Limbaugh pushes back against Michael J. Fox ad

October 23, 2006

A few days ago, Claire McCaskill unveiled a powerful, emotional ad in her Senate race in Missouri against Sen. Jim Talent (R). It’s a straightforward piece featuring Michael J. Fox, clearly feeling the effects of Parkinson’s disease, highlighting Talent’s opposition to stem-cell research. It’s a little painful to watch, but it’s a stark reminder of how difficult it is to understand why Talent and other far-right Republicans would rather see excess embryos discarded than see potentially life-saving medical research conducted.

With the Missouri race too-close-to-call, a control of the Senate in the balance, the right can’t let the Michael J. Fox ad go without a response. But how does one defend an indefensible policy? How far-right does one have to be to go after someone with Parkinson’s who simply he wants his government to take its foot off the brake?

Apparently, now we know. Here’s Rush Limbaugh today.

“I must share this; I have gotten a plethora of emails from people saying Michael J. Fox has admitted in interviews that he goes off his medication for Parkinson’s disease when he appears before Congress or other groups as a means of illustrating the ravages of the disease.

“Lest there be any misunderstanding, we talked about a half-hour ago of the commercial that’s running for Claire McCaskill featuring Michael J. Fox and what now appears to be when he’s off his meds, and I’d never seen him this way. And I stated when I saw the ad, I was commenting to you about it, that he’s either off his medication or he’s acting. He is an actor after all…. I think this is exploitative in a way that’s unbecoming of either Claire McCaskill or Michael J. Fox.”

Now, I don’t know whether Fox forgoes medication in certain circumstances or not, but I think Limbaugh is wildly off-base suggesting Fox could have been faking it for the ad, and even more wrong suggesting the ad is “exploitative.”

You can see the ad and judge for yourself, but I think John Cole’s analysis is spot-on.

…I find no problems with the commercial you just watched — there are no false promises, there are no lies, there are no distortions. Michael J. Fox isn’t saying that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for a cure, he is stating that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for research in the area, and given the GOP’s fealty to the religious right and hatred of science, I don’t see how that can be argued.

Voting for the GOP is a vote for the status quo. Voting for the GOP is a vote to keep the same stem-cell stance. Voting for the GOP is to voting to limit the hope of stem cell research breakthroughs (which not assured, are far more likely if the research is conducted than if it is not)…. Is it a powerful ad? Yes, but part of the reason it is powerful is because it is true.

Exactly. There’s nothing exploitative about Michael J. Fox asking voters to back the candidate who offers hope, and voting against the candidate who doesn’t.

As for “he is an actor after all,” Limbaugh’s smack at Fox is heartless and callous. We’re talking about someone suffering with Parkinson’s disease, for goodness sakes. To even suggest that it’s all just an act is just pathetic.

And as long as we’re on the subject, Limbaugh subtly criticizing someone for going off their meds … nah, forget it, it’s too easy.

Taking Oxycontin can put your bowels in a knot. That gives a whole new meaning to “anal-retentive Republicans.”

  • Limbaugh’s smack at Fox is heartless and callous.

    Nonsense! Rush would never do something heartless and callous.

  • Rush. Rush. Rush. Sweet baby Jesus please let there be a hell for this bastard. If there’s not one, please invent one just for him.

    Calling all heavy inanimate objects, safes, radio towers, window washers buckets, etc. If you find yourself over Rush just give in to gravity. Go with it. I’ll personally promise you 72 virgin objects of your choice if you do.

    Ditto-heads come to your senses.

  • Can we quit pretending these people have a single shred of human decency and shame left?

    Limbaugh’s criticizing someone for being “exploitative”?

    what does that remind me of? Oh, yeah, that trip he took this year with his guy pals and a fistful of Viagra to a Latin American country renowned for it’s underaged sex tourism trade. Nope, nothing exploitative there.

    Of course, when Limbaugh’s “off his medication” he just can’t “act.”

  • That’s tough talk for somebody who has to go *ON* his meds so he can get it up to fuck underage Dominican girls.

