Michael J. Fox

[kafka]

I did a search and also a manual check of all the pages but didn't see a thread, so I hope this isn't a duplicate.

I adore Michael J. Fox and would dearly love to kick Rush Limbaugh in the groin. Patricia Heaton too, for that matter. When I saw him on Boston Legal or on the Jay Leno show last year, his condition was painfully obvious, as were his attempts to control the tremors.

A study showed his ad has had an effect:

A new study of Michael J. Fox’s stem cell ad shows “support for stem cell research increased from 78% prior to viewing the ad, to 83% after viewing the ad. Support among Democrats increased from 89% to 93%, support among Republicans increased from 66% to 68% and support among Independents increased from 80% to 87% after viewing the ad.”

Go Michael!

[Deleted]

ITA! Go Michael!!

I read or heard in the past couple of days that people who have Parkinson's only shake when they HAVE taken their medication. If they don't take it, they are fairly immovable and in some case, still as stone. Not sure if that's true but regardless, how Rush didn't know about Michael's condition is beyond me. He's given so many interviews over the years. He even had brain surgery to help slow down the progression. There is no way Rush didn't know this.

But if it helps ruin the Republicans in the USA, Yayyy!!!! Seems Rush did them more damage than good. Can't be upset about that

[Auroranorth]

I'll help, Kafka!

I still remember Back to the Future fondly, though not so much the sequels. Family Ties was a favorite, too. He's very admirable for being open about his condition and doing whatever he can to promote awareness about Parkinson's.

I haven't seen the ad, but an editorial I read mentioned that the meds for Parkinson's can reduce motor control, and that may be why he was shaking.

Here it is.

ETA caribou beat me to it.

[starskin]

I still can't believe that Marty McFly has Parkinsons. The man is a cultural touchstone and a very important part of my childhood. Plus---he seems really nice! It's just not fair.

[Auroranorth]

He does, doesn't he? And he and Tracy Pollan have been married since '88- that's practically forever in Hollywood.

[scarlet]

I love MJF! I still remember his "I feel 5 feet tall!" exclamation when he won the Emmy for Family Ties.

When he went public with his Parkinson's it was with the hope that he could raise awareness and funds to someday find a cure for the disease. To have that desire be thrown back in his face and doubted by an uninformed ass is just such an insult (to say the least).

[kafka]

starskin said:

I still can't believe that Marty McFly has Parkinsons. The man is a cultural touchstone and a very important part of my childhood. Plus---he seems really nice! It's just not fair.

ITA. It's so hard to believe he's so ill and he really does seem like such a genuinely nice person. I wasn't a huge fan of the "Back to the future" films but Alex Keaton was a big part of my teenage years. I LOVE "Family Ties"!!

I also admire all the work he's doing on behalf of Parkinson's. His Foundation is *the* largest private funder of research into the disease in the nation.

[kostgard]

What I find most interesting about that study in Kafka's post is that the majority of the people in that study were in favor of stem cell research, even before the ad - even the smallest group in favor is actually pretty impressive (66%). Just goes to show that it is really a small group of people who are dictating all this.

on topic - I'm glad MJF's ad is having the desired effect. And Back to the Future is one of those movies I never get tired of. I swear it is on TBS every other weekend, and I almost always sit down and watch it.

[Deleted]

Why? Didn't Rush Limbaugh research what Parkinson's is all about?

[boontown]

OMG, Rush Limbaugh is such a freaking idiot. I delightfully put him in the same category as Anne Coulter. Both effen disgusting human beings, with no compassion and a whole lot of crap. I"m disgusted.

I loved MJF too. Grew up with him on family ties and back to the future.