News & Politics - Rush Limbaugh On the Offensive Against Ad With Michael J. Fox

Lexis · 10-25-2006, 03:17 AM

We were talking about this in the Democrat thread but I think it needs wider audience. I cannot understand why anyone would say stuff like this. Its just awful.

Quote:

Possibly worse than making fun of someone's disability is saying that it's imaginary. That is not to mock someone's body, but to challenge a person's guts, integrity, sanity.

To Rush Limbaugh on Monday, Michael J. Fox looked like a faker. The actor, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has done a series of political ads supporting candidates who favor stem cell research, including Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, who is running against Republican Michael Steele for the Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes.

"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease," Limbaugh told listeners. "He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. . . . This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."

Limbaugh, whose syndicated radio program has a weekly audience of about 10 million, was reacting to Fox's appearance in another one of the spots, for Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill, running against Republican Sen. James M. Talent.

But the Cardin ad is similar. It is hard to watch, unless, for some reason, you don't believe it. As he speaks, Fox's restless torso weaves and writhes in a private dance. His head bobs from side to side, almost leaving the video frame.

"This is the only time I've ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has," Limbaugh said. "He can barely control himself."

Later Monday, still on the air, Limbaugh would apologize, but reaction to his statements from Parkinson's experts and Fox's supporters was swift and angry.

"It's a shameless statement," John Rogers said yesterday. Rogers, Fox's political adviser, who also serves on the board of the Parkinson's Action Network, added: "It's insulting. It's appallingly sad, at best."

"Anyone who knows the disease well would regard his movement as classic severe Parkinson's disease," said Elaine Richman, a neuroscientist in Baltimore who co-wrote "Parkinson's Disease and the Family." "Any other interpretation is misinformed."

Fox was campaigning yesterday for Tammy Duckworth, a congressional candidate, outside Chicago, when he alluded to Limbaugh's remarks. "It's ironic, given some of the things that have been said in the last couple of days, that my pills are working really well right now," he said, according to a report on the CBS2 Web site.

After his apology, Limbaugh shifted his ground and renewed his attack on Fox.

...

Then Limbaugh pivoted to a different critique: "Michael J. Fox is allowing his illness to be exploited and in the process is shilling for a Democratic politician."

Limbaugh's shock at Fox's appearance is a measure of the disease's devastation, advocates say. Contrary to the charge that Fox might not take his medicine to enhance his symptoms, the medicine produces some of the uncontrolled body movements.

"Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's," Fox says in the Cardin ad. "But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research."

Rush Limbaugh On the Offensive Against Ad With Michael J. Fox - washingtonpost.com

You know, if Limbaugh was attacking the support of stem cell research then that'd be one thing. But to be so rude and cruel about someone with an illness so serious...it's just beyond belief.

**TheAngel** · 10-25-2006, 04:05 AM

I know some people see Fox as using his disease, but if something like that was wrong with me I'd use it to in any way I can. It's just like celebs using their fame to raise money for charity and there's nothing wrong with that.

TokyoNiGHTS · 10-25-2006, 07:31 AM

"This is the only time I've ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has," Limbaugh said. "He can barely control himself."

Interesting

YouTube - Michael J. Fox (with Parkinson's) talks Stem Cell research

Wouldn't that be displaying signs? I've also seen him at events with Ali and others where you could clearly see he had it.

All he's trying to do is help people like himself that suffer from this and people feel the need to criticize him or question how severe he has it? I'll never understand why people like Limbaugh actually have any audience to speak to when they say something liek this.

ceilirose · 10-25-2006, 08:11 AM

I applaud Michael J. Fox for his work. If you have a progressive neurological disease or if you've ever had to take care of someone with one you know just how devastating it is. If there's even a glimmer of hope in stem cell research to help, control or eliminate the disease then more power to him.

As far as him using his disease - as Parkinson's progresses you only have a few hours a day that you can function normally. The medication you take usually knocks you out to a point where you're in bed for most of the day. Fox is probably using his time windowof normalcy to advocate for a cure.