    Or boys. I don’t know that he’s picky.

  • i’d just like to note again that when we speak of honest conservatives, john cole is the sort of person we have in mind. would that the conservative movement were filled with john coles and not rush limbaughs….

  • ***…just pathetic.***

    Well—we are talking about Rush—now aren’t we?

    The thing that’s even more pathetic is that this bulbous ballyhoo of a self-serving, sub-human simian can’t even come up with a logical argument against the message itself. He hasn’t the intestinal fortitude to try and debunk the issue; he lacks the cognitive cojones to dream up even one, simple sentence to counter what MJF had to say.

    Rush Limbaugh is a fat, lazy, cowardly doper. He lies to get his drugs—and if I were to step into his realm of thinking, I might be tempted to suggest that he fakes the symptoms of the illness for which he receives his Oxycontin. After all, “Mr. Limbaugh” isn’t a real journalist, he’s not even a real commentator. He’s just an actor—and a pathetically-poor actor, at that….

  • These people (VRWRs like, and led by) Rush are also against medical Marijuana, too, are they not?
    I have some stong Libertarian tendencies, and that issue opened my eyes about Limbaugh many, many years ago. It showed me that he was a theocrat, and not at all in tune with my beliefs.

  • “He is an actor after all….”

    … and so was Ronald Reagan. Your point is?

    If Michal J. Fox stopped taking a medication that masks or controls the symptoms of the disease, good for him. It’s eye opening to understand just how destructive Parkinsons can be, especially on someone we normally associate with being vital and in control. But to Rush, hiding dirty laundry like the effects of Parkinsons or narcotic addiction is just how he prefers to handle problems.

  • I have gotten a plethora of emails from people saying Michael J. Fox has admitted in interviews that he goes off his medication for Parkinson’s disease

    Notice the fact disconnect: Flush says he gets e-mails (I assume he’s not talking about SPAM ads for Viagra). The e-mails claim X. The e-mails cite “interviews” as the source for X. Does Flush get his flunkeys to find these interviews? Nope. we’re supposed to take the word of the biggest turd in the gene pool that other turds have told him something they read or heard somewhere is the truth. So I guess if I started e-mailing various talking heads that we read somewhere that Flush said he went south of the border to get a little pre-teen love he wouldn’t have a problem with that.

    But here’s where Flush has once again Santorumed*: Any listener who knows some one suffering with Parkinson’s will not think “Yeah, that Michael J. Fox is a sneak and a rat.” They’ll think “You heartless son-of-a-bitch.” It might even swing a few votes.

    tAiO

    *My version of Screw the Pooch. Rick’s already a noun, why not make him a verb?

  • whenever he talks shit, people should be reminded that not only is Rush associated with the cysts on his ass he used as an excuse to duck outta Nam, he’s connected to his wee thingy for Viagra.

    now it’s time for me to wash my mind’s eye out with Lysol.

  • Peterado – good point about the meds, you stole my thunder (such that it was). Let’s assume he didn’t take his medication. It is so sad to see someone that so many of saw for so many years on tv and in movies be so affected and afflicted with this terrible disease. Is Rush saying that when MJF – I can’t bear to call him “Fox” – takes his medication, he’s “normal”? (Not that Rush would know what that is).

    Let’s assume he was taking his medication. All the worse since that’s as good as gets for MJF. Ahhh, the swift boating of a man with Parkinson’s. Now that’s a party that I want to vote for.

  • The most annoying thing is that Michael J. Fox is this way BECAUSE of the meds he is on. The affects you see in the ad are side affects of the meds he needs to control his Parkinson’s. It’s nice to see that once again the GOP’s ignorance on science strikes again….

  • Here’s an interview where Fox talks about his medication:

    Fox: Well, on is when your medication is working and you feel great and off is when it’s not and you don’t. Um and it’s…it’s one of the toughest things about this particular disease is that…is that um…you know it’s great because we have the medication that works, it works to except that it can only relieve symptoms. What’s tough is that because some people kind of think that that’s enough. Um because they see that it has its effect. What happens is that you’re swinging between two realities constantly…

    From an article about his foundation’s donation to a research facility:

    “People are ready for these answers,” said Fox, who was shaking noticeably and joked about never being able to time his medication to press conferences.

