement that, "The purpose of the ''Monitor'' is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind," was referred to repeatedly in interoffice correspondence during the McCarthy era. The ''Monitor'' did not attack McCarthy personally as other papers did; rather, its criticism centered on the actions of the senator and the negative effects they were having at home and abroad. The ''Monitor'' served as a voice of moderation, yet at the same time, remained a persistent critic of McCarthy's tactics.  Individuals were affected by the pressures of McCarthyism.  For instance, veteran Washington correspondent Richard L. Strout was suspended from covering McCarthy for eight to 12 months after being mentioned in McCarthy's book, ''McCarthyism: The Fight for America.''