Limbaugh mocks / accuses Michael J. Fox of faking Parkinson's disease

[Oldman]

Limbaugh mocks Michael J. Fox political ad
Conservative talk show host accuses actor of faking Parkinson's disease

By David Montgomery

Updated: 7:27 a.m. CT Oct 25, 2006
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."

'A shameless statement'
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."

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh said on his show that Michael J. Fox "exaggerated" the effects of Parkinson's disease in several political ads.

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.

"Now people are telling me they have seen Michael J. Fox in interviews and he does appear the same way in the interviews as he does in this commercial," Limbaugh said, according to a transcript on his Web site. "All right then, I stand corrected. . . . So I will bigly, hugely admit that I was wrong, and I will apologize to Michael J. Fox, if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act."

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."

'Hope to millions of Americans'
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."

Fox has appeared in ABC's "Boston Legal" this season. In his scenes, taped over the summer, Fox does not shake or loll his head as he does in the Cardin commercial, but does appear to be restraining himself, appearing almost rigid at times.

A source with direct knowledge of Fox's illness who viewed the Cardin ad said Fox is not acting to exaggerate the effects of the disease. The source said Fox's scenes in "Boston Legal" had to be taped around his illness, as he worked to control the tremors associated with Parkinson's for limited periods of time.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15408508/

_______________________________________________
This is a sad event to say the least. I have a close family member who has Parkinson in a bad way. There are now appliances implanted in his brain.

I stopped listening to Rush a long time ago; as his path is one-way-only-thinking. He will say anything to promote the far right. This attack on Fox is just one more example of his one-way-only-thinking.

[manxman]

This has hit the news in the UK too...... absolutely disgraceful as Michael J. Fox has always shown such dignity and fortitute in fighting this dreadful disease IMO.

[icerat4]

Rush needs to back off of mcfly. ;D

[iceman]

Rush who??? I don't know no stinking Rush!!! :o ;)

[Kummok]

As I've come to expect, the media is outright lying in this article. I've listened to Limbaugh's statements and they weren't even close to what this reporter "reports". Admittedly, I don't listen to every word on his program as it plays in the background when I'm working on other things, but it would be out of character for him to make fun of a disease. He DOES indeed take MJF to task for misrepresenting stem cell research in a non-medical ad. In fact his actual statement that I heard was, "he's either acting or off his medication", the latter of which seems to be the case in the ad. Rush even states that he totally understands why MJF would take himself off his meds before testifying to Congress on the his own experience with Parkinson's...that it is necessary in order to truly show the ravages of the disease. Rush's emphasis has been on the fact that this issue is about the ad's lying to the public about hopeful research (adult stem cell) supported by Reps and hopeless research (embryonic stem cell) supported by Dems, (IMOHO, to support abortion). One behavior that is consistent with the media is to misquote and to misguide....Montgomery seems to have that behavior down to a science. I personally think the world of MJF as an actor, don't know him as a person, but certainly don't believe him on his political position that Dems will cure all diseases and Reps will kill everyone....that's ridiculous and unsupported by fact.

And before anyone starts taking me to task for speaking out of my rearend on Parkinson's, you might want to come up and visit me and my dad, who is currently in long term care, (since June/06), with this horribly debilitating disease that has taken him from a very active outdoorsman, highly respected for his hunting/packing accomplishments, to an invalid that, just one hour ago during today's regular visit with him, could barely lift his arms while he writhed in bed with the pain of Parkinson's. I and my wife have spent the first 4+ years full-time caring for him and learning first hand how Parkinson's works and currently watch his decline daily.....like many other diseases, it's NOT the way any of use would chose to go.

The simple truth is that MJF is indeed exploiting his disease for political reasons....it's been done by both Dems AND Reps (Nancy Reagan w/ Ron's Alzheimer's)...this IS after all, the "silly season". I just wish the media and politicians would stop their lying about effective v. non-effective research and which side does it better.....sure would get a lot more accomplished towards a cure :(  Rush's program as I have been able to catch bits and pieces of this week simply brings that to the surface....sounds like some of you ought to actually listen to it instead of the "trustworthy" media's slant.......what I heard was far from an "attack".

[Oldman]

Sorry I heard part of the recording and what has been reported Rush said.... 

[BigSmoker]

Well stated Kummok.

[Oldman]

As I've come to expect, the media is outright lying in this article. I've listened to Limbaugh's statements and they weren't even close to what this reporter "reports".

Well stated Kummok.