    I think it’s safe to say that this sort of thing is the origin of the smear.

  • (crap, I owe brainiac a coke)

    Comment by Chris

    Both comments were good in their own way. 🙂

    he lacks the cognitive cojones
    Comment by Steve

    Damn! Great line!

    he’s connected to his wee thingy for Viagra.
    now it’s time for me to wash my mind’s eye out with Lysol.

    Comment by rimone

    🙂 Definitely need the Visine! And the wee thingy is AFTER he takes the Viagra.

    And TAIO wants to flush the rightwing gene pool! 🙂

    I’m having a snarkasm over hre.

  • I think it’s safe to say that anyone who pays any attention to Limbaugh has long since taken the measure of the man. For him to talk this way in this circumstance is neither surprising nor out of character.

    Those who, at this late date, continue to listen to him, and, more importantly, continue to give him a broadcast forum, have told you all you need to know of their own character.

  • It’s impossible for Limpdick to be “heartless” since he is heartless, i.e., born without one.

    And he’s not “off his meds” – he is on drugs, i.e., drug-addled.

    Time to take the Big V Rushbaby, and head off to Santo Domingo with the other limp dicks to find another 11-year old.

  • There is no disgusting disgrace of a thought so low that Limbaugh can’t get lower than it.

    Republicans of this stripe have been shown for all the worst qualities in man. Really low, really disgusting.

    He, with NOT ONE SHRED of proof decides such a thing and pronounces it so. That scumbag that had his cleaning lady scoring for him, harped on “drug abusers” knowing he was one.

    Why does anyone listen to him?

  • Many Parkinson’s patients go off medications for interviews so that their symptoms are not masked. It is true that his motions are a side effect of the medication he is taking. These side effects develop within a few years of taking the medication. Without the medication, he might be shaking uncontrollably, or be unable to speak or move.
    Also, when a patient takes medication, it does not mean that he has 24 hours a day without obvious symptoms. The “ON” or good times decrease with use of medication or even if medication is not used.

    What struck me most about the video is that Fox is so easy to understand. I would bet it took 15 or more tapings and a sound wizard to achieve such clarity. Difficulty speaking is a common symptom of advanced parkinson’s.

    That aside, I can’t express my contempt for Limbaugh’s remarks. He is without a shred of compassion.

  • It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place.

    _Critical note_.–Of a piece with the absurd pedagogical demand for so-called constructive criticism is the doctrine that an iconoclast is a hollow and evil fellow unless he can prove his case. Why, indeed, should he prove it? Is he judge, jury, prosecuting officer, hangman? He proves enough, indeed, when he proves by his blasphemy that this or that idol is defectively convincing–that at least _one_ visitor to the shrine is left full of doubts. The fact is enormously significant; it indicates that instinct has somehow risen superior to the shallowness of logic, the refuge of fools. The pedant and the priest have always been the most expert of logicians–and the most diligent disseminators of nonsense and worse. The liberation of the human mind has never been furthered by such learned dunderheads; it has been furthered by gay fellows who heaved dead cats into sanctuaries and then went roistering down the highways of the world, proving to all men that doubt, after all, was safe–that the god in the sanctuary was finite in his power, and hence a fraud. One horse-laugh is worth ten thousand syllogisms. It is not only more effective; it is also vastly more intelligent.”

    H.L. Mencken Quotations
    The American Mercury. p. 75.

  • I don’t have anything witty to say to all of this. (Maybe I never do, but don’t go there right now, please.) My father had Parkinson’s Syndrome, and Michael looks pretty good right now in that commercial compared to what I had to witness my entire teenage years. I’m actually crying as I write this because I haven’t gone down that memory lane in a long time. It’s tough while other teens have healthy and energetic fathers to witness one’s father grimace so badly and uncontrollably that he would have made an Abu Ghraib torture victim look like he was laughing, to watch while others laugh at a man who can’t stop violent tremors of his head or arm, or to watch him descend into Parkinson’s dementia (senility). It destroyed whatever healthy family dynamics we had much as alcoholism or addictions do. But apparently “family values” audience- or voteseekers like Limbaugh or Talent don’t care about that.

