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Michael J. Fox Plunges Into Election
Oct 24 5:02 PM US/Eastern

By JAKE COYLE
AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease that all but ended Michael J. Fox's acting career are making him a powerfully vulnerable campaign pitchman for five Democrats who support stem cell research.

In 30-second TV ads for Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, who is running for the Senate in Maryland, Senate candidate Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, Fox shakes and rocks as he directly addresses the camera, making no effort to hide the effects of his disease.

In the McCaskill ad, which has been viewed by more than 1 million people on YouTube.com, Fox tells voters, "What you do in Missouri matters to millions of Americans. Americans like me."

He also was planning to appear at events for Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Tammy Duckworth, a candidate for Congress from Illinois.

Celebrities have a long history of supporting political candidates. But there's no question that Fox, who campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race, is uniquely suited as a spokesman for embryonic stem cell research, which some scientists believe could aid in discovering treatments or cures to Parkinson's and other diseases.

Fox's ads may even turn the close Senate race between McCaskill and Republican incumbent Jim Talent in Missouri, said Larry Sabato, a professor at the University of Virginia and director of its Center for Politics. He described the spots as "very powerful."

"If a tiny ad can change votes, this one ought to," said Sabato. "This is real. He's not playing a guy with Parkinson's _ he IS a guy with Parkinson's."

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system that leaves patients increasingly unable to control their movements. In his ads, Fox shows a remarkable nakedness that recalls **** Clark's appearance last Dec. 31 on ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve," displaying the effects of his debilitating stroke a year prior.

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991 and revealed his condition publicly in 1998. In 2000, the "Spin City" and "Back to the Future" star quit full-time acting because of his symptoms and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has raised millions of dollars.

He has since acted sporadically in smaller roles, such as in a several-episode guest appearance earlier this year on ABC's "Boston Legal," playing a business tycoon with cancer. For that role and others, Fox generally has sought to control his movements. He told The Associated Press in January that one long scene was physically taxing and that because of his illness, he "can't show up with a game plan."

In the same interview, Fox said he felt sympathy for Clark, who received a mixed reaction for his New Year's appearance.

Similarly, some have criticized Fox's ads as exploitive. Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh claimed Fox was "either off his medication or acting" during the ad.

Others defend Fox's aggressive campaigning for a Parkinson's cure. Dr. John Boockvar, a neurosurgeon and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical Center at New York's Presbyterian Hospital, called Limbaugh's claim that Fox was acting "ludicrous." Boockvar said those with Parkinson's have "on" and "off" spells.

"If there is one single disease that has the highest potential for benefit from stem cell research," Boockwar said Tuesday, "it's Parkinson's."

GO HARD SCIENCE

Limbaugh Says Actor Fox Exaggerates Effects of Disease in Ads
By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; 5:42 PM

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh today attacked actor Michael J. Fox for inserting his halting voice into the U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri, suggesting Fox was "acting" in a commercial where he's shown shaking while endorsing the importance of stem cell research.

"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease," Limbaugh told listeners today, encouraging them to go online to watch Fox's commercial, which first aired Oct. 21 in St. Louis during a World Series game. "He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act."

In the commercial, Fox throws his support behind Democratic Missouri Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, who supports stem cell research, against Republican James M. Talent. Fox also taped similar ads for other Democratic candidates, including Benjamin L. Cardin in his Senate race against Republican Michael S. Steele in Maryland and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D), who is seeking reelection.

The ads bear witness to the actor's unmistakable decline from Parkinson's, which the actor has suffered from for a long time, and harnesses that physical degeneration into a political message.

"What you do in Missouri matters to millions of Americans, Americans like me," Fox said in the television spot, which will continue airing throughout Missouri this week.

"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."

Limbaugh said Fox could "control himself enough to stay in the frame of the picture" and to keep "his eyes right on the . . . teleprompter. But his head and shoulders are moving all over the place."

"He is acting like his disease is deteriorating because Jim Talent opposes research that would help him get cured," Limbaugh said, adding that Talent only opposes "fetal stem cell research, but not adult."

"This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox," Limbaugh said. "Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."

Some Parkinson's medications lose their effectiveness over time and patients can experience a return of tremor and other symptoms. Stopping a drug can also cause a rebound of symptoms.

Neither Fox nor his spokesman could be immediately reached for comment and the details of his treatment were not available.

An official of the National Parkinson Foundation also said that some involuntary movements, such as "jerking, fidgeting, twisting, and turning," can be the result of taking medication to combat the rigidity caused by the disease.

Fox, who gained fame for his roles in the "Family Ties" and "Spin City" television shows and "Back to the Future" movies, has long been open about his battle with Parkinson's and his support for the research that could lead to a treatment.

But in this ad he shows a noticeable degree of decline not widely seen in previous public appearances. His speech is clear but his head and body are jerky and unsteady.

Besides the ads, Fox has also made plans to appear at events for two Democrats, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Tammy Duckworth, a candidate for Congress from Illinois.

"He wants to take on races and get involved in races that involve a pro stem cell candidate against an anti embryonic stem cell candidate," Fox publicist John Rogers said.

