Michael J. Fox vs. Rush Limbaugh

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

28 Oct 2006 04:11 AM

A few days ago I wrote about Michael J. Fox's appearances in a slew of 30-second TV ads (airing on television and on the Internet) for five Democrats who support stem cell research. Many called the ads controversial, not because of the commercials' subject matter, but because the subject speaking-Fox-is shown shaking and rocking as he directly addresses the camera, the effects of his disease clearly apparent. Shortly after the ads were aired commentator Rush Limbaugh claimed Fox was "either off his medication or acting" during the ad.

In the days that followed Fox remained mum about Limbaugh's comments, but now the actor has decided to speak out. Appearing in a "CBS Evening News" interview with Katie Couric on Thursday Fox maintained he was not "off his medication or acting" in the ads. He explained that the effects of his medication are hard to predict: "I just take it and it kicks in when it kicks in. Sometimes it kicks in too hard and then you get what's called dyskinesia, which is that rocking motion."

In the interview Couric addressed Limbaugh's suggestion that Fox intentionally skipped his medication to increase his symptoms and appear more sympathetic. To which the actor replied: "The irony is that I was too medicated and was dyskinesic. Because the thing about being symptomatic is that it's not comfortable. No one wants to be symptomatic - it's like wanting to hit yourself with a hammer."

Fox went on to say that there is no time that he's not medicated, which prompted Limbaugh to post a transcript of his show under the heading "Rush Apology: I Was Wrong. Fox Took Too Much Medication." In the transcript, he says, "Okay, I need to apologize, I was wrong because I speculated either he didn't take his medication or he was acting. I never said the word faking. ... But I was wrong. He did take his medications. Now he took too much medication."

Prior to Limbaugh's comments, other conservatives who had seen the ads criticized Fox's appearance as exploitive. Limbaugh took the criticism a step further by saying he believed "Democrats have a long history of using victims of various things as political spokespeople because they believe they are untouchable and infallible."

On Thursday Fox replied to Limbaugh's comments telling Couric: "He used the word victim, and on another occasion I heard he used the word pitiable. You have to understand, nobody in this situation wants pity. ... I'm not a victim. I'm someone who's in this situation ... along with millions of other Americans."

Now, here's the part that drove Fox's point home to me. When Couric asked Fox if it was tough to speak out in public as his symptoms become more severe with time, Fox said, "It's not pretty when it gets bad. I've learned to throw vanity out the window. I've had enough years of people thinking I was pretty and teenage girls hanging my picture on walls. I'm over that now."

I happen to be one those teenage girls Fox is referring to (yes, I had his pictures plastered on my bedroom walls along with Jason Bateman's) and seeing what the disease has done to him-it's appalling to me that anyone could take aim at a man who is suffering from a disease that was not brought on by anything but fate.

Fox is scheduled to appear on ABC's "This Week" tomorrow. The fact that he has to defend his condition and his decision to appear in the political ads is somewhat disheartening to me, but, then again, more time in the media spotlight means more time to highlight his cause. I'm sure this is not the last we will her from either Fox or Limbaugh.

Related Articles:

Popular Actor's Controversial Appearance In Political Ads

Celebrity News Week in Review for October 27, 2006

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 28 Oct 2006 04:17 PM

Hi Michele, my personal belief is that it has more to do with the subject matter, or I don't think anyone would have been concerned over Fox's appearance. While I do feel for Fox and wish him well, there is a great deal more to the embryonic stem cell debate, and people need to look at the issues instead of voting based on emotion for a much loved celebrity, IMO.

Michele Cheplic (37445) 28 Oct 2006 06:18 PM

Thank you, thank you Sherry! I really appreciate your comment. You are so right--I do believe that the subject matter is what touched off this recent war of words. Do I think Rush Limbaugh's specific comment about Fox's meds strayed from the subject, yes. Is his "apology" sincere--I don't think Fox really cares.

But now I am straying... which is your point exactly and a good one at that. I agree that there is a great deal more to the embryonic stell cell debate. I certainly wish Fox well (he will always be one of my first crushes), but certainly I defer to the teachings of the Catholic Church which by the way continues to clarify it supports adult stem cell research and other avenues posing no moral problem... which have advanced quickly toward human clinical trials to treat juvenile diabetes, corneal damage, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, sickle-cell anemia, cardiac damage and many other conditions... but like you said this issue is about embryonic stem cell research and there is much more to it than what can be covered in a 30 second ad.

Thank you for your comment Sherry--you make an excellent point!

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 30 Oct 2006 02:00 PM

I've just begun to learn more about this issue... there's a lot to it. I fully agree with adult stem cell reseach, but have issues with embryonic. It has also been reported that MJ Fox didn't read the complete Amendment 2 before hitting the campaign trail in MO. MO voters would do well to read it over carefully and look into further analysis of what it really means. Thanks Michele. Great article.