    Maybe Michael’s (forgive me for sounding so familiar, but right now I feel very bonded to him) meds are more advanced than my father’s were. But the meds don’t prevent the eventual end result, they delay them. In fact, my father’s meds (principally L-dopa) were as harsh as the disease, and we had to be on constant guard regarding stomach ulcers (he learned to hate bananas because he had to eat them to help protect his stomach lining).

    If Michael was just acting in that television commercial, then he deserves an Emmy for his performance because it is so heartbreakingly accurate from my experience. Hell, show it in some Missouri movie theaters so he can qualify for an Oscar!

    If he went off his meds, well, Limbaugh should know that being on and going off recreational drugs (don’t give me that shit prescription excuse) is nothing in comparison to what Michael and others with Parkinson’s must deal with.

    I now live with the fear that I may somehow be predisposed to it, so hope means as much to me as it does to Michael for my own personal reasons.

    So please forgive me for being uncharacteristically profane and obscene, but fuck all the Limbaughs, Talents, and fucking rightwing, Republican theocons for their fucking shitty position.

  • Jon Chait on The Plank called a physician. He said that MJF’s actions much more likely to be his behavior with the medicine than to be the typical rigidity of being with out medicine. Also, it is unlikely he was acting his tremors, since the neural circuits for Parkinson’s tremors are not accessible to conscious thought, though the tremors might be somewhat amplified if already present.

  • If Rush is convinced that something like MJF’s shaking must be faked, I wonder what he would have thought about one of the Parkinson’s guys at the senior center I used to run who’s motor control was so bad his wife had to feed him…

    How “pro” life is it to consider a frozen clump of cells to be of more concern than the real living people who have to live with these diseases? Are people that ignorant that they have no realization how completely devistating they are? Since the same politicians against stem-cell research are the same ones claiming “intelligent design” is a scientificlly valid theory, I’d have to say they must be.

  • As someone who’s lived in Missouri for 34 out of his 35 years, I can assure you that the ad might work, but only for those in the middle.

    The problem is that this is still a very, very red state that’s dominated by churches (the place of worship, not the chicken joint). And when the churches all get together to not only defeat a state amendment that protects stem cell research, but also Claire, then there’s a good chance that both will lose.

    It really makes me embarassed … no, ashamed, to live in this state.

  • Somebody needs to look up all of Rush’s old girlfriends and see how many of them had abortions. Give them all a medal.

  • Why does Fox even have to grandstand like this anyway? Yes, Michael, we KNOW that you have Parkinsons.

    What does this even have to do with Stem Cell Research ANWAY? Where is the EVIDENCE that Stem Cell Research has anything to do with Parkinsons Disease?

    Aren’t they doing research at Rush University on a benevolent virus that reduces Parkinsons’ symptoms by 40 Percent?

    Sounds to me like that’s a more promising way to go, and that Fox is just being used as TOOL by some low-life scumbag politicians…

  • One more thing–Fox, in being duped into doing this commercials, could do his cause more harm than good.

    The ads are LIES:

    1. They claim that the opponents of the candidates the commercials are for want to criminalize Stem Cell Research–that is a LIE in both cases.

    By lending his name and his reputation to these candiates’ causes, Fox is protraying himself as being part of the LIE.

    2.Stem Cell Research is LEGAL in both states in which the commercials are being run.

    But then again, why confuse a good argument with the facts, right?

    All you people want to do is become media tools yourself and turn this “RUSH Vs FOX” debate into a media circus for your entertainment…you don’t really even give a damn about Parkinson’s disease…

    Ben
    A stage 1 Parkinson’s sufferer.

  • Sorry–one more note:

    I read on Reuters that Stem Cells, although they seemed to reduce syptoms, actually started to turn into TUMORS…seems to me like you’re only replacing one problem with another…..

