"providing some source links would be most welcome and circumspect, wumpus"
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/eibessential3/mjf0.member.html

Forget the link...thats my bad.

Here you are straight from the horse's mouth.

"I believe Democrats have a long history of using victims of various things as POLITICAL spokespeople because they believe they are untouchable, infallible. They are immune from criticism. But when anyone enters the POLITICAL arena of ideas they forfeit the right to be challenged on their participation and message.

I have not met Mr. Fox, do not know him. I have admired his work in film and TV and his appearances on Letterman were howlers. I have nothing personal against him. But I believe his implication that only Democrats want to cure disease(s) is irresponsible (as I believed about John Edwards assuring voters Christopher Reeve would walk if only John Kerry were elected). I think this is ultimately cruel and gives people who suffer these terrible afflictions false hope.

As of now there is NO EVIDENCE that embryonic stem cells even hold promise, while other approaches, such as adult stem cells, already have yielded results. Michael's TV spots mislead and misinform on this. (You might ask him about the gene therapy research at a Chicago hospital which has produced encouraging results on Parkinson's patients. A VIRUS is inserted in the gene, which is then inserted in the brain. The Michael J. Fox Foundations has committed $1.9 million to further research on this...story from earlier this month.)

I did NOT mock or make fun of Mr. Fox. I have seen him many times on TV but never have I seen him as he appears in the ads. I read from his own book that he will not take his medications before certain appearances (Senate, 1999) in order to illustrate the ravages of Parkinson's, which I understand and applaud. So the concept of manipulating meds has been stated by Mr. Fox, which is what caused me to question his appearance in his ads.

He is stumping for Democrats, in the political arena, and is therefore open to analysis and criticism as we all are. His suffering is NOT fair game and I am sorry if people drew that conclusion about my comments, but I believe this happens precisely because NO criticism of victims is ever allowed, at all, which as I say is the Democrat strategy in putting them forward."

not sure what 'book' you are referencing, wumpus ... as no link was provided ... so i will have to assume that you meant michael j fox's Lucky Man: Memoir. this book was published in april 2002 ( he was diagnosed in 1991) ... the same month as this radio interview in which he states:

Well, actually, I've been erring on the side of caution--I think 'erring' is actually the right word--in that I've been medicating perhaps too much, in the sense that a lot of times the symptoms that people see in some of these interviews that have been on are actually dyskinesia, which is a reaction to the medication. Because if I were purely symptomatic with Parkinson's symptoms, a lot of times speaking is difficult. There's a kind of a cluttering of speech and it's very difficult to sit still, to sit in one place. You know, the symptoms are different, so I'd rather kind of suffer the symptoms of dyskinesia. . .this kind of weaving and this kind of continuous thing is much preferable, actually, than pure Parkinson's symptoms. So that's what I generally do.

this is almost what he says 4 years later in his interview with katie couric ... an understanding of PD and consequent side effects of medication to treat it (dyskinesia) would greatly increase someone's ability to debate this issue.

limbaugh also is quoted as saying:
"I have gotten a plethora of e-mails from people saying Michael J. Fox has admitted in interviews that he goes off his medication for Parkinson's disease when he appears before Congress or other groups as a means of illustrating the ravages of the disease."

not surprisingly, i wound up fruitless after my internet search for evidence of such.

providing some source links would be most welcome and circumspect, wumpus!!

i fully agree with you, theo ... although, i rarely join these political discussions, i could not sit back and let this one pass as a nurse. throughout his career, michael j fox has never been one for the limelight ... so this is all that someone, like limbaugh, has to demonize him with ... claiming that he failed to take his medication.

had limbaugh done an ounce of research ... he may have realized that. dealing with dyskinesias (and tardive dyskinesias) on a daily basis ... it is not easily contrived. it really turned my stomach to see limbaugh do that. he's reached a new low that will never be redeemable.

as michael j fox stated at the end of the clip: it is that simple. unfortunately, the public as a whole doesn't see any scientific progress in certain areas because our gov't would rather keep americans dumb. it's sad that those who do speak out get shouted down with the ignorant chanting 'yeah' behind them.

cures and solutions are out there ... but the industry would collapse if that were to happen.

