Letters to the Editor
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This is a Dangerous Ad for Republicans
A study from HCD Research and Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion suggests that the Fox ad is pretty effective...
And that's why Rush goes into his clown act. As pointed out earlier, he's not talking to the Left or the Center. I'm not even all that sure that he's trying to increase his exposure (at least not as a primary result), or talk to mainstream, Country Club, Rotarian Republicans. I think what he's trying to do is keep his sheep in the fold in a state where the Dems have a chance of dumping an incumbent Republican senator.
The ad is persuasive because it works at an emotional level; you don't have to think. Most of us can give a well-reasoned argument for why the Democratic candidates are generally superior to the Republicans. I don't want to sound like an arrogant bastard, but not everyone responds to reason. But for some reason, that's the standard Democratic approach. As LBJ said "Let's reason together" (of course at that point, he usually had a death grip on his victim's political gonads - it makes "reasoning" easier).
People who follow authoritarian leaders do so, at least in part, because those leaders are the "Deciders", which frees the follower from needing to think about an issue. They don't call them "Dittoheads" for nothing. Here comes an ad that they Dittoheads don't have to think about; it works on a gut level. Here's Alex Keaton or Marty McFly, obviously suffering and asking for help. Who wouldn't?
This is a very dangerous ad from the Republican point of view.
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See What Drugs Can Do
Rush Limbaugh already has the drugs he needs to keep him going. Michael J. Fox does not. The only people more cruel than Limbaugh are those who oppose stem cell research so they can remain in power not just on the radio.
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Why Does Anybody Take This Audible Bag of Ochre Jelly Seriously??
He's the talk radio equivalent of twinkies and ding-dongs. Fuck him.
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Better idea for Rush's next impression
Rush has taken lots of appropriate heat for his mockery of Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's symptoms -- how about a suggestion for his next impression?
I'd LOVE to see him imitate Terri Schiavo's vegetative state for, oh, 2 or 3 months -- just to prove that he's not picking on the "liberal" side's so-called poster children alone. Let him move to the right-wing's similar cases and give them a little equal time!
We could all use the peace and quiet, to be honest...
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No excuse for this level of ignorance
My mother in law suffers from Parkingson's disease and on her behalf and the behalf of so many who suffer this disease I want to say SHAME on you Rush Limbaugh. Not only was Michael J. Fox's symptoms typical of Parkinson's but to accuse someone who has been stricken at such a young age and worked tiredlessly on behalf of Parkingson's research of not taking his medication or of faking it a truely cruel and horrific thing to say but ignorant and frankly stupid thing to say as well. It is way past time for Rush to leave the air. I hope that people call into to the stations and boycott those stations who air his show.
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What an asshole. Really.
Rush, you can have an actual opinion about Michael J. Fox and the legitimacy of his Parkinson's if you -um - live in Fox's body for a month, or, barring that, FACT CHECK before you open your drug-adddled mouth.
Oh, that's right, I forgot... you're not worried about whether your opinion is informed or not. Never mind.
Even if Rush isn't ashamed of himself, his listeners should be, on his behalf. This is the type of thing you teach your children about - don't make fun of the kids in your school with handicaps, or the grandparent who can't speak because she had a stroke. I mean, really. This is core decency.
Guess it didn't take.
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Bad people? Of course they are!
Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly, and the other venomous noise-spouting shills of the extreme right are in fact truly bad people. They are that very worst sort of human, the sort that looks at the suffering of someone else, anyone else, as nearly the closest thing to food and drink they encounter in an average day. And to be able to cause more of that same suffering, that same misery, to take someone who's living a none-too-pleasant life already and make their situation even worse, well, that's the dessert course, now isn't it?
Truly some of the sickest bastards to draw breath...
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Where has Rush BEEN?
He insists this is "the first time [he's] ever seen Fox display any symptoms" of Parkinson's Disease.
For crying out loud. Every time I've seen Michael J. Fox in the past I don't know HOW many years, I've thought "oh, the poor guy. What a shame. And so young." To say this is the first time he's displayed any symptoms is as ridiculous as the entire episode is repugnant.
I continue to wonder how Rush, Coulter, O'Reilly, Hannity, Savage & co. manage to sleep at night. They're not even remotely close to human.
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He's Just a Plain Old Asshole
Rush Limbaugh and his Rove team have already accomplished their goals in distracting voters. Rush Limbaugh was just showing what a complete and utter asshole he is.
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Frank Brander,
You didn't actually watch the video of Rush did you? I know liberals (you will find "progressives" are the new term in your playbook by the way) go off uninformed but you should really see what people are talking about before you comment. Rush was into himself at the time and mocked Fox's swaying, briefly to be sure, but obvious nonetheless.
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Too much credit
You give Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter too much credit when you concede, even begrudgingly, that using "victims" to speak for causes makes meaningful debate impossible. Has either Rush or Ann tried meaningful debate on the issues? So far, I haven't seen or heard it. I'll go far as to say Coulter has never made an argument that didn't depend on ad hominem attacks. Really, does anyone think for a moment that Michael J. Fox or the Jersey Girls would shy away from meaningful debate on their respective topics of interest? By all means, let's have a meaningful debate on the issues. The problem is not that Fox and the Jersey Girls are "victims" and therefore bullet proof. The problem is the right doesn't want meaningful debate. Ad hominem attacks work so much better for them.