October 27, 2006
WHERE'S THOMAS NAST WHEN YOU NEED HIM?:
Rush Limbaugh Fakes Stupidity: You may think he's dumb as a chair, but it's all an act. (Timothy Noah, Oct. 25, 2006, Slate)
Many people have concluded, from Rush Limbaugh's recent disparaging comments about Michael J. Fox and Parkinson's disease, that Limbaugh must be an utter fool. But of course that's exactly what Rush wants you to think. Does the man's capacity for manipulation know no bounds? [...]Limbaugh later retreated to the position that Fox didn't fake the symptoms, but rather that he refrained deliberately from taking his medication, something Fox apparently did seven years ago to demonstrate the effects of the disease while testifying before Congress. It's certainly possible that Fox once again skipped or delayed taking his meds to achieve the same goal (though Fox's public response to Limbaugh suggests not; during a public appearance for yet another political candidate, Fox appeared steadier and said, "My pills are working really well right now"). The obvious retort to Limbaugh is: So what? Whether Fox takes his meds or doesn't take his meds is nobody's business but Fox's, and there would be nothing counterfeit about Fox filming an ad unmedicated. He's been known to twitch, OK?
We're all appropriately sorry about Mr. Fox's illness., but if he's using it to try and sway public opinion in the political arena then it is, of course, our business. And you'd have to be just as gullible a rube as these monsters who want to treat human beings like meat think we are in flyover country not to notice that when Mr. Fox has a paying gig in his chosen profession, like his guest run on Scrubs, he is noticeably ill, but not exactly the scarecrow in a hurricane that he appears when begging for free human remains to experiment with in this ad. Add the fact that he's pulled the stunt in the past and it could hardly be a more legitimate subject of public discourse.
MORE:
Fox: I Was Over-Medicated In Stem Cell Ad (CBS/AP, 10/26/06)
Responding to criticism by conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh, actor Michael J. Fox defended his appearance in a political campaign ad, saying he wasn't acting or off his medication.In fact, at the time he was over-medicated for his Parkinson's disease, Fox said Thursday in an exclusive interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric
Shame on Michael J. Fox (Gary Loftis, October 27, 2006, Orlando Sentinel)
[D]r. Dick Gilson, a professor at the University of Central Florida who teaches neuroscience courses, is actively involved in stem-cell research. He has a strong personal incentive to find applications for Parkinson's; he has the disease. Dick will tell you the promise of stem-cell "cures" is merely speculation; no current science supports it.Posted by Orrin Judd at October 27, 2006 8:10 AMNon-stem-cell research has great promise, but it somehow hasn't captured political imaginations. Earlier this year, gene researchers announced a new therapy, using a virus to place a powerful protein into the brain to change its dopamine-production characteristics. The possible benefits for patients with neurological diseases are great.
This therapy could be in clinical trials in three to five years, long before any stem-cell application is identified. (http://www.genome newsnetwork.org/articles/10-00/ Parkinsons-monkeys.shtml)
The embryonic stem-cell debate is not about allowing stem-cell research, because that is taking place unimpeded. The debate really is about legalizing the commerce in human embryos. [...]
Michael J. Fox has chosen to be spokes victim for a fraudulent cause.
I've read that he was interviewed about Rush's statements and said that he couldn't maniuplate his symptoms with medication. That statement is also contradicted by this excerpt.
Posted by: Chris B at October 27, 2006 8:47 AMRush did a great service by shining a spotlight on this. He's also somewhat inoculated since he is "handicapped" (he's deaf). This adds to the fun of watching the coverage. He is a "victim" too so he can't easily be portrayed as uncaring or mean. He must instead be "stupid" or "insane."
Posted by: David Hill, The Bronx at October 27, 2006 8:47 AMThe guy's profession is to play parts. Why shouldn't someone suspect that he's playing a part in these ads? When he admits in his own self-serving book how he pulled a similar stunt when he appeared before the Senate, why shouldn't we be suspicious?
The real problem is the Cult of the Victim, where anyone who has directly or even indirectly affected (Cindy Sheehan, 11 Sept family members, various airliner crashes) becomes a moral authority, and are trotted out to shut down the debate. No different this time.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at October 27, 2006 9:46 AMWith most Parkinson's patients, the medication causes the shakes worse than the disease does. So over-medicating would cause worse tremors than not taking the medicine.
Posted by: ken at October 27, 2006 11:05 AM"Rush Limbaugh fakes stupidity"
I resemble that, there is no fakery.
Posted by: h-man at October 27, 2006 2:45 PMI used to quickly pass over all the comments around here about how the Left loved death etc. The more I think about it though.... And that last selection about how non-stem cell research hasn't "captured the imagination" just creeps me out.
Posted by: Pepys at October 27, 2006 3:12 PMWe were in the car the other day and what Rush said was, if he's wrong about Fox stopping his medication, he'll apologize. Fox admitted that he sometimes neglects his medication. I haven't followed up, but all of it misses the point.
The point being that Fox is looking for grants for his foundation. Embryonic stem cell research is legal, the ban is only on federal funding for it.
Q. Why haven't the dozens of leftwing foundations funded it if it was so promising?
A. It isn't promising.
erp:
Fox's foundation is funding other ideas. Someone should ask him why not embryonic stem cell research.
In MO, the issue is wrapped around Prop. 2, to amend the state constitution. It appears that the amendment is deceptive on its face and that the death lobby is tap dancing.
Rush sounded as focused today as I have ever heard him. If the Talent, Steele, and Kennedy win, they should give Rush tickets when the new Congress is sworn in. Let him 'preside' from the Senate gallery. The Dems would have to sit there and take it.
The media is just as disengenuous as Fox on the whole (embryonic) stem cell issue. They don't want to ask the hard questions because the answers don't help the Dems.
Posted by: jim hamlen at October 27, 2006 8:41 PMJim, I'm sure Fox will add it embryonic stem cell research as soon as he gets federal funding. Follow the money and you'll get the answer to all, well almost all, life's questions.
Posted by: erp at October 28, 2006 11:08 AM