Feedback on Fox

By: Greg Kandra
Topics: E-Mailbag

(CBS)

We've been getting a lot of e-mails and feedback on Katie's interview last night with Michael J. Fox.

Typically, we'll get 50 or 60 e-mails overnight in the "C&C" mailbox.

Last night, we got nearly 300.

An overwhelming majority of them were from people with Parkinson's, or their families, like this one:

As a 45-year-old daughter of a Parkinson's Disease patient, I was obviously moved to tears by this interview, and enraged with Rush Limbaugh's comments and mocking of Mr. Fox. My father was diagnosed with PD when he was 35 years old, and to see years of debilitation has been heart-wrenching. In this particular time of extreme polarization between Democrats and Republicans, I believe the true issues of embryonic stem cell research are being ignored. Michael made an excellent point in the interview where he stated he supports Arlen Spector and other Republicans. One would think that those comments would squelch attacks from the right that he's politicizing his fight for a cure. If I had one wish from the media, it would be that they go to fertility clinics, interview workers to get an idea of just how many EMBRYONIC stem cells they are destroying on a daily basis. And then talk to some pro-lifers and ask them why they don't take issue with that, but scream to high heaven when others want them for research? I simply don't understand that.

My father's life has been short changed. He is 70-years-old now, has been in a nursing home for 15 years, can't talk, walk and has dementia. When I watch Michael J. Fox, and other people with PD, I always start to cry, maybe because I know what lies in store for them. His children will be affected, as I have. But through all the years of dealing with the day to day struggles my dad has endured, if nothing else, it has taught me compassion. And if everyone had this compassion, there would be more urgency in finding a cure.

Michael J. Fox is brave and certainly a hero to all people who are suffering with Parkinson's Disease.

Others were impressed with the way the interview was conducted, and how Katie handled it:

I applaud your ability to play devil's advocate without sounding cynical or skeptical. I was equally impressed by the invitations you handed Mr. Fox to tell his story without pandering. I will not soon forget the dignity I saw in that man nor the grace with which you conducted the interview. I will never forget how both of you stood in stark contrast to the loathsome attack on Mr. Fox's integrity by a radio host.

This viewer picked up on an interesting detail of the interview:

It was the best night yet for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Her interview was thoughtful, unbiased and respectful. Her replacing his microphone when he inadvertently dislodged it made me tearful. Thanks for sharing Mr. Fox's thoughts with us.

Of course, not everyone was won over.

You people are gutless and cowards. Using the illness of Mr. Fox as a political ploy. You liberal democrats make me sick.

For more, just browse through the comments here and in the news section. The opinions are lively and varied. If you missed the interview, it's available here on The Web in its entirety,both on video and by transcript.

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by madashell7 October 29, 2006 4:01 AM EST: So Rush is profoundly deaf? It can't be too bad because he still speaks clearly. Once you lose your hearing your speach will degrade badly. So maybe God is going to shut at least one of the mouths spewing lies and hate. Let's hear it for God! Hurray!; Reply to this comment


by dicksdungeon October 28, 2006 2:39 PM EDT: A new "HIGH" for Mr. Limbaugh.
Is it a reality that Mr. Limbaugh may suffer from a disease that good people have been trying to find a cure for. The disease is known as "TOTAL STUPIDITY"
I worked in many envioroments with people that I thought had reached the top when it came to the disregard for the human race. Mr. Limbaugh you truly have reached a new high. Bless you in your "FALL" to reality.
I so enjoy that Ms. Couric reports world issues and human topics in a caring and unbiased manner. Mr. Limbaugh please take notice that she reports on The Evening News not some mid day show where only you speak with a voice that is muffled by mochery. Well you fixed that problem. You come in "LOUD AND CLEAR" with mochery now.
The longer I live the more people like Mr. Limbaugh take me back. Just when you think that we have made steps to procure a sound and well informed society for our children, Mr. Limbaugh takes us back to the dark ages.

Hey Mr.Limbaugh I THINK THAT LADY IS A WITCH. LET'S BURN HER. How would you mock her?
OH YOU WOULD GET ON YOUR HIGH HORSE

Thank you Ms. Couric Please know we are counting on you.; Reply to this comment


by jcatcws October 28, 2006 1:14 PM EDT: mavrula
Cells from IVF are not being thrown away every day.

Each frozen embryo is owned by his/her parents, not a clinic.

By freezing unused embryos of IVF, one can have additional transfers performed with frozen embryos without having to harvest additional eggs, a rather painful process that has its health risks. Some fertilization clinics unethically cultivate and freeze as many as 50 embryos at a time rather than freeze the eggs & sperm separately and then unfreeze and cultivate embryos as needed.

The RAND-SART survey of all US fertility clinics found nearly 400,000 frozen embryos, where 88.2% were being reserved for future family building for the families that created them. These parents are quite upset with the attitude that their embryos are going to be destroyed anyway so why not experiment with them.

