Ian has the video and transcript of the admission (emphasis added):
Stephanopoulos: In the ad now running in Missouri, Jim Caviezel speaks in Aramaic. It means, “You betray me with a kiss.” And his position, his point, is that actually even though down in Missouri they say the initiative is against cloning, it’s actually going to allow human cloning.
Fox: Well, I don’t think that’s true. You know, I campaigned for Claire McCaskill. And so I have to qualify it by saying I’m not qualified to speak on the page-to-page content of the initiative. Although, I am quite sure that I’ll agree with it in spirit, I don’t know, I— On full disclosure, I haven’t read it, and that’s why I didn’t put myself up for it distinctly.
Unflippingbelievable.
Michael, in case you’re wondering what the specs of the bill state, and why Jim Talent (and others who agree with him, like me) don’t support it, click here.
Update I - 8:47 PM: McCaskill and Talent are now tied in the polls. The last poll had Talent up by two. Is the Fox ad making an impact?
Update II - 11:00 PM: Opinion Mill looks at some other things Fox said in the interview, and helps steer the debate back to where it should be. (Hat tip: ST reader DS)
Didn’t he also claim recently that he is non-partisan?
One wonders on what basis — since he hasn’t read the danged thing — he is supporting McCaskill.
Non-partisan my foot.
Comment by stoo @ 10/29/2006 - 8:13 pm
This admission leaves two possibilities in my view (neither of them good for MJ Fox):
1) He was bought and paid for by those wanting Fox’s endorsement; or
2) MJ Fox was mislead by someone to make the ad.
Maybe both. I don’t know. However the more interviews Fox makes, Fox’s position erodes more and more.
Comment by Carl @ 10/29/2006 - 8:18 pm
Yes Stoo he claims that he is non-partisan but he also said HE approached the Dems. I have to wonder what non-partisan means these days. What exactly is the definition of ‘is’?? - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 10/29/2006 - 9:19 pm
I saw that and laughed hard.
P.S. - I’ve been writing a lot about this in-depth at Hang Right Politics, since I’m a MO resident.
Amendment 2 is an absolute lie.
http://www.hangrightpolitics.com
Comment by Big Mo @ 10/29/2006 - 9:42 pm
The ad was for a Senate race not a ballot iniative. He says so. I don’t see how this is hypocritical. And he’s non-partisan because he’s done ads for Republican Arlen Specter and gave props to Orrin Hatch in the interview. He’s for stem-cell research and candidates who support it. But, please, keep beating up on Alex P. Keaton, it makes you righties seem sooo classy and sympathetic.
Comment by Jumbo @ 10/29/2006 - 9:59 pm
Save your absolute moral authority BS for someone you can actually intimidate into silence with it. I won’t be.
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 10/29/2006 - 10:01 pm
Sorry Jumbo, but this is the reason “non-partisan” Fox is supporting McCaskill. One would expect that he’d at the very least read the proposed amendment.
Comment by Ryan @ 10/29/2006 - 10:09 pm
So he supported Specter. Specter isn’t the most widely respected Republican in the party — indeed, I think you’ll find that he’s much closer to the Chaffee end of the scale than, say…nearly ANYBODY else, so that’s strike one.
“Alex P. Keaton” also did an ad for Ben Cardin, a Democrat in Maryland, though Cardin has voted in opposition to stem cell research. Strike 2.
Oddly enough, Cardin is running against Michael Steele, who has voted for stem cell research that doesn’t destroy an embryo — but by supporting Cardin, Fox has opposed the very candidate he should logically be supporting.
Strike 3.
Comment by stoo @ 10/29/2006 - 10:18 pm
If the Fox ad has helped Claire, Fox’s admission will now hurt Claire and Amendment 2.
Comment by Baklava @ 10/29/2006 - 11:36 pm
Jumbo. It’s not about Fox. It’s about the issues and the candidates.
99% of people have compassion for Fox and wish for a find of a cure. Liberals fall into the age old pattern of thinking that the 50% of America who are conservative are not compassionate and don’t want for cures to be found.