Parkinson’s Foundation Debunks Limbaugh’s False Smears of Michael J. Fox

Rush Limbaugh has repeatedly attacked actor Michael J. Fox for appearing in television campaign ads promoting stem cell research. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, appears “visibly racked by tremors” in the ads.

“He is exaggerating the effects of the disease,” Limbaugh told listeners yesterday. “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.”

According to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, Limbaugh has no idea what he’s talking about. The Washington Post reports:
      
      In an interview in Ladies Home Journal’s September edition, Fox said he was taking a medication that causes jerking, fidgeting and other abnormal involuntary movements, known as dyskinesia. Fox said he was taking another medication to lessen those side affects.

      An official of the National Parkinson Foundation said movements like those exhibited by Fox are the result of taking medication to treat the disease, which would otherwise result in rigidity.

      “When you see someone with those movements, it’s not because they have not taken medication but because they probably have taken medication for some time,” the official said. “If you don’t take the medication, then you freeze.”


Limbaugh continued the assault today, calling Fox’s video “an attack ad” that is “filled with disinformation about embryonic stem cell research.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/24/rush-stem-cell/

If you're curious about how Parkinsons is affecting Michael J Fox, you might get an idea from this video.

from the page:
When Edgar Bronfman Jr gained ownership of Universal Studios he got into some odd marketing campaign practices.

One of which is this ... all » rare, employee orientation video, that enlightened people about how things were going to change under new management.

It was comissioned to be written and directed by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and it was, and Jr. didn't like it, so they scrapped it.

Great satire, video includes appearances by Steven Spielberg, Demi Moore, Tracy Lords, James Cameron, Michael J. Fox, and Sylvester Stallone.

I think your are fogetting about Michael J. Fox and William Shatner (just watch Boston Legal they are both on it, Fox makes a few cameos).

"You would probably laugh at Michael J Fox for his Parkinson's disease making him wobble his head like that and not be able to fully control his muscles."
Man, you crack me up. Stop making me laugh! You should be on stage you big comedian.

Seriously, though. Who descended from the heavens and anointed you the divine right to diagnose veterinary illnesses via a 41 second video clip? Have you never seen an animal (or even a human) performing some unusual act without there having to be some horrendous illness at its root? You seem pretty quick to exercise your holier-than-thou expert opinion without much of an intelligent, informed foundation on which to base your argument.

Not that I feel the burning desire to satisfy your scornful query, I will be gracious enough to favor you with a response. I applied the term "stupid" to the title and have allowed it to remain because the canid is violently attempting to protect his tasty bone from being plundered by an appendage of his very own. No, I amn't entertained watching any living being suffer through life from illnesses of any form, but I do possess the ability to recognize an amusing situation when one presents itself, and a dog blatantly unaware that the paw attempting to rob him of his treat is one of his very own is one such situation. I see no harm in light-heartedly referring to a dog as "stupid" for protecting his treat by growling and biting at the assailant that is his own foot.

I am very well grown up, and am able to consider every situation at deeper than face value. Furthermore, unlike yourself, I am able to not force my personal opinions as fact on everyone with differing views. I suggest that it's you who must not merely "grow up," but also try to appreciate the fact that, contrary to what your fiery passion says, you don't actually know it all. Finally, I think it would do you and all of your victims a good turn to lower your nose from the sky and remove the twisted, thick, thorny stick from your ass.

I'm really disturbed at your sick humor then, since even after knowing the reason behind the dog's behavior you still claim to find it to be "funny". Interesting as a video that shows such unusual illness? Yes, but not funny.

If you think this is funny after learning the truth then you have the mental maturity of an average 6 y/o boy. You would probably laugh at Michael J Fox for his Parkinson's disease making him wobble his head like that and not be able to fully control his muscles. You would probably also laugh at your granpa with Alzheimer's disease because he keeps forgetting stuff. I'm sure anyone can find countless of other rather reasonable comparisons.

What surprises me the most is that you kept the title of the video referring to the dog as "stupid". How is he stupid? Did he consciously choose to have such neural malfunction? Somehow I highly doubt it.

Did you even read the whole article on the Alien Hand Syndrome at all?

Grow up.