Limbaugh - he can rot in hell for all I care. Why anyone even listens to him is beyond me. He's already proven himself to be a hypocrite in regards to his comment on drug addicts being in jail..except for him of course.

vc318 · 10-25-2006, 10:25 AM

I don't listen to Limbaugh's show and after his much ignorant comment he made to Fox, I have no need to.

My father-in-law happens to suffer from this disease and it truly is a sad sight. His is so bad that sometimes he has to ask for help just to go to the bathroom or to take a bath. The fact is there are varied degrees of Parkinson's disease and knowing Fox since he announced that he had the disease, he's trying to control it the best way possible. How would Limbaugh like it if all his nerves were shot and out of control? That's what it is like for a person with Parkinson's disease. What he said was very cruel and quite frankly, I don't know how he even lives with himself.

AdriaMichelle · 10-25-2006, 11:55 AM

Limbaugh is an idiot. I can't believe him.

Anyways, I really don't think Michael J. Fox is using his celebrity to pro up stem cell research. I sincerely believe even if he was not a celebrity he would be doing that. No doubt in my mind. My late friend's mother has this and I want a curse to be found ASAP. So sad.

GO Michael! Help find a cure.

S.A.S.H.A. · 10-25-2006, 04:28 PM

I like how Michael joked about the pill popper's comments at a recent event. WTG!

Sasha

TokyoNiGHTS · 10-25-2006, 09:49 PM

Keith Olbermann got a video of Limbaugh talking about it

Crooks and Liars � Olbermann Gives Us The Visual To Limbaugh’s Attack On Michael J. Fox

It's worth watching because Limbaugh seems to think it was a good idea to actually imitate Fox's motions during the commercial.

AdriaMichelle · 10-26-2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.A.S.H.A. (View Post)

I like how Michael joked about the pill popper's comments at a recent event. WTG!

Sasha

That's great! That guy is officially my idol. I love you Michael!

ceilirose · 10-26-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokyoNiGHTS (View Post)

Keith Olbermann got a video of Limbaugh talking about it

Crooks and Liars � Olbermann Gives Us The Visual To Limbaugh’s Attack On Michael J. Fox

It's worth watching because Limbaugh seems to think it was a good idea to actually imitate Fox's motions during the commercial.

I think Keith Olberman's comment about defering to Limbaugh because of his knowledge of prescription drugs was priceless.

As usual Limbuagh is still an idiot.

S.A.S.H.A. · 10-26-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdriaMichelle (View Post)

That's great! That guy is officially my idol. I love you Michael!

And to think that Michael was my first celebrity crush as a child.

Sasha

AdriaMichelle · 10-26-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.A.S.H.A. (View Post)

And to think that Michael was my first celebrity crush as a child.

Sasha

OMG!

Me too!

Jacob1983 · 10-26-2006, 05:46 PM

I will admit that Limbaugh is a conservative nut like Ann Coulter. They both do more harm than good to the conservative movement. However, I do think Limbaugh brings up a valid argument. I don't know anything about Michael J. Fox's personal and his health. I do think that Democrats are kinda exploiting him and his disease. I also heard that Fox is supporting Democrats that didn't vote for stem cell research. I think stem cell research is a tricky and touchy issue. This is just my opinion. Keyword: Opinion. LOL
But I think that stem cell research is a combination of cloning and abortion. If researches can find a way to get around the cloning and abortion aspect of stem cell research, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

ceilirose · 10-26-2006, 05:59 PM

Fox made a commercial for Arlen Spector (R -PA) in 2004 that has been conveniently forgotten in this whole thing. So I guess Republicans exploited him in 2004. Imagine that!

Much of stem cell research is done with discarded human embroyos (ie fertility clinics) - which otherwise would be thrown out. It has nothing to do with abortion as far as I know. I'm not sure where cloning came into this but I'm sure someone does - if it does at all.

Jacob1983 · 10-26-2006, 06:41 PM

I just don't see how a person could live with the fact of using dead babies to create a new being. It just seems very unethical and wrong to me. I guess I'm an idiot though. I believe that life starts at conception.

This is one thing that media and news have failed to mention but there have been many cases involving stem cell research that it can cause brain tumors.

Why is Fox promoting stem cell research in a country that isn't even his native country? Why doesn't he promote it in Canada? You would figure that Canada would be more understanding about stem cell research than America.


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