Rush to Judgment

"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 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.'

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."

- The above is a portion of an article written by David Montgomery for the Washington Post. View the entire article or watch the ad.

When I first heard about the comments made by Rush Limbaugh, I was infuriated. Why? Because I heard about it from my father who has Parkinson's.

I am not here to support or attack stem cell research. I am still on the fence when it comes to that issue. I'm writing this out of the frustration that is brought on from watching all of the political nonsense that has been taking place over the past months. We've all seen the ads. We've heard about, or seen, the crashed press conference in Tennessee. We've come to accept the fact that during elections, politicians become ranting raving 9 year olds that have nothing better to do than poke holes in their opponent's platforms.

For what? The greater good of our country? Explain to me how watching a father and son talk about how all they really wanted to do was visit Jim Davis, but couldn't find him, is going to help me make an informed voting decision.

But back to the Michael J. Fox ad.....Did he take his meds before filming that ad? Probably not. But the fact that he has to take meds at all in order to be able to stand upright without shaking or wobbling speaks for itself. My dad practices his signature all day long. He does this so he can see when the meds kick in the strongest and when they are wearing off. He has good days and bad days. I can assume that Michael J. Fox is not any different. Was this a shameful exploitation in order to support a political platform? I don't think so. The media shows starving children and AIDS infected communities all the time in order to raise awareness or money. How is this any different?

I hope that for Rush's sake he never has to face the physical effects of a debilitating disease. But if he does, maybe he'll remember to take his meds.