  • “2.Stem Cell Research is LEGAL in both states in which the commercials are being run.” – Ben

    Sorry to hear about your condition Ben, but I believe that the Republican’t Base is attempting their best not just to prevent government funding of embryonic stem cell research but to criminalize it as soon as possible.

    Whether the Republican’t politicians against whom MJF has cut ads hold these positions matter rather less than whether they will elect Majority Leaders in the House and Senate who will advance criminalization.

    At least if you vote Democratic, you have a good chance of avoiding that.

  • Ben–
    First of all, since I’m guessing you don’t live in Missouri, let me let you in on a little fact: The state tried to BAN embryonic stem cell research last year. So the notion that it’s not illegal should be followed with the word “yet.”

    Second, Talent is against embryonic stem cell research, while other Republicans DO want to make it illegal. So, again, keeping the GOP in power could very well lead to it being illegal across the board.

    I do, however, agree that the ad is misleading, and should be tweaked. But considering what the GOP has done with their ads, I’d put this on the bottom of the list.

    Thirdly, why do you on the right think that MJF is being used as some sort of political pawn? The guy’s been crusading for this type of research for several years and, naturally, supports candidates who support it.

    Fourth, for you to try to make this into a Parkinson’s only issue is a farce, and shows that you apparently only think of yourself. That’s proven by your comment that we don’t “give a damn about Parkinson’s disease.” Quite frankly, you can go fuck yourself.

    You see, I have a degenerative spine disease that could very well benefit from stem cell research, so I have a vested interest in it. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s. And a best friend from high school is a quadriplegic. So you can take your high and mighty, “I’m the only one who knows this issue because I have Parkinson’s and you don’t” attitude and blow it out your ass.

    Does embryonic research instill a false sense of hope? Who the hell knows? The fact is neither you, nor I, nor MJF, or ANYONE else knows for sure. But to eliminate ANY possibility of a cure is morally reprehensible. Will there be better solutions? Again, who the hell knows. But again, why eliminate any possibility?

    All you and those like you do is talk about how it hasn’t helped anyone yet, pointing out the problems, and ignoring the fact that it’ll takes years of research before we know for sure. Hell, you probably would’ve been against finding antibiotics or organ transplants because neither one were solved within a few months and had setbacks at first.

    Quite frankly, I’m more than willing to go through life hoping that they find a cure for the constant, soul-crushing pain I feel – and may very well feel every single minute of every single day for the rest of my life.

    You, on the other hand, would rather dismiss that hope just because you disagree with it based on … well, I have no idea what you base your opposition upon. But considering you (allegedly) have Parkinson’s, I’m stunned you would take any position that has even a .05% of finding a cure.

  • “Sorry to hear about your condition Ben, but I believe that the Republican’t Base is attempting their best not just to prevent government funding of embryonic stem cell research but to criminalize it as soon as possible.”

    –Fine, you can have your opinion–where’s your proof? What are the Democraps going to do that’s any better?

    “Whether the Republican’t politicians against whom MJF has cut ads hold these positions matter rather less than whether they will elect Majority Leaders in the House and Senate who will advance criminalization.”
    –So, you’re saying that these politicians are TOOLS too? What about you, Lance? Aren’t YOU ALSO a TOOL for supporting these Democraps?

    “At least if you vote Democratic, you have a good chance of avoiding that.”-Lance

    –I’m not FOR Stem CELL Research–especially when injecting them into my brain will most likely give me a TUMOR…I could care LESS about Stem Cell Research…I only know that research down that path is going to take LONGER and alternative treatments…

    The more controviercial a treatment, the longer its going to take to get passed. I need something that works ASAP…

    MJF would do better to stick to PARKINSONS and not get into any political infighting—besides, he looks like he hasn’t got as much time as I do…

    Lance–

  • Ben-

    re: stem cell/tumor connection

    As far as I am aware, there are no FDA approved stem cell treatments for PD in the US. Stem cell research is in its infancy generally and this is not different for PD in particular. I am not sure of the specific origin of your belief of the problems of implantation of stem cells in the brain resulting in tumors, though I do know that it is considered to be one of the risks. However, it is one of the many issues that researchers need to answer before an effective stem cell therapy for PD exists. This is why I find your opposition to stem cell RESEARCH to be a bit odd. You are basically saying that, if no effective method in a particular area exists, there should be no research on it. I understand why you would be against, for example, receiving this treatment in another country. But why are you against research that will eventually contribute to stem cell implantation that does not result in tumors?

