My Interview With Michael J. Fox
(CBS)
After all the controversy and publicity and debate about his political ad, and the criticism he got from people like Rush Limbaugh, he really is in the eye of a political storm right now. But when he came to our studio for our exclusive interview, he was remarkably calm. He was also obviously symptomatic. He trembled uncontrollably, and his legs shook, but he explained it was actually a side effect of not taking enough medication. He told me he reduced his dosage because he didn’t want to have dyskinesia, which is the side effect of too much medication, and which causes the swaying back and forth that was so evident in the controversial ad for Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill. Fox said that he can never tell from one day to the next how serious his symptoms will be. It’s a crapshoot.
Our interview lasted about 30 minutes, and we covered a wide range of topics. He explained why he favors embryonic stem cell research, why he has taken up this cause now, and why he believes he needs to do everything he can to help find a cure for debilitating diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. He talked about politics and how he supports both Democrats and Republicans -- he’s a big backer of Arlen Specter, among others – and he spoke with great feeling about how he’s living with this disease.
(CBS)
No matter how you feel about the issue of embryonic stem cell research, you can’t help but be moved by Michael J. Fox’s courage.
You can see it for yourself on tonight's CBS Evening News, and later tonight the entire interview will be posted here on the Web.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 89 CommentsRush Limbaugh did not make fun of Michael J. Fox. Someone took that video and totally distorted it. If the press wanted to report the truth they could have went to Rush%u2019s site and read the transcript of the show. The 20 million people who listen to Rush weekly know the truth.
Credit also to Rush Limbaugh for his comments. Mr. Limbaugh has never allowed his ignorance stand in the way of him shooting his mouth off.
with Michael J Fox. My mother, who passed away 19 years ago also had Parkinson. I can still see her today trying to pour a cup of coffee, brushing her hair, trying to spread butter on a slice of bread. All the simple things that we do every day took twice as much time for her. Sometimes she would stop what she was doing and wait, sit in a chair thinking she could somehow take control and the shaking would stop. Unless you spend time with someone that has Parkinson a person really doesn't know how bad the disease can be. The quality of life is eaten up minute by minute to the point that the whole family suffers for their loved one. I can only feel sad for anyone that would laugh at Mr. Fox and this disease. I wish there had been a person as brave as Mr. Fox when mother was alive; if nothing else but to give her hope and to let her know it was ok to feel sad for herself. Before the disease she loved to eat out, shop, and go to church; that all stopped because people would stare and it make her nervouis. Thank you so much Katie for reporting on a very important subject; becasue a large part of the world does not know how bad Parkinson is. Your dad is in my thoughts and prayers.
Digby says: "Katie Couric becomes part of the problem when she validates these ginned up controversies or gives credence to accusations for which there is no evidence. She knows very well that nobody can really doubt Fox's sincerity. He's raised tens of millions of dollars for the cause and it's evident to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear that he's got this horrible disease. He should not have to prove that he's not faking his symptoms and it's unconscionable that the media is allowing the issue to be framed that way.
If it was necessary to refute Limbaugh's ridiculous claims, she should have had a leading expert in Parkinson's come on to discuss the symptoms and then interview Fox about the issue itself. Instead she presented it like a "he said/she said" by interrogating Michael J. Fox about whether it was proper for him to go ahead with the shoot when it appeared that he was going to look like a Parkinson's sufferer on camera. In doing so she validated the accusation that he might have been faking it when the only "evidence" was Limbaugh's noxious ravings."
If it was necessary to refute Limbaugh's ridiculous claims, she should have had a leading expert in Parkinson's come on to discuss the symptoms and then interview Fox about the issue itself. Instead she presented it like a "he said/she said" by interrogating Michael J. Fox about whether it was proper for him to go ahead with the shoot when it appeared that he was going to look like a Parkinson's sufferer on camera. In doing so she validated the accusation that he might have been faking it when the only "evidence" was Limbaugh's noxious ravings.
My heart really goes out for you. Just keep your faith. I hope that one day a cure for PD can be found. I really enjoy watching you in the Back to the Future Trilogy. I feel so bad that Rush Limbaugh and some of the others feel the need to take shots at you. You are such a sweet man, and you do exude peace and harmony. You definitely have my support.
Hugs! :)
By freezing unused embryos of in-vitro fertilization, a patient 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 and 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%u2019s 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%u2019s wishes. It is the parent%u2019s 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
Embryonic SCR is SCR on stem cells taken from an embryo. Adult SCR is SCR on everything else, including the umbilical cord, the nose, eyelid, & bone marrow, etc. Store your baby%u2019s umbilical cord in a Cord Bank to avoid rejection problems from using stem cells from an embryo!
72 to Zero: As of October 2006, adult stem cell research has resulted in 72 cures/ treatments, which has helped hundreds of thousands of people. Embryonic research has resulted in none/zero /zip. Not even has one mouse cured another mouse in over 20 years & BILLIONS$ of embryonic stem cell research! Adult SCR has made money for investors. Embryonic SCR has not and so, the investors are after our tax money.
To Kill or Not to Kill
Embryonic stem cell research requires the killing of an unborn human embryo %u2013 adult stem cell research does not. Don%u2019t let the latest reports fool you. Never has an embryo survived having stem cells removed. If an embryo would survive, what kind of disabled adult would an embryo become after having 10% of his stem cells removed?
The bio-tech industry launches press releases crediting Embryonic SCR with the successes of Adult SCR by not differentiating between the 2 types of stem cell research. Always differentiate!
Embryonic SCR is legal & is being done on human embryos. It%u2019s 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 %u2013 a scientific fact not a religious position.
Embryonic stem cells have only grown uncontrollably into mutations & tumors. NO SUCCESS, IMMORAL %u2013 Why The Campaign For Embryonic SCR? %u2013 MONEY
Large corporations and 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%u2019s Amendment 2. The bio-tech industry has invested $30,000,000 to promote politicians who campaign for Embryonic SCR.
The bio-tech industry launches press releases that 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%u2019s Amendment 2 sounds like its banning cloning when in reality a provision in small print of cloning, a branch of Embryonic SCR. I know of no amendment that guarantees unlimited funds to any industry. www.stemcellresearch.org www.nocloning.org
Embryonic SCR is legal & is being done on human embryos. It%u2019s 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 %u2013 a scientific fact not a religious position.
Embryonic stem cells have only grown uncontrollably into mutations & tumors. NO SUCCESS, IMMORAL %u2013 Why The Campaign For Embryonic SCR? %u2013 MONEY
Large corporations and 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%u2019s Amendment 2. The bio-tech industry has invested $30,000,000 to promote politicians who campaign for Embryonic SCR.
The bio-tech industry launches press releases that 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%u2019s Amendment 2 sounds like its banning cloning when in reality a provision in small print of cloning, a branch of Embryonic SCR. I know of no amendment that guarantees unlimited funds to any industry. www.stemcellresearch.org www.nocloning.org
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 89 Comments