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Actor Andy Griffith died this morning at his home in North Carolina, NBC News reports. He was 86.
Griffith may have been most famous for his roles in "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock," but he also played a prominent role in politics.
Most recently, he starred in an ad promoting Medicare and touting the president's health-care law.
And that wasn't the first time Griffith's name came up with regard to politics. Democrats always dreamed of Sen. Griffith.
In fact, Griffith was so seriously considered to run for the Democratic nomination in 1990, that the polling outfit Mason-Dixon tested him against then-Sen. Jesse Helms (R).
Griffith led Helms by nine points, 48-39%, in that 1989 poll, a wider margin than former Gov. Jim Hunt (D), who had lost to Helms in a nasty 1984 race. Hunt led Helms in that poll 50-42%. (Hat tip to our friends at National Journal's Hotline.) (Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, who is black, wound up being the Democratic standard bearer. And race became a central issue. That was the election where Helms ran the "Hands" ad - below.)
"North Carolina has lost its favorite son," Democratic North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue said in a statement. "Andy Griffith graciously stepped into the living rooms of generations of Americans, always with the playful charm that made him the standard by which entertainers would be measured for decades. Throughout his career, he represented everything that was good about North Carolina: a small town boy and UNC graduate who took a light-hearted approach to some of the attributes he grew up with and turned them into a spectacularly successful career. And regardless of where that career took him, he always came back to North Carolina and spent his final years here. In an increasingly complicated world, we all yearn for the days of Mayberry. We all will miss Andy, and I will dearly miss my friend."
The Raleigh News and Observer wrote of Griffith in 2010: "Griffith has been a closer for Democrats, an unimpeachable saintly figure who fills his rare political spots with folksy charm and obvious references to his role as a small-town North Carolina sheriff."
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rip
I think we can say safely that he was a hell of a guy, even beyond his acting career, and regardless of his political preferences. Thanks for all the good stuff.
A huge loss to most of us who grew up watching his program in the 60's. A great depiction of how many people wanted to live their lives.
My condolences to his wife and son.
I bought my young grandson a dvd of the Mayberry shows. He ADORES them and every now and again I see him repearting those wholesome values shown via the Sheriff.
Makes me sad that the really great ones are leaving us. Most of the ones I grew up with are already gone and there's not many left.
He was a fantastic actor and person, but my admiration ends there. RIP Andy
A rightous man as far as I know. A face and name that is ingrained. Glad to be a fellow democrat leaning man myself. If THIS guy chose democrat instead of republican, let that be a simple clue to all you following this NEW republican party.
Godspeed to you Andy!
He was always the epitome of the Southern gentleman!
Well said Aunt Pee.
Well said Aunt Pee.
Well said for You also, Goober.
Barney finally found a bullet.
Good job ... a no brainer ... but good job.
Don't you mean Otis? ;o)
Don't you mean Otis? ;o)
Shazam! How bout "Gomer"?
RIP Andy - you always entertained!
Murder in Coweto County... check it out if you can find it... you'll likely never see it unless they have an Andy Griffith marathon sometime and somewhere. Great movie with Brent Jennings and Johnny Cash.
Nice of you to show how much class you have, Bob. Are you happy because Andy Griffith was a Democrat and now one less voter? You thinkin' that's gonna swing the election in Mitt's favor too?
I still enjoy watching Matlock. God Speed Andy!
Good Ole "Andy" will be missed
Godspeed Andy Griffith.
RIP Andy, you did a lot of good for America through you acting and political views.
You will be missed.
The opening sequence to the Andy Griffith show always reminded me of my Dad and brother, skipping stones down at the lake. My mother really enjoyed watching those old shows, in her declining years.
Rest in peace Andy, you are an American Icon even if I did not agree with all your political views.
God Bless you.
I came to America in 1984 so I never saw "The Andy Griffith Show". However, I was a huge fan of Matlock and therefore also became a huge fan of Andy Griffith. My prayers go out to his family and friends. Andy is and always will be an American treasure.
