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Tell the N.C. governor you're sorry she couldn't travel to the Smokies celebration

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue is skipping the Governors' Proclamation Day at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This ceremony is one of many that is marking the 75th anniversary of the park.Why don't you let Perdue know what she's missing out on by sending her a digital postcard from this selection.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen made it to the event.

See photos from the event.

Full disclosure: This is something fun we built on knoxnews.com for people share their sentiments with the the N.C. governor.

Tags: nc, postcards

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16 Comments

Comment by Eleanor on April 25, 2009 at 1:21am: Governor--IT'S THE WEEKEND!!!! It is the 75th anniversary of the Smokies! The weather is just bodacious outside!!! Can you think of a better excuse to "play hooky" and call it a day at the Governor's office than this????

Comment by The Juggler on April 25, 2009 at 9:29am: I think she just dissed the GSMNP and her constituents who support it or live near it. Can you imagine YOUR state governor saying the part of the state YOU live in is too "far"? I hope whoever runs against her in the next election uses this incident as a campaign slogan - can you imagine it? "I'll be the Governor of the entire state, not just of the places it is convenient". She sent someone to represent her - didn't he/she have to travel - didn't that cost money? Her excuse just doesn't hold water. I'd say she simply doesn't think the Smokies are important to her state and I hope North Carolinians hold her accountable.

Comment by Eleanor on April 25, 2009 at 4:14pm: It isn't just the GSMNP that she dissed and her consituents. This is American History being made here. If I were governor of the state, I would have been there regardless to be a part of it. The only thing that she will be known for about this in history now is as a governor who pitched the adult version of a 2-year olds temper tantrum (I DONWANNA GO>>>WAAAAHHHH). I realize that times are tight right now, but this is special circumstance. Surely, she could have afforded a small to moderate road trip to Clingmans Dome for this?! Governor Bredesen sure found a way! He had quite a distance to travel as well. If I were a North Carolinian, I would be embarassed and ashamed. Shoot, I'm not!--and I am.

Comment by MountainGirl aka "Footbridge" on April 26, 2009 at 10:11am: i feel that it's somewhat of an insult for her not to attend. perhaps there is a good reason why, but still....

this is important for her state too. she has visitors that come to her state thanks to the national park. it's disrespectful to her state, gsmnp employees of her state, and the people that visit.

to me, this says "i don't care about the national park.....but my represenative does.....if i make them."

Comment by MountainGirl aka "Footbridge" on April 26, 2009 at 10:27am: i can see that too dana, i had wondered if it were open to the public, but i guess it wasn't.

Comment by Dale on April 26, 2009 at 10:28am: I think it was bad judgement on her part not to attend.This may come back on her later especially during re-election time.I also agree more of the common people should be able to attend such gatherings.

Comment by Paul Sanders on April 26, 2009 at 11:21am: If it is an insult for the governor not to attend, then who is she insulting? The bears? The mountains? She certainly is not insulting me in the slightest, and as for as I'm concerned, I hope she and all the other politicians stay away. The Smokies are already popular enough; we don't need more visitors or publicity.

Comment by MountainGirl aka "Footbridge" on April 26, 2009 at 11:32am: perhaps it's more disrespectful. no she isn't insulting the bears or the mountains, but she is someone that is elected to represent her state and people. granted most politicians seem to be in it more for themselves than anyone, and perhaps the world would be a better place if crooked people weren't in charge, but that doens't change her "duties" as a someone that is the "face" of her state. keep in mind that i use the term "face" loosely. i know there are other things and people that make the state what it is.

Comment by The Juggler on April 26, 2009 at 5:32pm: Dana, I agree with you that they should have randomly selected some park visitors of the day and some descendants of people who lived there before the park. But the Governor does represent the people - and on that basis she should have attended. The Smokies being 'too far' when it is in her state is ridiculous. It isn't like she was asked to go to Yellowstone. Since the Governor of TN was there as an invited dignitary, she should have been there as well.

Comment by Danny Bernstein on April 27, 2009 at 6:18am: I was honored to be at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Governors' Proclamation but my governor was not there. She's quoted as saying that it's too far away but there's much more of North Carolina west of the Smokies. Ask anyone outside of NC and TN and they'll tell you that the Smokies are in Tennessee.
For the record, there's more park land in NC than in TN.
I hope that Gov. Perdue will schedule an "I'm sorry" visit and hike our beautiful trails.
Danny Bernstein
www.hikertohiker.com