Was Andy Griffith a liberal? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 07-28-2014, 08:41 PM

I know that towards the end of his life in 2008 he supported Barack Obama for President and helped him in the campaign. Was Andy a liberal? Not so bad if he were, but I think a lot of people see him as conservative, at least until 2008.

Some years back, the Democrats tried to get Griffith to run for the Senate against Jesse Helms. Griffith declined. Might have beaten Helms. Maybe. Helms might have beaten him because he was a politician and Andy isn't. I guess if Reagan learned the ropes, Andy could have also, but Reagan was a politician for a long time before and merged the two before he left acting. Griffith made much more money for Matlock than he would as a Senator, and maybe he would have been out of his element except for his celebrity. Maybe or maybe not. Would have made a hell of a President though (with Don Knotts as VP because the office is so worthless.) But, I am half serious. If Griffith became a Senator for six years, he could have thrown his hat in for President. Might not have won, but Ange as the nominee with Ron Howard giving the keynote address? Who knows.

cmulwee001 · 10-23-2014, 04:40 PM

Does it really matter if he was a liberal or not? Who Cares?! I just love his old show.

Vahan · 10-23-2014, 04:57 PM

Yes. As Liberal as they come, too.

But why should I care? For that matter, why should anybody care? Why should anybody like the OP care? He was a brilliant man and actor. That's all that matters.

MichaelKeith · 11-18-2014, 02:36 PM

my question is: "why are so many Hollywood actors/actresses liberals?" Of course not all were/are, but there are a disproportionately large amount of liberals among celebrities. Never have understood why. I guess maybe because so many of them don't live in a totally "real" world. They make their livings in the make believe and don't necessarily have to stay in touch with "reality". I think the stark reality of life makes people more conservative.

Babalu · 12-07-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

my question is: "why are so many Hollywood actors/actresses liberals?" Of course not all were/are, but there are a disproportionately large amount of liberals among celebrities. Never have understood why. I guess maybe because so many of them don't live in a totally "real" world. They make their livings in the make believe and don't necessarily have to stay in touch with "reality". I think the stark reality of life makes people more conservative.

Many big stars are what are referred to as 'limousine liberals', meaning that they preach to you what you should think and do while they do whatever they feel like. You have to spend $10,000 more to get a 'green' car while they fly in private jets because they 'have' to get somewhere. Then if they are asked about it they get all snippy.

Vahan · 12-08-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

Many big stars are what are referred to as 'limousine liberals', meaning that they preach to you what you should think and do while they do whatever they feel like. You have to spend $10,000 more to get a 'green' car while they fly in private jets because they 'have' to get somewhere. Then if they are asked about it they get all snippy.

EVERYONE is capable of being a hypocrite. Politics have nothing to do with it, and there is no such thing of a Conservative who has never done a hypocritical thing in his or her life. And there are Conservatives who refuse to accept the fact that they are hypocrites. Do not deny it.

Babalu · 12-08-2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vahan

EVERYONE is capable of being a hypocrite. Politics have nothing to do with it, and there is no such thing of a Conservative who has never done a hypocritical thing in his or her life. And there are Conservatives who refuse to accept the fact that they are hypocrites. Do not deny it.

So you agree that liberal celebrities are hypocrites and everyone agrees that virtually all celebrities are liberal. No need for anymore debates on this.

Vahan · 12-08-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

So you agree that liberal celebrities are hypocrites and everyone agrees that virtually all celebrities are liberal. No need for anymore debates on this.

No. Hypocrisy goes both ways. Conservative or Liberal.

Do not be so rude to me.

Michelle Garvey · 12-10-2014, 11:59 PM

Remember the backlash Griffith faced when he came out favorable to Obamacare. To quote a Phil Ochs song, "To the safety of sterility, the threat has been refined". People like him are rather quickly made icons, and thereby made into something thoroughly non-offensive, and a cultural comfort food. It happened with Marilyn Monroe, for example (who was a flaming Liberal who resented how a male dominated society didn't listen to her words), John Lennon, and any other number of people quickly put on an Apple billboard or used as a decoration at a 50s cafe with not a second thought because they evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling and anything else falls into the memory hole.

That's really where Griffith's stengths come from. He's a whitewashed nostalgia. As soon as he would get into politics, he becomes a real person that exists not at the leisure or interpretation of the viewer and will say things people who like him from TV will disagree with.

07-28-2014, 08:41 PM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Was Andy Griffith a liberal? I know that towards the end of his life in 2008 he supported Barack Obama for President and helped him in the campaign. Was Andy a liberal? Not so bad if he were, but I think a lot of people see him as conservative, at least until 2008. Some years back, the Democrats tried to get Griffith to run for the Senate against Jesse Helms. Griffith declined. Might have beaten Helms. Maybe. Helms might have beaten him because he was a politician and Andy isn't. I guess if Reagan learned the ropes, Andy could have also, but Reagan was a politician for a long time before and merged the two before he left acting. Griffith made much more money for Matlock than he would as a Senator, and maybe he would have been out of his element except for his celebrity. Maybe or maybe not. Would have made a hell of a President though (with Don Knotts as VP because the office is so worthless.) But, I am half serious. If Griffith became a Senator for six years, he could have thrown his hat in for President. Might not have won, but Ange as the nominee with Ron Howard giving the keynote address? Who knows.

10-23-2014, 04:40 PM	#2
cmulwee001 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 22, 2011 Location: Charlotte NC 28270 Posts: 18	Does it really matter if he was a liberal or not? Who Cares?! I just love his old show.

10-23-2014, 04:57 PM	#3
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	Yes. As Liberal as they come, too. But why should I care? For that matter, why should anybody care? Why should anybody like the OP care? He was a brilliant man and actor. That's all that matters.

11-18-2014, 02:36 PM	#4
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	my question is: "why are so many Hollywood actors/actresses liberals?" Of course not all were/are, but there are a disproportionately large amount of liberals among celebrities. Never have understood why. I guess maybe because so many of them don't live in a totally "real" world. They make their livings in the make believe and don't necessarily have to stay in touch with "reality". I think the stark reality of life makes people more conservative.

12-10-2014, 11:59 PM	#9
Michelle Garvey Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2014 Posts: 6	Remember the backlash Griffith faced when he came out favorable to Obamacare. To quote a Phil Ochs song, "To the safety of sterility, the threat has been refined". People like him are rather quickly made icons, and thereby made into something thoroughly non-offensive, and a cultural comfort food. It happened with Marilyn Monroe, for example (who was a flaming Liberal who resented how a male dominated society didn't listen to her words), John Lennon, and any other number of people quickly put on an Apple billboard or used as a decoration at a 50s cafe with not a second thought because they evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling and anything else falls into the memory hole. That's really where Griffith's stengths come from. He's a whitewashed nostalgia. As soon as he would get into politics, he becomes a real person that exists not at the leisure or interpretation of the viewer and will say things people who like him from TV will disagree with.