In A Rush To 'Swift-Boat' Fox

The Nation: Limbaugh Ignores Fact, Crusades Against Ailing Actor

(The Nation)  This column was written by John Nichols.

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Rush Limbaugh is not just making an issue of Michael J. Fox's campaign ads for Democratic candidates who support stem-cell research. The conservative talk-radio personality is making it the issue of a fall campaign that gets stranger by the day.

While it may be hard to figure out why anyone with Limbaugh's political pull and national prominence would declare war on the guy who played Alex P. Keaton — one of television's most outspoken, if eccentric, conservatives — in the series "Family Ties," there is no denying the intensity of the assault.

For the better part of three hours each day this week, the radio ranter has been “Swift Boating” the television and film star for daring to do what Limbaugh — who freely admits that he is an entertainer — does every day.

In Limbaugh's warped assessment of the political process, it's fine for him to try and influence the votes of Americans. But woe be it to anyone else who attempts to do so.

Since Fox began speaking up in favor of candidates who support science over superstition, the television and film star who suffers from Parkinson's disease has been accused by Limbaugh of "exaggerating the effects of the disease" in campaign commercials in which he points out that Democratic candidates for the Congress and governorships in the battleground states of Missouri, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin and now Iowa favor a serious approach to stem-cell research while their Republican opponents do not. Limbaugh was relentless in his assault on Fox. "He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act," the conservative commentator says. "This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting." After it was pointed out to Limbaugh by everyone, literally everyone, who knows anything about Parkinson's disease, Limbaugh declared, "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 apologize to Michael J. Fox, if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act."

That should have been the end of it.

But Limbaugh wasn't backing off. His new theme became: "Michael J. Fox is allowing his illness to be exploited and in the process is shilling for a Democratic politician."

One problem with that line of attack is that Fox was the one who volunteered to cut the ads, with the express purpose of helping voters see beyond the spin and recognize the stark choices that they will be making on November 7. Another problem is that, two years ago, Fox cut an ad supporting a top Republican, Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, who supports embryonic stem-cell research. But the biggest problem is with Limbaugh's emphasis on the Fox's physical appearance, as opposed to what the actor is saying in the ads? Why blather on and on about whether Fox, an actor, might be acting?

Because it is easier to criticize the way that Michael J. Fox looks than it is to criticize the content of his message.

Fox's ads are fact-based. They reference the voting records, public statements and policy initiatives of the Democratic and Republican candidates he is talking about.

That being the case, beating up on the "Back to the Future" kid would not seem like a smart political strategy. And it certainly is not going to help Limbaugh soften his image as a partisan hit man who knows a little too much about what it means to be on or off particular medications.

[bluestardad]

Dictators is that a Washington Dish that Republican Mark Foley was covertly serving the Congressional pages, Or Is that a Texas Style potato dish that the Bush administration has been feeding the American people for the last few years?

[thgdriver]

How come CBS did not report John Kerry's latest intelligence assesment of our fighting men and woman in Iraq. While speaking at a "college" yesterday he said.

I Quote him "If you study hard, do your homework, try and learn as much as you can, you will be allright, otherwise you will end up in Iraq".

That's your Democratic leaders for you !! Trashing our men and women in harms way. Trashing the men and women that are dead and gave him the freedom to say---- What a bunch of dummies or words to that effect.

[connapa]

Unfortunately, the First Amendment allows Rush to say whatever he wants. On the plus side, it also allows the medical community to publish FACT based articles.
it's unfortunate that most people listen to the "Shock Jocks" than to the FACT based media for their information. Pwerhaps, someday, this will change.

[bmirarck]

Rash Limbaugh! What a draft dodging, oxy-contin addicted, scumsucking pig you are.

[ryindy]

Adjectives:
sanctimonious, pompous, opinionated blowhard.
So what else is a Rush Limbaugh? And, why does anyone even care what his opinion is? Stop for a moment and think people. Use the God given talent of thought to make up your own mind of what is right and wrong in this world then tell Mr. Limbaugh to start writing dime novels.

Who cares what that clown thinks?

[adventurepa]

I liked Rush better when he was hooked on drugs.
He used to shake just like fox when he was going into withdrawl.

[jpow3]

Limbaugh's estate is worth $25 Million. This is all show biz and it works for him. He's trash Bush if there were a buck in it.

[luvny-2009]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Nancy Reagan went on national TV to promote Stem Cell which she is 100% for. What would that scumbag Rush say about her? He wouldn't dare open his moron mouth. People like him don't just voice their opinion they have this inner anger and need to control. He and Bush & Co are all alike.

