Lady Penelope, no group had its religion, or race or social order attacked during the McCarthy Era. There were grave injustices perpetrated before, during and after McCarthy, but thats another subject. McCarthy built his strength by attacking "anti-Americanism" and found willing listeners among the majority. The 30's were a period of depression that saw many in poverty, and was a period when socialism gained credit, particularly in the labor movement. Entry into the war in 1941 began a period of upheavel but also strenghtened patriotism (my country right or wrong)at all levels. The war brought the country out of the depression, and the following period was one of growth in all segments of the economy. People who espoused a change in the "social order" were naturally suspect, and McCarthy's tenets were believed. Many people with secure incomes had opposed Roosevelt's attempts to relieve unemployment and poverty in the 1933-1940, and conservatives became the majority after the war. McCarthy particularly attacked the liberal press, the artistic community and some labor organizations as hotbeds that would socialize the government. It is here that damage was done to the lives of many individuals as his attack developed into persecution and witch-hunting. Refusal to testify under oath brought loss of jobs and prison to some. During the 30s membership in socialist-leaning organizations was common, but this led to investigations and ultimately attack on an individual's liberty if he refused to cooperate with the Senate committee. Remember that all of this was a sideshow to the majority of Americans at the time. After a long period of depression and war, it was natural that threats to their new-found security were perceived and McCarthy was able to carry on with his circus, until his colleagues realized that much of what his committee brought forth was based on lies, and he was discredited. Of course. by then the damage had been done, and to a conservative majority the indicted remained suspect. It took the changes in the 1960s to rehabilitate these people but to some, they still have the taint left by the accusations.