Day by Day with Parkinson's and Peripheral Neuropathy: Michael J. Fox Ad Controversy Makes Me Mad

Day by Day with Parkinson's and Peripheral Neuropathy

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy in 2006, but my symptoms seemed to take a turn in a different direction in late 2007. The current diagnosis is Essential Myoclonus. You will find record here of a my journey - coping with the testing, the medicines, nutrition, digestion problems, exercise, the emotions, and no telling what else!

Friday, October 27, 2006

Michael J. Fox Ad Controversy Makes Me Mad

We didn't watch the World Series, but we did hear about the stink Rush Limbaugh caused when he accused Michael J. Fox of faking his tremors in a political ad he did, endorsing a candidate who is pro embryonic stem cell research.

YouTube - Michael J. Fox political ad

Fox News Story about Limbaugh's accusation

Michael's Response to Limbaugh

Limbaugh later apologized, but, IMVHO, that's just not enough to put out the fire that he started.

Fox developed Parkinson's at a young age, and he has a particularly aggressive form of it, as well. He's already had surgery, and you can be sure that he's under the care of the finest doctors available. Still, his condition continues to worsen.

For any public figure to go on record casting doubt over the reality of the severity of his condition is a disservice to all those who suffer from PD, or from any disability, for that matter. And to think he mocked Michael and imitated the way he was moving ... why that's just intolerable!

We all have our good days and bad days. Just because I've been walking just fine, doesn't mean I won't need the cane to take the very next step. That's just the way Parkinson's works. I'm just newly diagnosed, and this situation made me very angry. I can only begin to imagine how someone whose tremors are disabling must feel, reading about all this. I think I would be outraged.

One writer suggested that Limbaugh should make a huge donation to the Fox Foundation, if he really wants anyone to believe his apology is genuine. At least that way, he'll do some good and, maybe, somewhat balance the harm he's done.

Labels: "Parkinson's", fake tremors, Michael J. Fox, political ad, Rush Limbaugh

8 Comments:

At 10/27/2006 5:45 PM , Norma said...

I love Michael J. Fox
At 10/27/2006 6:54 PM , Dirty Butter said...

Thanks for stopping by, Norma. I followed your link back to your post on this topic, and I would suggest it to anyone who would like a different viewpoint on this whole situation.
At 10/28/2006 9:24 AM , Marion said...

I, too, found the mocking of Michael's tremors unacceptable.

The mocking of any disability is not acceptable in any form.
At 10/28/2006 9:35 AM , Dirty Butter said...

Fox leaves himself open to criticism when he gets involved in politics, as Norma points out in her post, but I agree wholeheartedly with you, Marion.

Limbaugh went way past the line of decency when he mocked his tremors, and I'm really surprised the disabled community hasn't been more vocal about it. Maybe they don't want to get involved, because of the politics of it, either.
At 10/31/2006 2:56 AM , Ripley said...

Whilst I agree this guy was totally out of order, he did inadvertently give Parkinsons Disease a world wide audience with his mocking of Mr Fox. Pushing a topic like PD to the forefront for a couple of days has been priceless free advertising and i`m sure Michael would be pleased with that alone even if it meant his name was needlessly sullied by some idiot looking to boost his own ratings. Fair play to Michael for having the guts to show everyone what his battle with PD is like.
At 10/31/2006 6:39 AM , Dirty Butter said...

That's an interesting take on the situation, Ripley, and probably true. I noticed Michael on the news last night refuting Limbaugh, so it's still getting air play.
At 10/31/2006 10:23 AM , Jackie said...

Whether you are for or against stem cell research is not the point. Limbaugh had no right to mock Michael.

He could have responded in an article or his own commercial or called for a debate on the subject.

As Ripley says, it will be wonderful free advertising.

Remember in the 60' when the same arguments happened over the Pill.
At 10/31/2006 10:38 AM , Dirty Butter said...

I agree with all you had to say, Jackie. I've not read Fox's book, but Norma says that Michael admits in it that he testified before a Senate Committee without his medicine, so they could see just how devastating Parkinson's can be.

If Limbaugh had just left it at questioning Fox's medication state, then none of this would have made the news. It's the mocking that makes me so mad about the whole thing and that made it newsworthy.