If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that 'socialism' is comparable to 'fascism' in the sense that, regardless of its factual definition, it has such strong negative connotations that it's only ever used by detractors? That's really not the case outside the US, and even in the US it isn't the case among many, as far as I can see from the outside.
No, I'm saying that the original 'socialism' is comparable to the original 'fascism' such that people ought to be ashamed enough of the connection to avoid using the name, and people like Tom should continue to point out the connection.
I mean, what you're essentially arguing is that this moderated version of more democratic socialism that has less government control than Stalin or Mao, is not authoritarian (or as authoritarian, anyway) and fewer-to-no pogroms is an 'ok' form of socialism, right? Is that how you feel about fascism? A little moderation in the right areas and fascist governments are ok?