After leaving the Army in 1946,both my wife and I went to University under the "G. I. Bill," which paid our fees and provided a living of sorts. We were part of many; considered a disrupting influence by our younger classmates who had not been in the Military because we stayed above campus politics and campus life. We did not agitate, demonstrate, or cause ripples. Our aim was to become members of the professions. By the time McCarthy was riding high, most of us either were junior professionals or in graduate studies.
How did the Weavers (and the others) affect returning veterans and the general public? We were aware of the Weavers and other liberal performers, and listened to their music. Privately, over beer, we might agree with some of their statements. We considered McCarthy a ranter reaching for stardom, and mostly laughed at his 'disclosures.' Privately, blacklisting was deplored.

On the other hand, we were careful not to speak out or call attention to ourselves by espousing ideas that lay outside of the mainstream; we had to build our future. The future was a good home, a wife, two or more kids, and enough money to live comfortably.

How much did the Weavers (and the others) affect us- the general public? Very little. We were too busy with our own perceived problems, which did not extend to dissent or the rights of the oppressed. We felt sympathy for those who had run afoul of McCarthy and his ilk, but were not about to jeopardize our futures by giving them active support.

WW2 and the immediate post-war period brought prosperity, and we were a part of it. What else mattered?