Cardin aides in Maryland said Fox contacted the campaign after seeing news accounts of Steele's position on the research. In February, Steele told members of a Baltimore Jewish group, "Look, you of all folks know what happens when people decide they want to experiment on human beings, when they want to take your life and use it as a tool."

He later apologized for the remark, which was interpreted as a comparison between embryonic stem cell research and Nazi experimentation.

Staff writer David Brown contributed to this report.


© 2006 The Washington Post Company

Yeah well they are having a hard time making this look wrong....don't know what to do when faced with something powerful like the simple truth. All the crazy hostile people can argue all they want - and the ad is just the plain truth......amazing isn't it?

It's our job to make them look like the fools they are being right now sorry to call names...Steve thank you so much for your input....

paula

to Braintalk--well, old Braintalk--for PN; I don't have Parkinsons. But I think the PN made me hyper-sensitive to neuro diseases, and how pathetic our response to them has been as a society. For the most part, we ignore them.

So, I got used to dismissive doctors, pharma companies who downplay side effects, and a public that couldn't care less.

But this, for me, was too much.

Somebody needs to organize a boycott of all the advertisers for this, excuse me, SOB until he gets pulled off the air.

if you want free publicity for a cause be controversial. This talk back guy, Rush Whatsisname has catapulted Parkinson's and Embryonic Stem Cell Research to the top of most major news outlets across America.

And the Michael J Fox video has been watched by more Americans than the recent Paris Hilton video promoting similar vigorous movement disorder.

Thanks Rush. Keep up the good work.

GO HARD SCIENCE

And according to this recent survey, the Michael J Fox ads seem to be increasing support for ESCR even more .....

Voters Increase Support for Stem Cell Research After Viewing Michael
J. Fox Ad

FLEMINGTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 26, 2006 - A new national
study revealed that American voters' support for stem cell research
increased after they viewed an ad featuring Michael J. Fox in which
he expresses his support for candidates who are in favor of stem cell
research.

The study was conducted among 955 Americans by HCD Research and
Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) during October
24-25, to obtain Americans' views on the stem cell research before
and after they watched the ad.

The participants included self-reported Democrats, Republicans and
Independents. They were asked to view the ad and respond to pre-and
post-viewing questions regarding their opinions and emotions
concerning the ad.

Among the study findings:

-- Among all respondents, support for stem cell research increased
from 78% prior to viewing the ad, to 83% after viewing the ad.
Support among Democrats increased from 89% to 93%, support among
Republicans increased from 66% to 68% and support among Independents
increased from 80% to 87% after viewing the ad.

-- The level of concern regarding a candidate's view on stem cell
research increased among all respondents from 57% prior to viewing
the ad to 70% after viewing the ad. Among Democrats, the level of
concern increased from 66% to 83% and Republicans' level of concern
increased from 50% to 60%. Independents' level of concern increased
from 58% to 69%.

-- The perception that the November election is relevant to the U.S.
policy on stem cell research increased across all voter segments,
with an increase of 9% among all respondents pre- and post-viewing
from 62% to 71%. The Democrats' perception increased from 75% to 83%,
Republicans' perception increased from 55% to 62% and Independents'
perception increased from 60% to 68% pre- and post-viewing.

-- The advertisement elicited similar emotional responses from all
responders with all voter segments indicating that they were "not
bored and attentive" followed by "sorrowful, thankful, afraid and
regretful."

-- The vast majority of responders indicated that the advertisement
was believable with 76% of all responders reporting that it
was "extremely believable" or "believable." Among party affiliation,
93% of Democrats 57% of Republicans and 78% of Independents indicated
it "extremely believable" or "believable."

Respondents were asked to indicate what candidate they would vote for
in the U.S. House of Representatives election if it was held today
before and after viewing the ad.

-- Republicans who indicated that they were voting for a Republican
candidate decreased by 10% after viewing the ad (77% to 67%).
Independents planning to vote for Democrats increased by 10%, from
39% to 49%.

Automated real time response curves for both interest and
believability were created through feedback from responders. Survey
participants used their mouse to evaluate levels of interest and
believability by moving it from left to right while viewing the ad.
These can be viewed at:
http://www.hcdi.net/PressReleases/foxAdCurves.html

Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania,
MCIPO is a respected source of public opinion data on local, state
and national issues.

Contact

M&M Communications, Inc.
Vince McGourty, 908-638-5555
vinmcg@earthlink.net

http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?
articleid=384897&categoryid=15#

for ESCR is a powerful message. Will that message turn into bullet points for those who share the public view. Only time will tell.

In Search of a Champion.

Watched that incredibly well done video today for the first time. Brilliantly done. Compulsory viewing for all. Very real, very moving, Phantom of the Opera stuff. Andrew Lloyd Webber and our very own Peter Jackson eat ya heart out. The video should be making its way to the Caans Film Festival in some form of Documentary genius. Blew my lights out. Let's hope we get to see the Lavender dress in all its glory the day science wins over all adversity and gets the job done. It deserves nothing less than a happy ending. www.pwnkle.com/champion.htm

GO HARD SCIENCE