Comment by Baklava @ 10/29/2006 - 11:41 pm
- No Bak…It’s not that reasonable a situation. It’s page 35 right out of the Marx handbook. When you know you can’t win on the merits of an issue, you do the only thing you can when principles don’t matter; you demonize. That’s exactly why I will never again vote Democratic for anything until the party sheds the stranglehold of the far Left and gets back to its roots.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 10/29/2006 - 11:46 pm
- And I’ll tell you something else. So far, with the help of the Laim-brain press propping them up, the Dems have been able to tred water. but sooner or later the Moderate majority is going to realize how badly the Marxocrats are dragging them down, and things will change. Either that or they’ll keep losing until they’re replaced by the Libertarian/Independents as the next largest party.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 10/29/2006 - 11:55 pm
I would suggest everyone here watch Fox’s whole interview with Stephanopoulos instead of just the excerpt that is pulled out of context (something I have seen the left and the right do) especially considering he is not supporting her BECAUSE of this initiative - he is looking for her vote so the next time the stem cell research bill gets passed there are enough votes to make it anti-veto proof (the only veto Bush has used since he has been in office.)
As he said, there are some people that will never be able to accept this and maybe this group contains those people. But, if I were you wanting to present a well-informed case, I would think you could spare the 10 minutes it takes to watch it.
Comment by jillbryant @ 10/30/2006 - 3:30 am
Micheal, I know you are sick and I know you want to get better, I would too if I had the disease but not at the expense of human life, thats my right to have an opinion on this stem cell issue.
I want to hear more on those two people set to makes mega bucks on the research, with my tax dollars, all we’re saying is use private funding for this as WE ARE NOW, the mega wealthy hollywood elite could keep this thing funded forever, come on Madonna, Ophrah, David Letterman, Brad and Angelina, open up those fat wallets, just don’t ask me to support something that goes against WHAT I BELIEVE… lets be fair here.
Comment by Drewsmom @ 10/30/2006 - 6:50 am
You really have to wonder about the intelligence or state of mind of someone, anyone, who lends their name to a cause or ad or whatever without fully understanding what it is they are supporting. This goes for anyone, whether you’re fameous and a celebrity or just a common joe or jane. Your good name, that meaning that your name is not besmirtched by dishonor or poor behavior, is one of the most valuable things you have, and to willy nilly sign up to support this or that without fully understanding it, that’s just too risky. At least, if you value your reputation and believe that your actions reflect on it, obviously a lot of liberals don’t hold the same affection or respect for their character as some others do.
But then, given that they always seem to be given a pass and little or no consequences ever materialize, I guess they don’t view it as a negative. If you can slip by an ABSCAM investigation, like Murtha, with no downside, or if the MSM ignores any wrong doing, as they so often do with Democrats. If you’re a person with a conscience and sense of shame (again something sorely lacking in many these days) you care about such things regardless of whether you get caught or called out on it or not.
Lack of what I would consider basic good character is rampant these days. Encouraged, no doubt, by decades of public schooling where the mentality is to avoid any semblance of negativity no matter what you do or fail to do in order to “preserve your self esteem.” It does not teach good character, to the detriment of us all.
Comment by Severian @ 10/30/2006 - 7:46 am
Jillbryant said
“…he is looking for her vote so the next time the stem cell research bill gets passed there are enough votes to make it anti-veto proof…”
If that’s the case why is he supporting Ben Cardin in Maryland? Steele is the one that supported stem cell research, while Cardin opposed it.
Comment by stoo @ 10/30/2006 - 8:43 am
It always has amazed me how people who are fortunate enough to become very rich and famous in the entertainment world somehow become experts in bio-chemistry, internal combustion engines, communicably transmitted viral diseases, and any other damn thing they can think of! I grew up hearing the saying “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”. I say, “If you’re so rich, why aren’t you smart?!
Comment by Tom TB @ 10/30/2006 - 8:59 am
“If that’s the case why is he supporting Ben Cardin in Maryland? Steele is the one that supported stem cell research, while Cardin opposed it.”
