Transcript: Michael J. Fox

In Exclusive Interview, Fox Talks To Katie Couric About His Parkinson's Disease Advocacy

(CBS) 
KC: I want you to help people understand something. What about research on adult stem cells?

MF: It’s fantastic.

KC: What about research on stem cells that have been culled from embryos and may be able to be produced synthetically. In other words, this is such a political hot potato as you well know.

MF: The point of it is that the cells that we're not using, that are being wasted, hundreds of thousand of cells that are left over from in-vitro fertilization are being thrown away, are being wasted they are not going to become life, they are being thrown away so in that sense people say protecting the unborn, they are going to be destroyed anyway- so lets use those cells to protect the unborn that are gonna be born with diabetes that are going be born with pre- genetic disposition Alzheimer's or Parkinson's or are gonna be injured as children, or have spinal cord injury. That's the pro-life position because those cells are going to be wasted that's what people need to understand- where was the outcry when in-vitro fertilization was started 20 years ago- cause this has been going on for 20 years hundreds of thousands of these cells have been destroyed ever year for 20 years and all we're saying is if we're going to do that Lets use that to help people, let's use that to save lives

KC: What about other people who say, ‘Listen, this can be done in the private sector? Why not take politics of it, why not take it out of the government's hands?

MF: Well, the government builds these roads, the government builds us things to keep us safe - an integral part of society. And I think our health, is an integral part of society- it’s an economic factor, it's a social factor. It has to do with a cultural factor. Our health as a nation is integral to the future of this country and to not make an investment in that is crazy- the private sector can put a lot of money into this issue but not if the researchers are not free to do the research. The federal government can throw more money at these things by accident than the private sector can do purpose and when you look at comparative costs, when you think of bridges to nowhere in Alaska and stuff, you don't have to think too long "boy that could've save a few lives"

KC: A recent CBS news survey said 59 percent of Americans support embryonic stem cell research. You mentioned 70 percent. Do you think this has the political mojo, if you will, to really motivate people to go out and vote?

MF: You know what, I don't really care about politics. I just hope it resonates with people. And they realize there are decisions to be made. Either way, you look at an ad, like we did for Claire, for McCaskill. You can look at that ad, and because it's a direct recitation of the facts, it's very verifiable, and you can verify every fact that's in there. It's as much a campaign ad for Jim Talent as it is for Claire McCaskill because if you believe that those things should be opposed, that you just heard, hen you got your guy. We're confident that most people see it the other way. And that is just honest politics. We want to appeal to voters to elect the people that are going to give us a margin, so we can't be vetoed again. It passed through both houses, it went to the president's desk.

KC: That was the expansion of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.

MF: They are so limited right now. There are also limited lines. There is only 16 or so lines that are available for research. They are precluded by the amount of cells. They are not viable. So we are really at a standstill. It would open it up and get it going. And it was supported by the public, both houses. And the president, like I said, used his one and only veto to kill it. And if that doesn't incite you, as a citizen, with a stake in this, to step forward and exercise your franchise, then I don't know what is. So it's not really political in the sense, that it's not a game, it's not a trick. Look at this. This is the decisions we are making right now. We are talking about some really tangential issues. And slinging some really silly mud about this, about whatever, about whose uncle got who a job in 1982. Or, you know, so and so go out with strippers. You know, we are talking about saving lives. I mean, it doesn't get bigger than this, this is not politics, this is life.

KC: Are you going to be doing more of this? First of all, let me ask you this: is this tough for you to do?
MF: It's tough. It's hard on my wife too, she is taking one for the team. She's got the four kids at home, and gets them off to school everyday and all that so.

KC: But as your symptoms become more severe and the medication becomes less efficatious as the years go by, how tough is this for you to sit here and talk to me like this?

