Capitol Hill – where everybody knows your name

Posted on | June 22, 2007 | Comments Off

Celebrity endorsements on Capitol Hill — what a concept.

Upon my return, I learn that Jeff Ratzenberger (best known as annoying know-it-all Cliff Craven from TV’s Cheers) has joined forces with Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) and the bipartisan Congressional Manufacturing Caucus to bring more attention to the plight of small manufacturers.

What does any of this have to do with the actor? Evidently, he has been visiting with some of those small manufacturers in the course of filming is current television series, John Ratzenberger’s Made in America. Ratzenberger has been concerned enough to launch a web-based non-profit project called the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation (I am not making this up) to introduce young people to the joys of industry and related fields.

I guess star power, such as it is, can be useful for any issue. And, if stem cell research can have Michael J. Fox, why can’t small manufacturers have Cliff Craven?

[tags]small businesses, manufacturing, Congressional Manufacturing Caucus, Jeff Ratzenberger[/tags]