    To further Lance’s point, the current administration and the GOP in general, through their tax cut/Iraq war waste programs, have really really really really hurt NIH funding for academic science. NIH funding of academic science is particularly crucial in the area of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD and associated synycleinopathies, AD, ALS, MS, etc for two reasons: 1) academic research in these areas provides the backbone of our understanding of the diseases and, 2) these diseases are underserved by large pharmaceutical companies. This partly reflects the economics of therapies for these diseases, but also refelcts the difficulty in doing clinical trials on disease modifying therapies (all current therapies for PD mask the symptoms). Currently, NIH funding is more difficult to get than ever, esp for smaller labs. The Bush admin and their GOP footsoldiers are directly responsible.

    Last, there is a huge network of PD patients who believe their contribution is to get involved in the politics of funding for research and access to therapeutics, eg PAN (Parkinson’s Action Network), with whom MJF is associated, or at least spoke at their fundraising dinner in DC recently.

  • Ben,

    It really hurts that you seem to be attacking a group of people who want to at least TRY something that could result in a victory in the fight against afflictions like yours and others that have proven to be so problematic over the course of our history.

    You say that you “need something that works ASAP,” well, even though stem cell research might not be able to deliver results ASAP, it’s an attempt nonetheless. Yet here you are, attacking “Democraps” (come on) for that effort. I understand your anger at a possible cure being bogged down because it’s become one of the big political swing issues of our time, and that other forms of treatment wouldn’t have to be prefaced by hours and hours of debate on Capitol Hill, but what have those other forms done so far in creating a cure? And what’s wrong with at least TRYING a method like stem cell research to see if medical advancements can come from it?

    You seem to really hate that the stem cell debate is politicized, but then why the hell are you letting your status as a Democrat-hater get in the way of your hope in science and a possible relief that what you’ve already been subjected to? All the harsh words you threw out aren’t necessary, believe me. You’ve got no enemies on this site, and certainly none who favor science over a religious swing issue.

  • This site is startling to me, due to the fact that many people commenting on this topic and politics in general seem to speak in a way that is selfish and exclusive.

    This is America, whether or not you are democratic, republican, or neither, afflicted with a terrible condition or not, we should take into consideration what is best for the whole. If you do not believe in stem cell research, then feel free not to benefit from it. Those who don’t believe in blood transfusions cannot keep the rest of us from getting them. So who are we to say what research is acceptable, especially when no one knows what the outcomes will be.

    Everyone has a right to live the best life possible, and the country as a whole should do everything possible to allow people that luxury.

  • My grandfather died a shrunken, shriveled, exhausted man after years of fighting Parkinson’s Disease. I watched him jitter and shake for over 20 years. He fought every day for control of a disease that left his body clearly out of control. A skilled finish carpenter, he could no longer hold a hammer, or saw a board. He had to hang on to furniture to get from place to place. If someone dropped a pan in the other room his nerves went haywire and left him jerking out of control. He adopted a protective stance around guests or strangers, cradling his left hand in his right, to mask that the left hand shook non-stop, as did his head and his right leg. The first thing he did every morning was take his medication. He was given therapy, and dietary advice but nothing helped. He couldn’t carry a cup of coffee from the counter to the table, spread butter on his toast. He quit using a fork and ate with a big spoon. A scrupulously neat person, he carried a white handkerchief with him everywhere he went to mop the drool from his chin. He never lost his mental faculties. He was completely aware of his degeneration as it made him more and more dependant on others for his care. This kind, sensitive man showed the same kinds of outward manifestations as does Michael J. Fox.

