It needs to be said that, at least in my country (Italy) even the word "communism" (or rather, in Italian, "comunismo") is often used with a different meaning, to refer to a kind of socialism that stands for workers' rights. It's ok to disagree with it, but it's not about advocating against private property altogether or about wanting a dictatorship.

As for the US (mainly Republican) approach to "socialism": https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/461/671/4c2