Stars Come Out For and Against Stem Cells

Michael J. Fox

Response ad to Michael J. Fox

Shortly after actor Michael J. Fox went on television to support Missouri's stem cell ballot initiative, opponents struck back with a star studded ad of their own. Among the celebrities against Amendment 2 are Jeff Suppan who is scheduled to pitch Game 4 of the World Series. Others include quarterback Kurt Warner, the Royals' Mike Sweeney, along with actors Patricia Heaton and Jim Caviezel.

These are also ads to support the two U.S. Senate candidates from Missouri. Republican Sen. Jim Talent opposes the measure while Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill supports it. Amendment 2 would make embryonic stem cell research a right via an amendment to the state constitution.

The Fox ad has spurred somewhat of a backlash. Most notably was Rush Limbaugh's comment that Fox was "either off his medication or acting," commenting on Fox's wavering body. And the blogosphere appears to up in arms by his remark. Scott at Jarkolicious says:

The attack ended up blowing up in Rush’s face. He has been attacked in return, especially online and in the blogosphere. Undoubtedly someone, somewhere, agrees with his unsympathetic view of a very sick man desperate to cure himself of a horrible disease.

Today, however, the media somehow got wind and reported that Limbaugh apologized for making such ill conceived remarks. Turns out that the media had it all wrong; Limbaugh not only did not apologize but took the chance to reiterate his position on the whole issue by essentially saying that he has no regrets for saying what he said and in the manner in which it was phrased.

Kati from PA differs:

As for Rush and Michael J. Fox, you have to give Rush kudos for the intelligent observation. If Michael J. Fox went off meds just to get the sympathy vote, he deserves what he gets. The only reason he said anything was so he could get those that are too stupid to look at the facts and instead see this poor man suffering with this disease. It makes me sick that someone would use their disease as a tool to get sympathy.

Another note of interest is the link, or lack of link between the Senate race and the stem cell initiative. In the past, Missourians are known to have voted one way on a ballot measure while sending a different message on the candidate they choose. In 1994 Missouri voted to expand gambling by placing slot machines on riverboat casinos while at the same time electing John Ashcroft, a fervent gambling opponent, to Senate.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation