"5) Contrary to popular belief (and a poorly written essay I read on the internet) the government, HUAC, did not Blacklist anyone. Blacklisting was done by the studios, TV networks and sponsors. They were egged on by pressure groups threatening boycotts, and some threats of governmental regulation...this is the same type of threat that had been the impetus for the Hayes and Breen offices to enforce the motion picture decency codes."

The HUAC knew very well what they were doing. McCarthy and the House deliberately set
out to make it difficult for those being blacklisted to work. They, themselves, were ideological pressure groups fostering their own political agenda. They were as culpable as
any of the media, corporate sponsorship or academic institutions of the time.

The decency codes were not made to eliminate talent on the basis of their political conscience. This analogy does not hold water. it was a dark period in American history analogous to Guantanamo, wire-tapping and the present subversion of Constitutional protections.

The idea that HUAC and McCarthy were immune to their motives for their scurrilous attacks is risible.

Frank Hamilton