If you follow that Raleigh News & Observer link, you can find their excellent obituary on Griffith. Most of his life he wasn't fond of his hometown Mt. Airy, and only in his later years did he return there. He was born on the wrong side of the tracks, and never forgot being called white trash by a girl he was sweet on in 4th grade.
To a UNC Alum! May you rest in peace! Thank you for the sweet memories!!
Blessings to your family , friend and fans "Andy Griffith" ....
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Ok, the old Andy Griffith show seems pretty neat, old-timey, classic America, which really did exist by the way, contrary to modern mythology from degenerates who think everyone was always as rotten as they are.
Matlock...the fam did like this one, but after a while I kinda got the idea that ole Andy was a dirty old pervert--every single episode ever made had someone having an affair. Ev-ery episode.
They never made one show in the history of the program where someone wasn't sleeping around on their husband/wife. I think that was Andy's little turn-on for the day that he could look forward to at work. It's pretty laughable if you look for it in each episode. He found a formula that worked.
He was pretty hilarious as the villain in Leslie Nielsen's Spy Hard I think it was or one of the Leslie Nielsen movies. Make sure and catch it.
Good 'ole Andy Griffith; never heard a bad word about him. A good American citizen; a great American talent is gone. So long Andy!
Heartfelt sympathy to Andy Griffith's family. He was an icon. Whenever you saw him do interviews or heard him talk for any reason, you realized that every character he played from Sheriff Taylor to Matlock was an extension of Griffith himself--down home, wholesome, ordinary, genuinely nice guy with good, old-fashioned common sense. Every now and then I catch the reruns and they are still a pleasure to watch. Rest in peace, Andy.
Try watching Andy Griffith movie, "A Face in the Crowd" EXCELLENT and very different role from his "normal" nice guys.
I always liked Sheriff Andy Taylor and Barney Fife.
There was one person who didn't like Andy Griffith. And that was Aunt Bee. Imagine that? It's true.
I heard Aunt Bea was a diva :)
I heard she was much worse than that. That she was a b**ch, and they all hated her. Have to say, she was a good actress tho. Andy was one of a kind, and everyone loved him.
Unfortunately, Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee) suffered from poor mental health. She lived out her later years as a recluse. When she passed away, her house was overrun by cats.
Watch "No Time for Sergeants".
You'll be rolling on the floor.
You don't even mention his two greatest performances in "No Time For Sergeants" and "Face in the Crowd." Both BRILLIANT and FAR MORE exceptional then ANY TV performance he gave.
Posted by Dr. Sam............very True and Well Put. Some Names that come to Mind......Boehner, Cantor, McConnell
FOOL-PROOF CLUES ON HOW TO SPOT A RIGHT WING EXTREMIST REPUBLICAN/TEA PARTY TYPE ON TV WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED.
He talks, and acts rudely, in all manner and way. Thus, he uses words that makes you suspect he wants to cause the most harm or cruelty. Therefore, he endlessly puts venom into his verbiage and learned expletives. He obviously wants to make you look small or irrelevant.
He, with finality and in superlative even apocalyptic terms, predicts what would happen to you. He predicts a future he does not know or understand, claiming as well expert knowledge even though he may be an air head. (Would you hire Sarah Palin as your expert on constitutional law?).
He is almost always angry and looking unapproachable. And when he loses or you disagree with him, his anger turns to rage and rave. He feels able to simultaneously dwell on insults while still proclaiming his Christian credentials and ideals.
He is won’t, in political disagreements, to call for the most extreme measures against his perceived “enemy.” Thus, he would glibly shout, call for or threaten treason, un-American, impeachment, contempt, secession, repeal, nullification or other destructive terms.
He interrupts others repeatedly even though no one interrupts him when he speaks.
He is very belligerent and threatening in all matters: on foreign policy and nationalism (remember the word jingoism). This makes a mockery of his avowed belief as a “Christian”—because Christ is the “Prince of Peace.”
