@snood,
snood wrote:
Everything is context here. In Edgar’s case, he demurs from saying he’s socialist when to speak of it would get him a lot of unwanted attention from stupid people. A klansman might not shout white power on certain corners in Southside Chicago. Is that dishonesty?
Edgar is not on an equivalent of a certain corner of Southside Chicago.
Regardless, it's dishonesty...or cowardice.
Edgar is not afraid of being labeled a socialist; he's afraid of having those he supports being so.