Socialism is government ownership over the primary means of production. Does Obama want the government to nationalize FedEx, Apple, WalMart, and Boeing? The question is absurd. Of course not. And no, I do not believe in Socialism. It was discredited decades ago.
This. However, Obama is undeniably anti-business, does not demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of markets, and believes strongly in government intervention in the form of regulatory burdens along with the subsidization of failed/failing/will-fail entities at the expense of successful entities. Obama is not openly socialist, but that may be solely due to political constraints. Or maybe not. In your heart, you know he's not forthright.
When business leaders go and beg for corporate welfare, why shouldn't they be given conditions? And trying to save entities that're circling the drain stops a weak business from further weakening the market from top to bottom.
When Obama gets call a socialist, it just doesn't add up. It's just a hackish line because the GOP has no better, substantive attack on policies like the auto bailout. In yours guts, you know they're nuts.