In North Carolina, Andy Griffith is more than an actor - he's a local hero. Statues depicting his likeness have been placed in Mt. Airy, North Carolina ("Mayberry" to those who know Griffith only from old television) in front of the Andy Griffith Playhouse and in Raleigh, North Carolina's Pullen Park. Mayberry Days, a celebration of all things Mayberry, are held each fall in Mount Airy, and it is rumored, although I cannot prove it, that The Andy Griffith Show is always showing somewhere in North Carolina. Of course this is purely anecdotal evidence, it should be noted that I've lived here for 25 years; The Andy Griffith Show has not been off the air in the Greensboro market in that time.
No matter one's age, religion, or politics, in North Carolina Andy Griffith is The Man.
So one would think a North Carolina senator facing re-election would either find a way to benefit from the Andy Griffith adoration or, at the very least, do nothing to attack it.
But Richard Burr, it seems, has other ideas.
Richard Burr is taking on Andy Griffith! I am not making this up.
Look here.
RALEIGH — Five Republican senators including North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr are burned up about a television ad featuring Andy Griffith to promote this year’s health care overhaul law.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Thursday that the senators wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius demanding the department drop the ad that started airing last week.
The senators complain the ad is using taxpayer money to push the overhaul Democrats championed.
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Can you imagine - taxpayer money used to tell taxpayers about the impact of new legislation! Outlandish, I say! Or not.
Here's the ad:
As a taxpaying voter in North Carolina, I'm thrilled that Senator Burr is doing this; he could, instead, be wasting his time on trvial issues that effect North Carolina like unemployment (currently 10.1% in North Carolina), foreclosures, poverty, etc.
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To get serious for a moment, we in North Carolina are very fortunate to have
Elaine Marshall ready to take over as our senator. You can support her campaign with a donation at her ActBlue page.
If you're not a North Carolinian but have friends/family here, ask them if they've seen the Andy Griffith ad and what they think of Richard Burr getting his panties in a twist over it. And tell them to vote for Elaine Marshall