So why is everybody making Michael J Fox and Rush Limbaugh the issue?

Question

Why don't the politicians and "on air talent" drop Rush and Fox from the debate and discuss the isssue; embronic stem cell research?

This entire campaign has been focusing on the actors (Foley, Rush, Fox, and the candidates running for office) rather than the issues at hand (ESC Research, the economy, the wars, etc.)

Oops, should read "embryonic stem cell..." sorry.

Answer 1

the left relys on entertainment people to deliver their message becasue their base is more intume to pop culture then it is to reality.


you should have heard Sean Hannitys man on the street segment yesterday. the asked 4 people some questions on air. all claimed to be democrats. 2 thought Clinton was still president, 1 thought G Washington was president. none knew who cheney , pelosi or reid is They all knew who Rice is but not what she did.
not a single one of them knew there was an election coming up.

embryonic stem cell research has not been proven to work. but research on individual stem cells extracted from bone marrow has proven to have great results.

The candidiates that Fox endorces do not even endorce the research he advocates.

Answer 2

Even if it's true that Michael J. Fox went off his meds for the ad, it doesn't lessen the severity of his disease or the importance of his message. My father suffers from Parkinson's disease, and even with medication he has difficulty walking, talking, and performing other tasks. What Michael J. Fox presented was not sensationalized in any way; it was the grim reality of his condition, a condition that affects a large number of people worldwide. Stem cell research is the most promising hope for an effective treatment, and selfish, self-righteous, pompous bastards like Rush Limbaugh have no right to criticize unless they've suffered from it themselves and know the misery of living with the disease every day. I sincerely hope Rush gets a severe case and has to eat his words.

Answer 3

The REAL topic is FEDERAL FUNDING of embryonic stem cell research, not whether or not is should take place.

I'm sorry, but in this debate, I'm going to have to side with Republican Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, M.D., who understands that this form of research is still in its very early stages and that studies should continue.

And the reason it's being discussed is because Rush Limbaugh brought the ad to national attention. That was a local commercial that ran in Missouri. The wise thing would've been to ignore the ad. Rush chose to attack it. He made it an issue.

And PS -- Michael J. Fox did an ad for Republican Senator Arlen Specter in 2004 because Specter supported federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Fox isn't in it because of a political party affiliation -- he's doing ads for the issue itself.

Answer 4

Probabaly because the majority of the American public is uneducated in politics, or generaly doesn't care.

If you asked 100 people who Condoleezza Rice was and who Michael J Fox was, Fox would be better known by a landslide.
Put these same people at the polls and who do you think wins?

It makes more sense for the parties to focus on trivial things that appeall to a broader audience than to what really matters.

Unfortunately most Americans would probably vote for someone better looking, funnier, or more well known than someone who has good political knowledge and views.

Answer 5

I think conservative republicans have made their position on the issue clear: No manufacturing embryos for the purpose of stem cell research.

Regarding using the existing embryos, there is debate among the conservatives. Some of us were against in vitro fertilization in the first place (and still are) and we are the hold-outs with using the existing embryos.

The fact of the matter is that the proponents of stem cell research haven't shown the demand, by researchers, and have therefore resorted to the low-brow use of a celebrity with a debilitating disease. Rush made a brief comment about that and the bedlam begins...

Your comment last night was excellent, btw.

Answer 6

You're right. The election of 2006 has been focused on superficial issues not lraq or the economy. Politicians are demeaning themselves by getting actors to talk for them and sugarcoat the issues.

Answer 7

When Rush Limbaugh says something it always becomes personal. He has historically turned every issue into a personal attack. He is plain and simple an entertainer just like the people he attacks. Rush himself, is in no position to cast stones. For years he has criticized and judged people who use drugs. He has called for heavier sentences for drug users. Since he has been shown to be such a hypocrite he has lost all credibility. When Rush takes a stand he becomes the issue.

Answer 8

Thats what people always do in elections. Honestly, Rush shouldn't have accused Fox of faking, he doesn't do that, the debate never starts. I don't believe Fox did anything harmful or non-moral. As for the Foley crap, I think the Democrats are focussing on that like the Republicans did when Clinton did his thing. The difference is that although Clinton's actions were immoral and embarrassing, she wasn't a child. The Republicans in Washington stopped working for the country and totally focussed on trying to get him impeached. I just think it is payback. I still don't believe it is right, but it is payback.

Answer 9

The liberals are grasping at straws. Most haven't gotten Rushes side. Tune in and find out what he was saying. It seems Fox has become the democratic poster child. They are using him in ads against conservatives. Also Rush was saying Fox takes or doesn't take his medication depending on what crowd he is addressing. Rush was showing how Fox wanted pity to push his issue. Thats why he mocked Fox.

Answer 10

Because the actors are the ones that make it interesting. Nobody ever pays attention if it were just the issue. Not sexy enough. I personally like the issues. But, that's just me.

Answer 11

When is that not the case? The media relies on personal stories to present issues -nearly any story you see or read begins with someones personal account and then breaks into the issue at hand. It's a way of giving issues a face and drawing people in.