    Limbaugh claims the Democrats are exploiting Fox? He needs to pick up a good dictionary. By it’s very nature exploitation is involuntary. The dictionary defines exploitation as – “The selfish or unfair using of someone or something for one’s own advantage. Abuse.” Seems pretty unlikely to me that Michael J. Fox got in front of that camera accidentally, and he doesn’t strike me as someone who’s put up with exploitation from anybody willingly. Exploitation my big fat tukus.

    Any Republican who stands behind this scumbag on this issue better hope their constituents don’t read or listen to the news. Parkinson’s doesn’t vote, or pick political favorites. It grabs people willy nilly, Republican or Democrat. It’s a safe bet there are a LOT of Republicans with relatives who have Parkinson’s – people who watch their loved ones dance just like Michael J. Fox was doing in those commercials, just like I watched my grandfather do for so many years. People who take them back and forth to doctors, hoping against hope for some kind of breakthrough, people who feed them, bathe them, hold their arms as they walk so they won’t fall. People who love them.

    Limbaugh has the nerve to claim the Democrats are manipulating Fox for votes? This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to smear Democrats just prior to a major election.

    We’ve always known Rush Limbaugh is a despicable semi-human with no heart, but this tops his worst by miles. His mockery is a sign of the smallness of his soul, his brain, and his heart. The man is scum.

  • Rush Limbaugh and his ilk are the main reason I am no longer a republican.

    This shows me that Limbaugh and his ilk, Hannity, the windbag on CNN Headline News who’s name escapes me at the moment and O’Reilly are the reason this county is divided, and slipping more and more into the abyss of neoconic religious fundamentalism.

    Taking into consideration, of a pharmaceutical expert like Rush Limbaugh and his on hands experience with the effect of medication on ones body, does not merit his attack on Michael J. Fox, and his apology is moot.

    They always attack the messenger and not the message, they are devoid of morals, common sense, compassion and will do or say anything to further the exploitation, degradation and moraless exploits of this ignoramus republicant party.

    They’ll do anything to defend the policy of George Bush to the point one would think they gave birth to the man.

    I’m sure this mental midget and his ilk will exploit this further, that just how they operate.

    Compassionate Conservatism is an oxycontin, er oxymoron.

  • Wow.

    I have heard Rush Limbaugh use cruel and thoughtless words many times, but the comment that Michael J. Fox was “acting” in that televisionn ad is the worst by far. To me, it caps his tasteless professions.

    For spreading information that is this inhumane, this insensitive, about Fox and his health condition, Limbaugh deserves what he will, someday, receive. May he have to endure it with ALL his faculties.

    The universe is weeping.

  • To all you limbaugh haters on this little pathetic comment page; Well, i read Fox’s book, and read that he does’nt take his medication in times of public speaking for stim cell research. So, if you think limbaugh is pathetic for pointing this out, your pathetic for taking Fox’s side when he clearly is teasing the truth by knowingly not taking his medication before he’s on national television.

  • Cliff:
    I don’t think anyone here is busy defending that MJF might not have taken his meds. I think the general consensus here is that Rush Limbaugh is a heartless jerk pumping a political agenda by attacking a man who has been very up front and public about his fight for stem cell research and for Parkinson’s in particular.
    Limbaugh is a pedophile and a drug addict. How does that stack up to a man speaking his heart to try to stop a debilitating disease?

  • Rush is a mother-f*cking piece of sh*t. What does he know about Parkinsons? How do people listen to him?! What a d*ck!!

  • About 30% would support a rabid dog if it was Republican. Is it so surprising that there is support for Bushes stemcell stance, or Rush Limbaugh? I am ashamed that I voted for Bush once, I am equally ashamed that I voted for Democrats before also. Isn’t it about time to scrap representative government and let us vote directly on the issues? Where is the candidate that will cast his ballot on every issue according to registered public opinion at the courthouse.

