Andy Griffith Pitches Health Care Law in T.V. Ad

By: Jaywon Choe
Topics: Health Care

Andy Griffith, star of the classic T.V. shows "Matlock" and "The Andy Griffith Show," has taken on a new acting job - pitching President Obama's health care law in a new television ad.

The 30-second spot (watch at left), which targets senior citizens, has Griffith, 86, attempting to reassure viewers that the new law will not alter their current benefits.

"1965, lot of good things came out that year, like Medicare," Griffith begins, adding, "This year, like always, we'll have our guaranteed benefits."

He continues, "And with the new health care law, more good things are coming," including, "free check-ups, lower prescription costs and better ways to protect us and Medicare from fraud."

The new ad comes on the heels of recent polling that suggests senior citizens remain more negative over the health care law than younger adults. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows that while 50 percent of the public holds a favorable view of the new law, 46 percent of seniors say they do not. Another 50 percent believe the law will cut benefits previously provided to them.

According to the Associated Press, Medicare says the ad campaign is not political, but designed simply to educate senior citizens on the law's new benefits . The ad is expected to run on CNN, the Weather Channel, Hallmark and Lifetime - all channels popular among seniors.

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by skeptix October 25, 2010 7:32 PM EDT: It really ticks me off when politicians use my money to pay for a commercial that tells me how great the Healthcare bill is for me. It is all propaganda and more fitting for Nazi Germany. Worse yet, it is designed to sway the opinion of our elderly by using a well-liked figure. How low can they go?; Reply to this comment


by ustaxpayer August 23, 2010 4:48 PM EDT: Andy was a wife beater so who could give him any credibility on more serious matters. Just a Hollywood flunky that is broke and senile.; Reply to this comment


by Pegleg4570 August 2, 2010 1:02 PM EDT: No Way he can do it !
Barney - No the other Barney, and Opie Cannot row fast enough !; Reply to this comment


by Dizzy168 August 1, 2010 4:40 PM EDT: I place Andy Griffith right up there with Jimmy Carter in the degree of Senility. With that and the fact that he is so far removed from the average older American that little waste of video has little credibility. I doubt that Mr. Griffith will be around to see rationing and what it will do to older Americans in the long run. I love Andy and Opie Taylor and all the characters from that old show. I wouldn't even consider cheating myself out of watching. What you are watching are "characters" they portray and NOT the real life liberal who cannot think ahead and figure out whats gonna happen in the long run. Or has the sense to find facts to find out how things came about in the first place. What people better to play TV or movie "characters".; Reply to this comment

by tryhonesty August 1, 2010 12:25 PM EDT

Ignorant of the facts people (RepubliCONs) need to post on Fox Noise where the rest of the Klan hangs out!

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by No_Hope August 1, 2010 2:32 PM EDT: Typical intelligent debate from a Libby Socialist. Call the your opponent a racist and bash Fox News...

Put down the bong and think for yourself.


by skeptix October 25, 2010 7:47 PM EDT: Just because someone has a differing opinion, you resort to calling them names. How adult is that?

by diggerw900 August 1, 2010 9:55 AM EDT

Yes this is a feel good story for the stinking CBS (collective bull $hit) news organization. Well Andy i have lost any and all respect for you and will never view another Andy Griffith production. Ron Howard you are in the same boat never will i go to or watch ANYTHING you produce. The two of you support this administration just tells me you have forgotten the "good old American ways" your shows depicted. I will not feel bad if you both go down in flames, and poverty besets you. It is after all what you support by supporting Obama or anything he proposes.

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by grannie4835 August 1, 2010 12:33 PM EDT: Awww, don't be that way. Now Andy and Ron Howard will have to go on welfare and you're against that too, aren't you?


by No_Hope August 1, 2010 8:12 AM EDT: As someone who went to Jr High and High School with Ron Howard, it sickened me to see the video that Andy and Ron's video made to help campaign for the biggest fraud that ever ran for President.

I have lost all respect for Ron and this senile old man.; Reply to this comment


by Hypnogal August 1, 2010 8:12 AM EDT: Wow, is he STILL alive? Nothing there a face/neck/eye lift wouldn't help... but otherwise he looks okay for someone his age. (Just observing) Why is he doing this? Did the money from the reruns run out?; Reply to this comment


by bamacharm July 31, 2010 9:34 PM EDT: I'm old enough to have watched The Andy Griffith Show when it was broadcast in the early 60s. He and the cast are an endearing part of Americana. He knows very well the polarization in this country over the issue. It is likely that a majority of his fans are sons of the south and/or people from small town USA who identify with the show and its values. That is same group that is more likely to virulently oppose the liberals' socialized medicine program. He knows yet he chooses to rub his thumb in our eyes anyway. I've lost all respect and admiration for him. Griffith has apparently lived among the Hollywood liberals for so long that he no longer identifies with the fans he purports to represent. Poor judgment on your part Andy. Those reruns will never again tuned to in my home.; Reply to this comment