Limbaugh: Fox is 'acting' ill
Washington Post Service

WASHINGTON - 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 his radio 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, who is running against Republican Sen. James Talent.

But the Cardin ad is similar. 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.''

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 Tuesday.

''It's a shameless statement,'' said John Rogers, Fox's political advisor who also serves on the board of the Parkinson's Action Network. ``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. ``Any other interpretation is misinformed.''

Fox was campaigning for Tammy Duckworth, a congressional candidate, outside Chicago. Rogers said Fox had no public comment.

Typical asshole comment by Rush Limbaugh. In fairness, he did apologize for it in the very next segment. Still an asshole, just the same.

I stand by what I said. I take back none of what I said. I wouldn’t rephrase it any differently. It is what I believe; it is what I think. It is what I have found to be true.

Look people, he only continues doing these things so that the RM N&D forum will pay attention to him. Stop posting these stories and he'll go away, I promise!

I heard that there is going to be a series of ads in response to the Michael J. Fox one starring Kurt Warner, Jim Caviziel (SP?), et al, where they refute his claims about stem cell research.

Personally, I don't see what their celebrity status has to do with anything. Michael J. Fox has parkinsons...they don't. Who cares what they have to say? Might as well be my sister-in-law talking about how stem cells are unborn babies. Whatever. I loathe TV around election time...

I heard that there is going to be a series of ads in response to the Michael J. Fox one starring Kurt Warner, Jim Caviziel (SP?), et al, where they refute his claims about stem cell research.

Personally, I don't see what their celebrity status has to do with anything. Michael J. Fox has parkinsons...they don't. Who cares what they have to say? Might as well be my sister-in-law talking about how stem cells are unborn babies. Whatever. I loathe TV around election time...

You guys should read the ENTIRE transcript. It's huge. He went through a number of breaks and callers on the matter.

Rush was spot on. I worked in a nursing home for YEARS and saw so many parkinson's victims. People that were so...not in control, and drugged, that they couldn't talk. And not ONE of them moved like that. Old people, young people, I saw dozens of victims. Honestly, I would say Rush is right about him not taking his drugs.

But...in all seriousness. If read the WHOLE thing, you'll find that Rush going after his symptoms is like...a miniscule part of the issue. Rush's main criticism was how Democrats throw victims on the air in order to attack Republicans. The motive being, "If you throw a victim out there, you can't criticize them." Just like the Jersey Girls, just like Cindy Sheehan, and now Michael J Fox. Throw them out there, and nobody should criticize them, when in reality since they are throwing themselves into the political limelight, the should draw forth criticism. And as always, the typical media and liberal knee jerk response, is to stick up for the victim, regardless of the substance or truth to what they are saying, and just accept it as pure fact.

The Michael J Fox adds are COMPLETE BULLSHIT. There's no truth to it, and the Democrats are using victims to spout bullshit. It's fucked up. Totally fucked up. And now the world is shitting itself because someone threw out the bullshit flag.

Read the whole transcript. Then judge.