- Because any excuse will do when you put party before anything else?
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 10/30/2006 - 10:46 am
TB
It always has amazed me how people who are fortunate enough to become very rich and famous in the entertainment world somehow become experts in bio-chemistry, internal combustion engines, communicably transmitted viral diseases, and any other damn thing they can think of!
I am fascinated by this Phenomena… My favorite was when Martin Sheen (I’m not a president, but I play one on TV) was campaigning against the war. I support any individuals freedom to take a stand, but he was actually weighing in on the issue as if he were the president.
PS ST: I found you through your trackback…. Nice site, I’ll be hanging out here.
Comment by Opinionmill Author @ 10/30/2006 - 12:00 pm
Here is a quote from Cardin from June 2006:
“I believe we have a moral responsibility to appropriately advance embryonic stem cell research to help millions of suffering Americans,” said Rep. Cardin. “Doctors right here in Maryland are bringing us closer than ever to finding real treatments for chronic diseases. We need to help these world-renowned doctors expand this life-saving research, not stand in their way. That’s why I have consistently supported expanding stem cell research in the House and why Mr. Frist should bring this critical stem cell bill to a vote in the Senate without hesitation.”
All I can think is that the bill he voted against had other stipulations attached to it (for example, how ending the estate tax has minimum wages attached to it - btw, estate tax was started by Teddy Roosevelt - sorry - off topic).
Think about it - does it make sense Fox would do ANYTHING against getting stem cell research passed?
By the way Tom TB - I’m sure MJF knows more about stem cell research than most of us - not because he is in entertainment but because he suffers from Parkinson’s. That makes sense to me. Think about it.
Comment by jillbryant @ 10/30/2006 - 12:03 pm
Sorry, jillbryant, but your assertion seems to fall short when you look at the “experts” on the board of his foundation, contains 3 actual doctors — none of which are in the neurology field.
Others include political talking heads and publishers, lawyers and wall street types.
But not a single research scientist to be found.
Comment by stoo @ 10/30/2006 - 1:01 pm
Sorry again Jill but I did watch the interview on Sunday, and MJF clearly says the reason why he doesn’t know what is in A2 is he is not an expert. Also he keeps saying that “Scientists” say this is the best hope for people with these diseases. The problem is, that the actual science doesn’t support that. How many medicines are presently being made from Embryonic Stem Cells??? According what I have read, NONE. We have been using 80 embryonic stem cell lines for the last 8 years, and nothing has come forth from this research. Also, I want the names of these research scientists. Who exactly are they?? But according to Dr. Mary Davenport, there are 70 some medicines awaiting patents using Adult Stem Cells. Seems to me that if Embryonic Stem Cells are the best hope for these cures, it certainly isn’t panning out. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 10/30/2006 - 1:33 pm
jillbryant, my late father had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and he never knew anymore about it than anyone else, and never held a press conference suggesting new endeavors of research. Being sick doesn’t make you an expert.
Comment by Tom TB @ 10/30/2006 - 1:39 pm
jillbryant wrote, “Think about it - does it make sense Fox would do ANYTHING against getting stem cell research passed?”
It isn’t about Fox. It’s about the issue and the candidates stand on the issue.
jillbryant wrote, “I’m sure MJF knows more about stem cell research than most of us - not because he is in entertainment but because he suffers from Parkinson’s. That makes sense to me. Think about it.”
Again. Not about Fox. I’m sure he might even though I’ve read more about Ammedment 2 than Fox and read over 200 pages of information about it in the last 5 years (since the drive-by legacy press hammered Bush pre 9/11 in the year 2001).
Respectfully, It’s a difference of perspective. Dean Barnett who has cystic fybrosis and could benefit from breakthroughs feels the same as I and many others that government funding of adult and or embyonic stem cell research is neither as promising as proponents make it cracked up to be as a polical sword/weapon and that private research to fill the demand for the cure with a supply of cure is where this stuff should be taking place. Additionally, people do have issues with respect to ethics including MANY doctors like Dr. Mary Davenport with respect to cloning the embryos or using the practice of cloning or enshrining it into the Missourri constitution as an ammendment.