He is almost always the aggressor. Win (think 2010) or lose (think 2008 and 2012), he wants to fight you, humiliate you, threaten you. (You can never satisfy these people). He covers up everything with shouts and claims of freedom while denying it to others.
He doesn’t think it matters to be specific and instead dwells on generalities, bite sounds and unsupported assertions. He thinks that most voters are stupid and can easily be manipulated with emotive words of hates and division. (Remember “divide and conquer”). Thus, many of the voters they manipulate end up working against their own interests—so long as they find somebody else to blame for their own failures and inadequacies.
He is very self-righteous on religious matters, wants to impose his personal beliefs on the whole society even while decrying government “overreach” in our personal lives. And he spouts in frightening speed all kinds of conspiracy theories. (The brains are different).
He projects his myths, conjectures and conspiracy theories as “facts” and treats objective facts as irrelevant and dangerous. He treats his routine lies, prevarications and misrepresentations as a “business plan.”
He shouts honor and country and wants America to easily go to war against other nations even though he usually finds a way to avoid military service. He feels he is more “patriotic” than any one else while in fact he is a paper tiger.
He doesn’t really believe in democracy, human rights, civil rights and human dignity (except for the unborn). So you will hear him describing women’s rights, gay rights and civil rights as a threat to the economy and the nation. He, like the Taliban, wants particularly to lord it over women in any way he can, including using public policy to interfere in the bedrooms of the nation.
He doesn’t believe in helping the poor, the elderly and the weak in our society, even though Christ said doing these things gives you a right to heaven. So he is wont to accuse any one who dares as a socialist. He even denounces Canadian and European-style capitalism as “socialism.” (Do these people read and use their brain at all)?
He believes in winning by cunning, intimidation and other unfair means, even if it means disenfranchising thousands of legitimate voters. (Remember Florida 2000 and now 2012). (Their big daddies in the Supreme Political Court will surely help out as needed).
He doesn’t think that the court should be activist except for the causes they believe in or in courts they control. When they are in control, they want to take every matter of state for decision in their favor. Note the flood of Republican-pioneered cases to the John Robert’s Supreme Political Court. Roberts and Co. have usually obliged, seriously tarnishing the reputation of the Court. However, Roberts disappointed them in the ACA challenge. So they are threatening, huffing and puffing—as usual! Paper Tigers barking!
You BetCha………Fer Sure.
Mitt is about as Real as a Plastic Bananna!
Is it Mitt ____________Romney?
“Country Club”
“Middle Class Warfare”
“Not To Much..Out of Touch”
“Cheap Labor is Our Future”
“Outsourcing is Awesome”
“Profits Over People”
“Corporations are People Too”
“F da Poor”
“Let Detroit go Bankrupt”
“Pray da Gay Away”
Mitt Romney’s Solution to all Problems…….Prayer and a Moment of Silence.
I am sure Andy would have said to Mitt " F da Poor " Romeny................Howdy Goober.
You BetCha...........Fer Sure.
I'm sorry jstda, was there a fact in there somewhere?
Goodbye, Andy. Beyond your political influence to which this article refers, you meant something even greater to this country - a model of what it means to be a good man. In that sense, you were more than just an entertainer. You were a teacher, a guide and a mentor. And you made it all seem so simple...
Why not just report on Andy Griffith's passing?? Why does MSNBC have to try to politicize everything??
If he was a longtime supporter of Republican causes, would that even be mentioned??
Well, yes, most likely they would have.
Yes, and since he was politically active, isn't it worth mentioning?
Andy played great roles of self-responsibility, not the "I am entitled". Shame his political messages did not align with the roles he played.
He will be missed as an actor.
Rest in peace Andy.
If he had done that he would have beaten, and pepper sprayed "Otis", told "Aunt Bea" to get back in the kitchen and make more pickles, and laid off "Barney" because Mayberry needed to lower taxes for the rich.
Sad to hear of his passing. Even sadder to hear that he supported the Left Wing agenda. Guess that goes hand in hand with the acting profession.
Or having a conscience.