Timothy J. Alberta reports on politics.

The debate over the U.S. moving toward socialism has been revived -– this time because Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele won’t call President Barack Obama a “socialist.”

A number of Republican National Committee members aren’t happy with Steele’s preference for the term “collectivist” when referring to the president and his supporters, the Washington Times reported.

It’s the latest conflict between Steele and some in the GOP who view him as too moderate. RNC leaders in 16 states have signed a petition seeking a special RNC meeting to resolve the dispute. Steele has twice refused, and some Republicans are turning up the heat.

RNC member James Bopp Jr. of Indiana has led the charge for using stronger language to characterize the Obama administration. This week he sent an email to the committee’s 168 members calling for a special meeting to be held next month to discuss the “socialist” label, among other issues pressing the party. “”In just a few months, the goal of the Obama administration has become clear and obvious – to restructure American society along socialist ideals,” Bopp wrote.

Washington state RNC member Jeff Kent sponsored the resolution pushing the “socialist” label. But he won’t be satisfied if only Republicans start using the label. Kent suggested Democrats should be “truthful and honest with the American people by renaming themselves the Democrat Socialist Party.”