MF: Honestly, I mean, I really feel this: That you get in your life very few chances to make a difference. And I really feel privileged to do this that I get a chance to do this. But having said that, it’s not pretty. It’s not pretty when it gets bad. I’ve learned to throw vanity out the window. I’ve had enough years of people thinking I was pretty and teenage girls hanging my picture on walls. I’m over that now. So it’s tough to so some things, but as I said, the chance to just get people for 2 minutes, to go. This is big. This is not a wedge issue, this is not a thing. This is like who we are as a country and how we feel about our people and about the majority and respecting the minority, but moving forward with what they need and what they want. I want to make that point too, that people that are against stem cell research, embryonic or otherwise, whatever, I couldn’t respect them more and they prayed on it and they’ve thought about and they can’t get their head around it or their heart around it, then great, fantastic. I admire them and I respect them. All I have to say to them respectfully, if there was a majority that all prayfully and thoughtfully and emotionally and intellectually and in every other way, weighed this and cam eon the other side, and said ‘No, I think this is the right thing to do,’ to very carefully tread these waters, to save these lives, then you have to respect that too. And I don’t resort to name-calling or inflammatory language or, mocking, or whatever you need to do to just have a discussion about it. And we’ll see what happens.

KC: Have you seen the ad that your opposition in Missouri, a conservative group in Missouri put out an ad, with (the man) who played Jesus in the Passion of the Christ?

MF: I haven't seen any of this stuff. I've been hitting the road, so I haven't seen a lot of..

KC: Have you heard about it, right?

MF: I wouldn't look at them as my opposition, really, they just have a different point of view. But I haven't seen it, do you want to show it to me?

KC: Yeah, actually, we have it, let's take a look

(AD PLAYS)

MF: There is one thing that Jim the quarterback..

KC: Don't ask me

MF: The quarterback for the Rams, now the Cardinals I guess. He said it may not happen for 15 years. I had dinner, lunch with a 17 year old girl from Ohio, who has Parkinson’s, and is very symptomatic. She'll be in her early 30's in 15 years, and I don't think she'd write that off as a long time. I think if we can tell her in 15 years, that we'd have an answer for her in 15 years, I don't think she'd treat that lightly. I think that would give her strength and hope to hang on.

KC: Those were some pretty scary things that they said in that ad.

MF: Sure...and

KC: Women dying, fertility clinics paying women for their eggs, etc.

MF: Yeah, I invite people to look into that. And make up their mind. It's frustrating because it's the thing you constantly run up against. I've been talking about hope, I've been talking about progress, I've been talking about research in America, and the American story, American spirit. And I haven't said much negative at all. It's positive, it's not about negativity. But you always hear. The counter is always: Death, poverty, destruction, despair, baby-killing. I mean, I'm not interested in hurting women, and killing babies.

KC: But I think it raises the point that some people are concerned about this science because they feel that it's a slippery slope. And that there won't be enough oversight or regulation. What's your response to that?

MF: My response to that is that a lot of things that they warn us about. See it's hard, I've just seen that ad once, so I can't specifically speak to the text of it. But, arguments that one hears, in legislation that was passed and the president vetoed, and in other measures across the country. There are strict restrictions against human cloning, against egg farming. It's kind of like saying, you want to kill my dog. And I'm saying I don't want to kill your dog. I've made it clear I don't want to kill your dog.

I mean, they keep coming back to this thing that doesn't exist. As far as the other stuff goes, as far as being slippery slope, everything is a slippery slope. Getting up in the morning is a slippery slope. You apply your best sense of intelligence and ethics, and planning and foresight, and oversight, into what you do. I mean, like I said, our why we have this lack of faith in our scientific community, I don't know. They have done such wonderful things for us over the years. Why people think they are automatically going to have some kind of ethical breakdown. And create monsters or hurt people. That is not their intention. Their intention is to move forward, and to progress. And is something that you have to do carefully? Yes. And it is something that you have to do advisedly? Yes.

Is it something you have to do with foresight and contingencies, with fallbacks and all those other things that go with it? Yes. But why do we believe that they wouldn't do that? And we'd legislate it in to the extent that it's practically impossible not to. And we have faith in the human conscience.

KC: Michael J Fox. Thank you for coming in today.

MF: : Thank you, thanks for the opportunity.

[bttf4444]

I agree that it's not right to bash all Republicans. Not all Republicans are as hateful and intolerant as Rush Limbaugh. Also, let's not forget that Michael J Fox played a Republican on Family Ties. I think Alex P Keaton would be horrified by the hatred and intolerance that some extreme Republicans spew out.