2.3% or 9,200 frozen embryos will be placed with another family for adoption. Over a million couples presently hope to adopt. Recently I had the privilege of playing with a snowflake child, the name given a frozen embryo that was adopted, implanted in her new mother's womb, and born a beautiful child.

2.8% of the embryos will be donated for research, 2.2% will be destroyed, and 4.4% are undecided. The 2.2% or 8,800 frozen embryos targeted to be destroyed cannot be legally used for research against the parent's wishes. It is the parent's decision that must be adhered to. The fertility clinic has no legal voice in the matter. www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9038/index1.html; Reply to this comment


by jcatcws October 28, 2006 1:06 PM EDT: I have always enjoyed MJF. I am concerned that he has been so deceived by the bio-tech industry to believe that embryonic stem cells heal. In over 20 years of Embryonic SCR (stem cell research), not even one mouse has helped another mouse!

Embryonic SCR is being done on human embryos. It's legal because there are few laws that limit it, even though it does require killing an embryo, a human being in the 2nd stage of development, a scientific fact not a religious position.

Embryonic stem cells have only grown uncontrollably into mutations & tumors.

NO SUCCESS, IMMORAL, Why The Campaign For Embryonic SCR? MONEY

Large corporations & individuals have invested BILLIONS into Embryonic SCR to no avail. Of course, they are reluctant to invest further and so why not go after tax money?

Bio-tech lawyers wrote MO's Amendment2.

The bio-tech industry has invested $30,000,000 to promote politicians who campaign for Embryonic SCR.

Press releases from the bio-tech industry credit Embryonic SCR with the successes of Adult SCR by not differentiating between the 2 types of stem cell research. ADULT SCR Has Developed 72 Treatments/Cures Helping Hundreds of Thousands of Patients

MO's Amendment2 sounds like its banning cloning, a branch of Embryonic SCR, when in reality it not only protects cloning, it funds it. If MO funds any disease research, MO will be forced to give equal MO tax $s to the cloners. No amendment guarantees funds to an industry. www.stemcellresearch.org www.nocloning.org; Reply to this comment


by madashell7 October 28, 2006 12:14 PM EDT: Everyone should attack the imoral right . Chase them out of town with tourches if you have too.; Reply to this comment


by madashell7 October 28, 2006 12:10 PM EDT: Well let's see....... Limbaugh is a hypocrite for saying on his show five seperate times.that....... All drug dearles and drug addicts should be tried, convicted and sent to prison... So where is his cell. He deserves no such respect. He is just a plain simple ***!; Reply to this comment


by rhythmjett October 28, 2006 1:43 AM EDT: Thanks for this wonderful interview. Mr. Fox has truly distinguished himself, and you Ms. Couric have now gotten my undying support. Real news should be--to parphrase Mr. Fox--a non-partisan issue which should get bi-partisan support. Truth always trumps ignorance. I am now a convert to the new CBS Evening News.; Reply to this comment


by moonjohn October 28, 2006 1:40 AM EDT: Mrs. Couric, Your attack on Mr. Limbaugh was shameful.

Perhaps you are the one who is %u201Cheartless%u201D %u2013 not Mr. Limbaugh.

You use your position in the news to attack an honest man who has chronic back pain and is profoundly deaf.

You trumpet Mr. Fox%u2019s medical problems but are silent on Mr. Limbaugh%u2019s serious medical problems.

Perhaps being deaf is a joke to you.

Perhaps undergoing back surgery without any relief to the chronic back pain is a joke to you.

Perhaps if Mr. Limbaugh were a liberal, you would show him some respect.

Mr. Couric, You are a disgrace.; Reply to this comment


by laydeebugirl October 28, 2006 1:30 AM EDT: Every time I see the clip of Mr. Limbaugh MOCKING the symptoms of someone with Parkinson's I want to crawl thru the screen and slap him in face. A good old fashioned slap in the face! What an ignorant , ignorant man. My mother has Parkinson's disease and our family lives daily with the pain this disease brings her and us. I do so without the use of Vicodin btw. Thank you Katie! Thank you for your bravery Michael!; Reply to this comment


by frb01 October 28, 2006 1:28 AM EDT: Anyone who has scene Mr. Fox knows his symptoms are not new, they appeared in an interview with Larry King several years ago when he did similar rocking motions. He obviously has more problems now. Guys like Mr. Fox, or Christopher Reeves are heroes, putting their fights out front, for most people would want their privacy in spite of their celebrity. I am sure Mr. Limbaugh has a large staff, perhaps some of them could research a story for their boss before he goes off uninformed again, perhaps the energy wasted here could be used to work towards common ground and get these people a shot at the science they need. The problem with Limbaugh is on mid-day radio for years, he is the only one doing the talking and we need someone else in the media to be doing it besides him.; Reply to this comment