Is it true, since "communist" is an ugly name, the communists chose to call themselves "progressives"?

Yes absolutely, "progressive" gives the appearance of good. Typical narcissist speak.

No

This is the type of nonsense conservatives make up as "jokes," forgetting that no conservative has a sense of humor, so it gets repeated by some with dead seriousness.

They call this "Morons playing telephone."

no

I'm a proud and unapologetic communist. Communists strive for social progress and are also, thus, progressives.

They call themselves democrats

Yes, but there really is some conservatives that are communist, but you will never hear that from them at all.

No.