[aplfalcon]

It's really frustrating for me to watching people like Rush Limbaugh try to politicize these things at the expense of others who are directly affected by them. Really sad. And inflammatory. And polarizing. I mean, look at the other comments on this page! People are posting about how they hate Republicans and how the so-called "Liberal" media is all but gone. It serves no purpose to start or continue hating Republicans and other groups of people, especially when it comes to making choices about issues like Stem-Cell research. It only bogs down the process and makes finding solutions and cures to these problems more difficult. Thanks for conducting this interview.

[gstark31047]

Smooth move MJF.
Not a victim, but playing it to the hilt.
State your case all day and night why you support stem cell reseach and no one, even Rush Limbaugh, would have commented one bit.
But you crossed the line when you attacked Jim Talent saying that he wants to criminalize research. He supports adult stem cells, but not embryonic stem cells research. Spend all the money you want from your foundation on this type of research. Just don't ask overtaxed voters to spend government money on research they find immoral and unethical, and to-date worthless in finding a cure for anything. Your Democratic friend started a war on Poverty in the 60's that has yet to won. Why should we expect better results this time?

[tcanter2005]

I was outraged by the comments from Mr. Limbaugh regarding Michael's movements were faked and he was acting! I seen some of the interview with Michael and was mesmerized by the movement because my husband has involuntary movement of his body exactly like Michael and suffers daily from a disease called Dystonia and has choriform movement which is associated with Parksisons. For Limbaugh to mimick and say Michael was faking or acting sickens me because I felt he was bashing my husband as well. Just imagine Mr. Limbaugh if it were your loved one -spouse, child, grandchild that needed a cure for such disabling diseases that have no cure...Would you look at them and mimick and tell them Oh, your faking or acting? I would think not, I would think that you would want to tap into every available resource-research and have a powerful spokesperson to find a cure and help your loved ones or someone that needs a cure. If you Mr. Limbaugh or a loved one or someone you knew had Parkinsons or a movement disorder or other diseases that stem cell research could help that had no cure on a daily basis and know that when you take them to the doctor that they are not going to get better EVER without research to help find a cure then I bet you would change your tune then! Your ignorance sickens me and god help you if you ever need to find a cure for some disease that you would develop.

[sjh755]

If you do not support stem cell research, you are ignorant and need to do some research of your own. MJF is right on the money...through in-vitro fertilization (which I've never heard anyone have a problem with), there are always left-overs that are thrown away. Stem cell research simply gives embryos a chance to make a difference (a HUGE difference) before they are thrown away anyway.

[bttf4444]

Dear Michael,

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! :)

[fgcarter]

I have Parkinson's disease and was infuriated when I saw the commercial and then heard Mr Limbaugh's remarks; but I relented when it occurred to me that there is just no telling what kind of pills Mr. Limbaugh may have been on.

[t_thibaud]

A pleasant surprise. I'm not a fan of TV news, have never particularly cared for Ms Couric and generally find celebrities' political views risible. But this interview was fair, solid, thorough and gave Mr Fox a chance to presnt his case. Which he did, coherently and with grace under pressure. This was a service to the nation. Please do more such interviews.

[madashell7]

If you want fair and balanced, watch PBS for the evening news. It is the bane of the Republican party. They do not have corporate advertisers, ie: Republicans telling them what they can report. Go PBS!

[smallpint]

The people out there that just judge and don't even know that facts on a certain illness. I am glad they have done research on alot of things because I would not be here today if they didn't. I was dignoised with hodgekins lymphoma in 2003. I am glad that research is as far as it is. I am now on my third year of remission. I have my first grandson and I am going to be able to watch him grow up now,thanks to all the research people. Thank You michael for speaking out. For one thing michael is not a pitty person at all. I believe his reason is to teach and learn from his misfortune. Which I install on alot of kids about smoking and telling them the what chemo is all about the pain the discomfort and all the goery stuff to get through at least one child not to smoke. Kids hear chemo but no nothing about it at all. thank you katie for doing this interview.

[bobcratchett-2009]

Ok maybe it%u2019s just me but does anyone else see the Ebenezer Scrooge & Tiny Tim parallel here. Well do you?

The public wants things to work out for Tiny Tim. The public empathizes with Tiny Tim & the public sympathizes with Tiny Tim. Moreover this is even deeply embedded in the cultural psyche of the country & its people via the tales of Charles Dickens.

