The problem is that the majority of American people do not know what socialism is. Perception is reality, and now days he with the largest bullhorn wins.
Do you think the average American has a positive or negative image of socialism?
Socialism is the new Red Scare. "S" is the new Scarlet Letter. Being associated with socialism is the new beginning to the end of a political career.
But Obama is not a socialist. He isn't even as liberal as much of the left wants him to be. Many of the people who didn't support the recent Health Care Reform bill were against it not because it went too far...but because it didn't go far enough. Did the socialist president propose universal health care? No. Did the socialist president propose a public option (what many on the right call the first step to socialist health care)? No.
The head of the socialist party in America agrees:
Obama's No Socialist. I Should Know. - washingtonpost.com
So I think these weighted questions like "What kind of socialist is the president?" can be cast aside with "When did you stop beating your wife?"