America's fury at radio host's attack on Michael J. Fox
Furious Americans were outraged yesterday over an attack on Back To The Future star Michael J Fox by a powerful right-wing talk radio host.
In the attack, multi-millionaire radio man Rush Limbaugh accused Mr Fox of acting to exaggerate the effects of his Parkinson's disease in a series of political ads.
Video: Michael J. Fox makes stem cell plea
But it seemed the outburst against one of the world's favourite stars had backfired, not only on Mr Limbaugh, but also on President Bush's Republicans as they head for vital elections next week.
Mr Fox is admired worldwide for his courageous battle against Parkinson's. But that did not stop Mr Limbaugh, a rabid right-winger and anti-abortionist, from tearing into him in an attack on stem cell research.
The row centres on a series of TV advertisements Mr Fox has made for Democratic candidates who support stem cell research which experts agree provides the best hope for a 'cure' for Parkinson's.
President Bush has blocked US government funding for stem cell research as part of his anti-abortion crusade.
In the ads, Mr Fox - who also starred in hits like Doc Hollywood and TV's Spin City before he quit acting in 2000 to concentrate on fund -raising for Parkinson's research - talks to the camera during a violent shaking attack.
His body weaves and writhes and his head bobs from side to side, jumping out of the frame in violent spasms.
But Mr Limbaugh, one of the most powerful men on US radio, with 10 million listeners, told his audience: "He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. 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." He added: "This is the only time I've ever seen Michael J Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has. He can barely control himself."
The ads distorted the truth and misled people, he said.
Furious doctors immediately leapt to Mr Fox's defence.
Neurosurgeon Prof John Boockvar, of Weill Cornell Medical Centre at New York's Presbyterian Hospital, said: "Mr Limbaugh's allegations are ludicrous. Those with Parkinson's have "on" and "off" spells.
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"If there is one single disease that has the highest potential for benefit from stem cell research, it's Parkinson's." And Dr Elaine Richman, a Baltimore neuroscientist and renowned author of books about Parkinson's, said: "Mr Limbaugh's attack is insulting. It's appallingly sad, at best.
"Anyone who knows the disease well would regard Mr Fox's movements as classic severe Parkinson's disease. Any other interpretation is misinformed."
As anger grew, Mr Limbaugh backtracked. Still on-air, he half-apologised, saying: "Now people are telling me they have seen Michael J Fox in interviews and he does appear the same way in the interviews as he does in this commercial.
"All right then, I stand corrected. So I will bigly, hugely admit that I was wrong, and I will apologise to Michael J Fox, if I am wrong in characterising his behaviour on this commercial as an act." But then he added: "The truth - the whole truth - must be told. Michael J Fox is allowing his illness to be exploited. That Mr Fox is a victim is not a license for him to mislead or manipulate the public." Mr Limbaugh - who has named the stations that broadcast his show across America the EIB (for Excellence In Broadcasting) network - also edited out the worst of his criticisms on his website... without mentioning that he himself is under fire.
At a rally later Mr Fox alluded to Limbaugh's remarks, saying: "It's ironic, given some of the things that have been said in the last couple of days, that my pills are working really well right now."
But John Rogers, of the Parkinson's Action Network in Washington, who is an adviser to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has raised millions of dollars, said: "Rush Limbaugh is shameless and insulting."
