How to classify Nancy Pelosi, the "latte liberal" Democratic congresswoman from San Francisco expected to become House minority leader? Well, if truth-in-packaging laws applied to politics, the answer would be: Socialist.

Pelosi is a member of the executive committee of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States and the principal US affiliate of the Socialist International.

The Progressive Caucus used to have a page, complete with socialist red rose backdrop, at the DSA site, but now is hosted at the site of Vermont independent Congressman Bernie Sanders, who's at least up front about being a socialist.

A Washington Times columnist has now raised the issue of Pelosi's affiliation with the Progressive Caucus. Conservative radio-host Chuck Morse has previously sounded an alarm.

The leadership of the Progressive Caucus includes Barbara Lee (vice-chairwoman) and Cynthia McKinney, while members include Baghdad Boys Bonior & McDermott and my own congressman, Havana Jim McGovern, Cuba's champion, who it galls me to say was re-elected earlier this month without opposition. Is there no one in Central Massachusetts capable of giving Worcester's Fidelista a race?

It can be hard to tell the Socialists without a scorecard. For aid in distinguishing between the Judean People's Front and the People's Front of Judea (or the non-Python equivalents thereof), consult this useful, though soon to be discontinued, online Red Encyclopedia.