Michael J. Fox

[grumpygirl]

Here's interview info from TMZ:

In an interview with Katie Couric on Thursday night's "CBS Evening News," Fox said that, contrary to the speculations of Limbaugh and other right-wing critics who charged that he managed his appearance in political spots supporting stem-cell research to maximize the swaying and jerking effects of his Parkinson's disease, he was actually "too medicated" when he did the spots. "That's funny – the notion that you could calculate it for effect. Would that we could," said the former "Family Ties" star.

[berrybearie]

I heard excerpts of the Katie Couric interview on the radio. MJF has more class in his little finger than Rush has had in his whole life.

[grumpygirl]

berrybearie said:

I heard excerpts of the Katie Couric interview on the radio. MJF has more class in his little finger than Rush has had in his whole life.

You're right about that. Here's MJF suffering from a terrible, incurable, debilitating disease and then there's Scumbaugh, suffering from idiocy in the extreme. And the REAL sick guy has the most class.

[Deleted]

Limbaugh was wrong.

That said, when Fox or any other celebrity does a political ad, supporting or attacking political candidates or initiatives, it is entirely fair to question their motives and their situation.

Because this is Fox, who seems to be a nice guy, who is well liked (even by those who do not agree with him), any attack on the ad is viewed as "just terrible". I'm sure that was the idea.

From what I understand, Americans are divided 50/50 on the idea of stem cell research. The proposed Missouri Constitutional Amendment (one of the initiatives that Fox did an ad supporting) would amend that state's constitution to make it a constitutional RIGHT to breed embroyos for the sole purpose of destroying them during research. I sincerely doubt that the majority of voters would support such an amendment. IF THEY DO, then there is no problem specifying exactly WHAT the Amendment will do. If it is entirely fair for Fox to do his ad, it is also fair for other celebrities to point out what the Amendment really says. Ads showing conflicting sides of an issue can lead to more informed voters.

The same kind of initiative passed in California some years ago. Since it's passage, it has cost millions and millions of dollars and has shown no results. (The above facts from Democratic pollster.)

The problem I have with Fox's ads is that while I know that he is sincere and sincerely believes in his cause and believes that is morally right, the ads are worded implying that the candidates he opposes do not want to find a cure and do not want him to get better. That's just not true. Stem cell research is a moral issue for people that oppose it. You may not agree with their beliefs, but it is a lie to say that they don't want cures.

[Sunnyhorse]

Well, as a Missouri voter, the problem I have with the conflicting ad is that the people rounded up to appear in it keep yammering that supporters of the amendment are lying, that the amendment permits the cloning of human beings. One of the very first lines in the thing says that human cloning is expressly forbidden under the terms of the amendment. Who's being deceptive?

[Deleted]

Sunnyhorse - It seems to me that between the 2 ads somewhere is the truth. The conflict between the 2 views might very well lead to the truth of what the Amendment actually does.

[Deleted]

binkybetsy said:

I don't believe Limbaugh had any reason for his remarks other than he likes to stir shit. He's no better than Fred Phelps.

I totally agree. Phelps is the person who makes my blood boil the most, but Limbaugh is no better. Why anybody gives that asshole a platform to speak from is beyond me.

I adore MJF, and even though I don't agree 100% with his politics, I do admire his drive and his effort to use his illness to make a difference.

[Deleted]

I don't have strong feelings for stem cell research at all, but that's probably because I'm still not clear on where the stem cells come from.

[thecupcakekid]

Fox's interview with Katie Couric was painful to watch, but he was amazing. The thing he said that struck me the most was, "I'm not a victim. (paraphrasing next part) I'm just a person in this situation trying to make the best of it." I really respect that.

[Wol]

Man, did Rush pick the wrong guy to start up with:

Though Fox, a native of Canada who became an American citizen in 2000, has been politically active for Democratic causes, he said he has voted for and would vote for a Republican. "Arlen Specter is my guy," he said of the Republican senator from Pennsylvania. "I've campaigned for Arlen Specter. He's been a fantastic champion of stem cell research. I've spoken alongside Mike Castle, who's a Republican congressman. Absolutely."

"This is not about red states and blue states," added Fox, who has also lobbied Congress to lift President Bush's restrictions on funding for stem cell research. "This is not about Democrats and Republicans. This is about claiming our place as the scientific leader in scientific research and moving forward and helping our citizens. That’s all it is. It’s that simple."

Hey, look, a piece of garbage can form an apology!

"All I'm saying is I've never seen him the way he appears in this commercial for Claire McCaskill," says Limbaugh. "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, especially since people are telling me they have seen him this way on other interviews and in other television appearances."

Yeah, Rush, it takes a really big man to pick on a cripple.

Can MJF run for office? Obama/Fox in 2008!