Additionally, it%u2019s simply human nature. The public simply wants everything in the world to go well for Tiny Tim. The public is pulling for Tiny Tim to get off those crutches & walk. The public wants Tiny Tim to have a wonderful life and a bright future and for everything in the world to go well for Tiny Tim. The public yearns for Tiny Tim to be able to run, and jump, and play just like the other children and to have a happy childhood, and, a full life.

If we can say one thing about the fictional character that Charles Dickens wrote into history in that of Ebenezer Scrooge in that while Scrooge may have been self centered and greedy he certainly was not as obnoxious, arrogant, egotistical, cold hearted, and, out rightly utterly despicable & disgusting as one Rush Limbaugh.

-The End-

[madashell7]

The Liberal Media? It no longer exsists. The Bush Regime took care of that. Rupert Murdoch, need I say more? Liberal stands for freedom of speech and the filthy Republicans can't have that. They need the cloack of darkness to do their evil dirty work. Shed light on them and they run like roaches for cover. Filthy things they are just filthy.

[sarumcastle]

Michael J. Fox has shown himself to be intelligent, effective, articulate and passionate. He has done more for cogent discussion on stem cell research in this interview than we have seen for a long time from our politicians. Congratulations to Michael J. Fox and Katie Couric on a great interchange. Fantastic! This type of news reporting is wonderful, and I really appreciated being able to see the whole interview after the snippets on the main news program. Michael is right. We have wasted eight years, let's not waste any more time on this. Let the scientists have at it by releasing the required Federal funding. The States and the private companies can't do it alone.

[kgoss227]

I was so pleased to see your interview with Michael J. Fox concerning his endorsement of stem cell research on recent political commercials.
My family knows first hand how devastating the effects of Parkinson%u2019s Disease can be. My husband%u2019s brother developed the symptoms of Parkinson%u2019s when he was in his thirties. When he was incarcerated for a non-violent crime, both the trial judge and his jailers believed that he was faking the symptoms. For a time they denied him his medication and we believed hastened his death.
Recently another brother has been diagnosed with Parkinson%u2019s Disease.
Michael J. Fox is undoubtedly brave to put himself before the camera to advocate stem cell research.
Thanks to him and to Katie.

[cholerica]

Only thing I can say: This add should be shown in Europe as well. The more support there is from sane people with the right basis for judgigng it the faster the right decision pro stem cell research will be taken. People with difficulties in supportting this but rather hide behind some religious thinking shoukld really sit down, close their eyes and try to imagine what it is like.

[gr8malaprop]

It never ceases to amaze me how far the liberal media will go to defend their bias. No wonder you are loosing such a large share of the news. M.J. Fox should be ashamed of himself. He has done so much harm to the cause of Parkinson's Disease. How do you think people view those who have Parkinson's Disease now. They probably think that people with Parkinson's Disease don't think that those who do not have the disease do not care for their plight. I know that is the way that I feel. M.J. Fox thinks I don't care aboutr his plight because I do not believe in killing the innocent to save his life. That is what it amounts to.

[joeshields56]

transcript error:

MF: "...%u2018No, I think this is the right thing to do,%u2019 to very carefully tread these waters, to save these lives, then you have to respect that too. And I don%u2019t resort to name-calling or inflammatory language or, mocking, or whatever you need to do to just have a discussion about it. And we%u2019ll see what happens. "

should be "And don%u2019t resort ..." NOT "And I don%u2019t resort ..."

it was a very impressive remark and should be quoted correctly.

[helpself1]

What's the diffrents between people like myself that are organ donors that offer ourselves to help other people,when something was to happen to myself so they can harvest the parts to save my fellow americans in need. Stems cell research is the beganing of life, where being a organ donor is at the end of life. I myself has a diease of the brain called (bi-polar)i would love to be cured of this myself.But it takes research, we must learn how to find the ways to correct these and many more medicial problems that this nations faces on daily bases.i salute Mr. Fox for his bravery to stand up for the rest of us that stand in the shadows.

[saddennison]

Great interview. The fact that we are all free to say and do as we like, this interview was very emotional for me and I can understand the difficulties people have with Parkinson's. I support stem cell research.