Well here is a vid of it.... see how "well said" it is now....that is of course if you dare to watch it.
http://www.whereistheoutrage.net/wordpress/

After watching Rush if this vid does not give you pause as the quality of person he is then nothing will.

[asa]

Olds -
I vowed not to get involved in this, but thanks very much for giving the link to that video. It speaks volumes about what is going on these days. Makes m' blood boil.

[Habanero Smoker]

Olds;

I'm going to continue not respond to what may be considered a political topic. Which I am surprising myself, at least to date.

But I can thank you for the link.

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

Guys,

If you *really* want to spin up, we can talk about all the propositions in the land of fruit and nuts (California). Not sure there is enough bandwidth to support the discourse. :D :D :D

As is usually the case with these topics, I am drinking at a distance......  8)

Arcs_n_Sparks

[asa]

Ahhhhhh. Thanks but no thanks. I'll just drink and watch at a distance.

[Kummok]

ThanX for the clip Olds! I stand corrected....It was clear that RL said that MJF was "... exaggerating the effects of the disease..", then went on to say that he was either acting or off his medication. It is clear from that clip that RL lacks the information he would need to make such a statement. I can say from experience that, in my case, the meds keep the muscles from stiffening so that the limbs can bend and doesn't help the tremors that much at all. As far as being gentleman on the air, KJF is clearly taken the higher road. As far as credibility regarding his statements on stem cell research and the Dem v. Rep voting record, MJF, albiet a real gentleman on the air, severaly distorts the truth. Dems vote to support embryonic stem cell research and Reps vote against it, as a rule.  This issue comes down to whether or not one believes in harvesting lives of the unborn....something about which Dems and Reps are seemingly doomed to be at odds forever.

Further, the MSNBC statements on an upcoming Rep ad featuring sportsman is a misrepresentation at best and an outright lie at worst. I've seen the ad and it is clearly an anticloning ad....something many of us with a specific take on the respect for life feel very strong about.

All in all, Olds, the ad set me straight on what RL said on Monday on his subscriber only video, (to which I don't subscribe....don't have time or interest to watch videos in the middle of the day). ThanX for that! The rest of the clip reminded me why I don't watch MSNBC for "news".  ;)

[tsquared]

come up and visit me and my dad, who is currently in long term care, (since June/06), with this horribly debilitating disease that has taken him from a very active outdoorsman, highly respected for his hunting/packing accomplishments, to an invalid that, just one hour ago during today's regular visit with him, could barely lift his arms while he writhed in bed with the pain of Parkinson's. I and my wife have spent the first 4+ years full-time caring for him and learning first hand how Parkinson's works and currently watch his decline daily.....like many other diseases, it's NOT the way any of use would chose to go.

I won't comment on the American politics theme to the thread as it is often difficult for those of us non-Americans to understand but I do want to express my dismay and sorrow about your dad, Kummok. I will not forget your kind words when I was grieving my father's death a year ago this month. I still have the picture you sent of you and your wife and father in better times. It is very hard to see a proud, capable man brought down by such a disease. Please know that I will be thinking of you and your family.
T2

[BigSmoker]

I am truley sorry for those of you that choose to believe the uneducated biased media.  Having a loved one similiar to Kummock that has suffered from Parkinsons(and died)I understand(although not completely cause it wasn't my own Father)how Kummok feels and relates to this disease.  To my knowledge, limited as it is there is NO and I repeat NO proof, NO foresight, NO nada, NO nothing, NO not a spec, No NOTHING that embrionic stem cell research will help anything with this disease or any other related disease.  Matter of fact there is no evidence that this type of research helps any disease of any type(unless it is your own cells).  I am truley sorry as I wish it could but ALL the evidence is in mature adult stem cells PERIOD.  This is a hard post to follow as I consider many of you friends but I can not continue to participate in a forum where my own values are questioned and where I feel the choice between life and death are drawn.  My Sister in law had to have a Midterm or partcial birth abortion due to food poisioning a few years back.  The fetus had died but basically would not abort so this procedure had to be done in order to save her life.  It sickens me to think after reviewing this medical procedure that any person thats life wasn't in jepordy could have this done.  So I guess I leave you with this thought.  Again in my limited knowledge cause I'm as country as they come do you support a party that believes in these types of abortion for so called medical advances(look it up I promise you will never be the same)or do you believe in life where there is one?  This draws a line in the way I vote and live PERIOD.  I wish you all well and continued happiness in your pursuit of perfectly smoked foods.  I bid you all a farewell.