  • lefties-evil people-never cease to amaze me with their flat out stupidity and lack of morals,ethics. rush was wrong-said so minutes later and apologized-but every comment here is wrong. lefties are the nazis wanting to clone-yes part of the proposition-to take lives in order to save lives.i believe that was hitler’s philosophy.experiment on the defenseless….and nobody said anything about criminalizing stem cell research (as m j fox claimed). but he has an illness,so its okay for him to twist facts. evil people must limit freedoms because they know what they would do.

  • As usual, misrepresentation from the start. In the second line of the article the statement….”highlighting Talent’s opposition to stem-cell research” is made. An out and out lie! You don’t care if any truth
    is in your bullS^*& blog as long as you get to slam someone like
    Limbaugh or Bush or whoever, and you wonder why you loose
    elections. The whine here after election day will be deafining, to the
    few closed minds that come here for support.

  • “lefties-evil people” “An out and out lie! ”

    This is a good example that some people attempted to convey.

    Other than Rush and his ilk being a sh*tbags of shame.

    Republicans are this, Democrats are that, its a two party system for those whom are too ignorant to understand the difference between democracy and dictatorship.

    Sure people are going to come here for support, and facist such as yourself (you are neither democrat or republican you live to force your will upon others, hoping, and praying for the day there will be a one party system (republican) so you can be in total control), but until then you will be here as usual to prey on the people you lothe, or are paid by watchdog groups to attack, because there might be a chance they are morally, and ethically right.

    “The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and then get elected and prove it.”

    “The religious right scares the hell out of me.” – Barry Goldwater

  • I must say that for a person like Rush Limbaugh to make hasty comments about Michael J. Fox is ludicrous. I would bet anything that when everyone found out that Limbaugh was a drug addict that Michael did not make any derogatory remarks about him.
    I live in British Columbia, Canada, and we hold Michael very dear to us and to listen to a person that is as arrogant and opininated (even about topics he knows nothing about) as Limbaugh insinuate that Michael is exaggerating his movements and gestures is totally insane.
    Mr. Limbaugh why don’t you direct you disgusting remarks against someone who is more deserving, like, lets see, maybe, YOURSELF?

  • Someone ought to put Rush out of his misery. When a human being justifies his existence by slagging off sick and diseased people, shagging teenage prostitutes in 3rd world countries and taking drugs while advocating zero-tolerance against drugs, he is probably better off dead. Someone please give that man a gun so he can do the right thing and remove himself from the gene-pool.

  • I agree that Rush is an idiot, and it inflames me to hear such ignorance and insensitivity. If we can find one shred of positive coming out of this, is that there are probably some Republicans out there who have Parkinson’s in their families who are not too happy with those remarks. I am not Republican, but I would not defend a total A-HOLE who insulted me, even if we had the same political views. Besides, I’m sure Rush Limbaugh hates himself as much as we all do. One day he will wake up, realize what a waste of a human being he is, and OD on his painkillers. So let’s all breathe easy and be thankful that at least almost 50% of Americans are compassionate, intelligent people. Best of luck to you guys in the next election. One day the world will wake up from this right-wing nightmare, you just have to wait it out, like a painful root canal.

  • One person I read on here got close to the truth of the matter. First, yes what Rush said was out of line, but he did apologize and that’s good enough for me. Now to the real issue. Fox says in the add that McCaskill supports stem cell research and Talent does not, this isn’t true. Talent and many others including the President oppose EMBRYONIC stem cell research which has actually shown almost no promise of anything. They do not oppose adult stem cell research, which shows promise but cures may be many years off yet. Stem cell research is legal in Missouri and is ongoing. All congress and the Pres. did was not to allow federal money for embryonic stem cell reseach. Knowing this tells you that the Fox add is misleading because A. he actually overmedicated to produce the effect on the screen and B. used the general term “stem cell research” instead of telling the truth. I feel very badly for MJF, I grew up watching him on TV and in the movies, however if a person, any person is going to back a candidate they should tell the truth and in my opinion the use of a person’s disease to stimulate an emotional response is unfair. I don’t vote on emotion, I make a decision based on the facts, as everyone should. I know writing things here gets your emotions out, but I hope that each of you writes something where it really counts… the ballot box!

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