[forabluefla]

Limbaugh is an idiot...but the bigger idiots are the ones who believe anything he says..I guess all those moronic NEOCON commentators that call themselves journalists are terrified of being outsourced after the regime change and will do or say anything to rile their base of mindless followers into screaming for liberal blood to keep their jobs safe...kind of like at the circus...ever see the elephant act...they grab the tail of the one in front and blindly follow until the master cracks the whip...but I could be wrong on that..maybe Rush is more in tune with the pachyderm waste left on the floor?...

[randolf44]

Rush Limbaugh is to politics what Howard Stern is to filth. He's a hypocrite and a hate monger who makes his living spreading rumor, inuendo, and accusations, right or wrong. He's part of the problem in this country rather than the solution. It took Republicans forever to attain power and now he is only one of many who will go to any length to retain it. Absolute power corrputs absolutely and it's time for a change.

[woodlandstar-2009]

Rush Limbaugh's commentary on Michael J. Fox is beyond outrageous. The question I have though, is why would he do such a thing? What is it about Limbaugh and others of his ilk that possess them to say such outrageous things about people? The sad part is that many ditto heads will actually swallow the toxic waste which spews from Limgaugh's mouth.

So why did Rush say such things about Michael J. Fox? The answer is simple...those who are drunk on power simply have no sense of ethics or morality. They do and say what they want without regard to the damage it causes others. This is the basis of egomania and its shirt-tail cousin megalomania. Historically Adolf Hitler is viewed as a classic example of megalomania. And the ditto head followers of Rush Limbaugh are no different than the mindless automatons who were hypnotized by the bigoted ranting of Adolf Hitler. Could history repeat itself? Remember Jasper Texas! And that is just the tip of the iceberg. The chariots of bigotry, driving our world into chaos, are guided by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson. Without a doubt, the fires of chaos and hell are fueled by the tongues of bigots.

http://whiskey-springs.blogspot.com/

[okimac2005]

I think that what Rush said about MJF was definitely uncalled for. For years, Rush has done nothing but publicly talk bad about certain people but nothing never happens to him. He even has been caught obtaining perscription drugs illegally, using them illegally and numerous other wrongful things that just get covered up. Then he has the nerves to attack people because he knows alot of mindless followers of his will back him. As long as he has people that listen to him, he will always spread propaganda. Just like the people that say MJF did not do research before he spoke on those adds. If Rush would have had half a brain, he would have known NOT to say MJF was either off his medication or acting. That was just plain STUPID but then...what do we expect from a person who is off HIS drugs...or is he?

[lukebize]

Posted by RonnieHM:
"I'm assuming you wouldn't want the president of Exxon telling you about all the benefits of drilling for oil in Alaska. Is this different?"

Hmm. Let's see: on the one hand, we got your basic filthy-rich dude trying to make himself richer through persuasion.

On the other, we got your basic dying guy trying to get stupid people to allow doctors to find a cure for what ails him.

Oh, yeah, the two are *exactly* the same! Like fire and water!

Very astute, RonnieHM.

[lukebize]

Dear Rush,

We wanted you to know how much we appreciate your stout support of the Republican Party. You are truly a blessing to the Republicans and conservatives everywhere. Please continue to do everything you can to help the Republicans. God bless you, Rush, and the big help you give the Republican cause.

Love,

The Democratic Party

[themooniac]

Is so nice to see that the term to "swift boat" someone is now accepted slang for slurring someone. Another enduring Republican legacy!

[knomes58]

Limbaugh should be in rehab, clean up your own act before pointing your finger. You are disgusting.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

Pixelslinger,
I don't condone what Rush did, but however I am not going to elevate MJF to sainthood because he made a political endorsement ad that wasn't necessarily completely honest.

[pixelslinger]

Emokev,

While I can appreciate that every extremist has apologists, such as has been your response to every article that attacks the far right, I will directly answer your question.

Doesn't bashing Limbaugh put us on the same field as Limbaugh bashing MJF? Absolutely not. For one thing, Limbaugh made unqualified assertions for effect and to display MJF as a quack. Not only were his allegations completely without foundation and based solely in the ignorance to which he appeals to his audience, but the were purposefully meant to be inflamatory - as is his job as a radical-right shock-jock.

Limbaugh is a hypocrite. This is not up for debate. The only thing that is up for debate is whether he is as big of an unmitigated jack@ss as the media is treating him.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

Okay, last question--Do we really think that by calling Rush Limbaugh every dispicable and disgusting name that we can think of on a public forum will make us any better than Rush? Or are we doing the same thing to Rush that we accuse him of doing to MJF?

[ihave4rugratshelp]

Okay, another question--do you honestly think how you vote on November 7th is going to remove Rush Limbaugh? In case you haven't noticed, Rush is not running for any office--and if every Democrat in the state of Missouri wins their elections and Amemdment 2 passes, all that will do to Rush is give him enough things to complain about on his show for the next 2 years. And as long as he complains, someone, somewhere will listen.