‘Fired Big Bird’ takes wing after Romney debate comment
The unemployment rate on Sesame Street may soon skyrocket. (Image by @FiredBigBird)
Picking the winner of the first Obama-Romney presidential event is a partisan endeavor, but a comment by the Republican candidate has one faux celebrity crying fowl.
Childhood friend to many, Big Bird, whose very livelihood was threatened in the Wednesday night debate, was quickly defended by a sharp-beaked anonymous tweeter.
“Somewhere Paul Ryan is kicking over trash cans in hopes of smoking out Oscar the Grouch,” tweeted @FiredBigBird shortly after Romney vowed to cut funding to PBS, the station that airs the puppet bird’s educational show “Sesame Street.”
Within minutes, the Twitter account had thousands of followers. FiredBigBird had more than 26,000 followers within 12 hours. Other Twitter users sent more than 17,000 tweets a minute mentioning Big Bird.
The imposter kept clucking.
“Mitt Romney will end Burt and Ernie’s right to a civil union.”
He even hinted at getting more politically active with a “Herman Cain / Big Bird 2016″ tweet.
Meanwhile, the real Sesame Street gang tried to put out the fire by tweeting, “We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We do not comment on campaigns, but we’re happy we can all agree that everyone likes Big Bird!”
Despite the protestations, I don’t think the 8-foot-2-inch puppet has to worry. He’s been around since 1969 and surely, after starring in thousands of television shows, he has a giant nest egg.
Here’s what Romney said at durring the debate.
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71 comments Add your comment
Newsflash for NATL
October 4th, 2012
8:31 pm
“Teaching letters, numbers, and good citizenship are important for everyone and lead to children growing up to be better members of society.”
That is what PARENTS are expected to do for THEIR CHILDREN.
“Mitt should … leave running the country to those who care about 100% of our citizens.”
Obama doesn’t care about you, dude. It is sad that you are so brainwashed to believe such a thing. Obama only care about his legacy and carrying out the wishes of his father, not the founding fathers. Wake up!
Brian mack
October 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
Big Bird is not going anywhere Burt & Ernie will still be gay couple!
But the PBS news anchors don’t need 6 figure income!!!!!!
Atlantarama
October 5th, 2012
2:01 am
I fully support PBS, but the quality of “Sesame Street” has gone downhill over the past several years, and I feel they must be paying way too much to carry it.
your an idiot
October 5th, 2012
7:15 am
StopTheWastefullSpending
Just Saying
October 5th, 2012
7:22 am
PBS ’s funding is less than half the level of unpaid taxes by federal employees, which were estimated to equal $1.03 billion at the end of fiscal year 2010. It’s less than one third the total Amtrak receives in federal funding, having gotten $1.4 billion in federal capital grants and operating subsidies in 2012.
Teresa
October 5th, 2012
7:26 am
All PBS shows are in jeopardy, don’t let reading rainbow die. With all the smut on tv nowadays pbs is a welcome channel
you're an idiot
October 5th, 2012
7:32 am
your an idiot
We need to save Big Bird so liberal idiots like “your an idiot” can learn the proper use of the English language. But maybe StopTheWastefulSpending is correct, “your an idiot” is a lost cause and a waste of our taxpayer dollars.
Call It Like It Is
October 5th, 2012
7:44 am
Please Big Bird will be fine, so will the rest of PBS. Only 10% of their funding comes from the government and there has been talk for years to stop it. These guys get millions of dollars a year on their products alone. Big Bird can fund himself and the rest of PBS on tickle me elmo sales alone.
Glasmom
October 5th, 2012
10:10 am
Mitt Romney must be insane to go on national television and fire Big Bird. Oh yeah that really makes me want to vote for him. Poor Big Bird must be part of the 47% too.
Mark Alan
October 5th, 2012
10:48 am
Why was the @FiredBigBird account suspended. PBS is very liberal so I can understand why the Republicans want to tank it. Who owns Twitter? Are they Republican? I’m politically neutral, don’t trust either camp. To me it’s become a choice between the lesser of two evils. Voting feels like being black mailed any more. Not unlike the the protection rackets of the mobsters you see in old gangster movies. Vote Republican or big business will stagnate the economy. Vote Democrat or get sick and die. I suppose next they will be going after Bill Nye*:(