I like to think that even if Andy Griffith was a conservative...

[Bicoastal]

...we here at Democratic Underground would still say "Thanks for the memories" and be totally respectful of his passing. I think artists of every stripe deserve that much, regardless of their participation in politics. And any person like Andy who devotes their life to entertaining others and manages to achieve it across such a broad spectrum of Americans deserves nothing but respect.

I bring this up because I just swung by Fox Nation (I don't dare open up FreeRepublic on a work computer) to see if many commentators would bring up the man's personal politics. And sure enough, it's in practically every hateful, derogatory, ugly post. Some have boycotted reruns of his show after discovering he was one of THEM.

And it's not like the guy was a liberal Ted Nugent or something--he just made a few ads for Obama and Health Care, which in the eyes of some is an unforgivable sin.

[Romulox]

1. He was an EXCEPTIONAL flat-picker (guitar player). RIP. nt

[IDemo]

6. I never knew that

I saw the king of flat-pickers, Tommy Emmanuel, two weeks ago in concert. Are there any videos of Andy out there (like I'm not going directly to YouTube

[csziggy]

10. Here is one

And from the show:

Lots more from the show with the Darlings but there he's just one of the players.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

2. I hope so.

I have read a few articles already and Republicans are just crucifying him in the comments sections. Stay classy Tea Partiers.

[AverageJoe90]

3. TBH, I betcha he might very well have been a little right-leaning.

After all, it can be pointed out that this was a man born in the North Carolina of the 1920s.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. The right is angry about this: Andy Griffith and Politics: Actor Helped Democrats

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/andy-griffith-and-politics-actor-helped-democrats/

Griffith had history of supporting Democratic causes and candidates, most recently in 2010, when he starred in a $700,000 ad campaign selling President Obama’s contentious health care reform law and changes in Medicare.

Griffith’s public political support for Obama reached back to the 2008 campaign, when he appeared in a tongue-in-cheek online video that reenacted a scene from “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Griffith was a North Carolina native and long time resident, and on multiple occasions campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including for Governors Mike Easley and Bev Perdue.

[JaneQPublic]

5. I knew Andy was a Dem!

Thanks for posting that link, SinkingFeeling. I could only vaguely remember AG doing spots for Dem causes, but I couldn't remember the details.

And don't forget his 1957 movie, "A Face in the Crowd," in which he plays "Lonesome Rhodes," a character which apparently reminded Keith Olbermann of Glenn Beck, since KO often called Beck by that nickname.

[AverageJoe90]

8. Interesting, thanks. =)

[ForgoTheConsequence]

7. Doubt it.

He praised FDR, supported Democrats and health reform and campaigned for Obama. He took lots of he from Tea Party hate mongers and didn't sway.

[Wounded Bear]

9. He was a classy guy....beyond politics....

I was actually somewhat surprised to hear that he was a Democrat. Restores my faith somewhat.