Why are liberals called different names in different parts of the US?

[absyntheNsugar]

Not epithets mind you...but in the South and Texas they usually go by 'populist', on the East Coast 'progressive', and in California they go by 'liberal' (and sometimes progressive.)

[amazona]

1. not all southern populists are liberals

An example that springs to mind...

George Wallace was concerned a "populist" in his appeal to the redneck voter which was at the time a popular thing to do -- but he could not be considered liberal because of his stand on segregation.

I think the words are often used interchangeably, so I don't try to read too much into them. Someone more sophisticated will no doubt post with better information.

[LSparkle]

3. absolutely -- KKK was a populist movement

anything that pits the little guy versus the "elites" is considered populist (on right or left).

[stevedeshazer]

2. Here they call us

"pinko communist sympathizers" or sometimes "candy-ass".