Americans hate socialism -- but they love socialist policies: Polling expert

FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver warned people against reading too much into the recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.

According to the results, only 18 percent of Americans view the word "socialism" positively, presumably this is why Republicans keep trying to align Democrats with the governing philosophy. Only 25 percent of Americans said that they would be comfortable with a socialist as a president.

Silver noted that "public opinion is complicated." He explained that so-called "socialist" goals like greater income redistribution "are often quite popular. But 'socialism' as a brand or label is really unpopular."

Programs like Medicare, Social Security, public education, fire departments, police, libraries, public parks and others are all examples of socialist programs or socially funded projects are all popular, and the public wants to see more significant investments.

The issue is remarkably similar to those who said they didn't support Obamacare but did support the Affordable Care Act, which is the same law.

Read the full poll at NBC.