Respectfully Jill, The issue isn’t what you or the drive-by legacy press are making the American populace believe that conservatives are against research and or against research with emryonic stem cells. The issues lie in making new embryos and government funding. It’s how most issues between conservatives and liberals come down. Liberals feel like they “care” more because they are for government taking more money from you and me to fund things that are “well intentioned” and that conservatives don’te “care” because we aren’t for that kind of policy. It comes down to that for almost every issue.
It doesn’t mean that conservatives “care” less no matter how many times you read misrepresentations from drive by legacy types. It means we have a difference of opinion on the way to implement solutions. You might be able to find some anecdotal evidence of some kneejerk conservatives to make a point about conservatives “caring” less but we can always find the liberals who are lying and misrepresenting any issue we talk about to get voters to think conservatives don’t “care”.
I suspect that you are like me. One who wants clarity on the issues. I was a liberal pre 1991 the year I went to the library 3 times a week for a year and had a core beliefs change.
Since then clarity is what I strive for on the issues that matter to me.
Comment by Baklava @ 10/30/2006 - 1:42 pm
Tom TB wrote, “Being sick doesn’t make you an expert.”
Nor does it make you unsusceptible to being misinformed about the opposing candidates point of view like Jim Talent’s or Michael Steele’s. I suspect the “well intentioned” Michael J. Fox has been misinformed as what Mr. Fox is saying doesn’t match up to Jim Talent’s or Michael Steele’s or for that matter most thinking researching conservative’s opinions on the matter….
There may be a day when the good Mr. Fox does talk to and listen to a conservative’s point of view and realizes he may need to issue an apology for misrepresenting the opposing candidate’s points of view in these races. Because it is about the issue and candidates and to muddy things instead of provide clarity is not useful to the election or future discussions.
Comment by Baklava @ 10/30/2006 - 1:47 pm
BTW, I’ve been in the computer field for 18 years. I now have a new “feeling” that we are this close “” to having a breakthrough with computing technology in the health industry field that’ll help us cure all sorts of diseases. Intel, AMD, and software companies need to be provided government funding so that we can REALIZE this breakthrough in technology to help those with the wide range of diseases (of which my family is susceptible to - heart disease and cholesterol problems). Anyone who is against government funding of computer and software companies is heartless and is against science and against progress.
I think Bill Gates should make a commercial denouncing any candidate that has opposed government funding of computer and software companies or I think an actor who has a disease and is well known should take on this effort. Are you fellow computer geeks with me or against me?
Charge!!! (Meaning let’s rackup that debt - because as long as we are well meaning priorities and the constitution doesn’t matter)
Comment by Baklava @ 10/30/2006 - 2:20 pm
“I’m sure MJF knows more about stem cell research than most of us - not because he is in entertainment but because he suffers from Parkinson’s. That makes sense to me. Think about it.”
Apparently, if you’re a liberal, getting a disease or condition is the equivalent of staying at a Holiday Inn Express the night before, you become an instant expert!
Comment by Severian @ 10/30/2006 - 2:43 pm
- Bak…Listening to him backpedel his canoe, to mix a metaphore, it sounds like he already is/has decided he wasn’t arguing from a full order of French fries.
- Fox is an introspective guy. If he starts to get the feeling he’s been scammed, which he most definately has, he’ll be the first to recognize it.
- What he’ll do, or say, is a tough call. When your back is against the wall, with a very bleek future to face, you’ll clutch at any straw. I think that would explain his tendency to dive in, short on information. It might also alert him in the future that the Dems, hard Left in particular, will do, say, and use anyone, to regain power. He may not have believed that before, or his personal plight, and a driving desperation, might have blinded him to the usual political manipulations you always have to be aware of when anyone asks you to support something as devisive as this issue is.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 10/30/2006 - 2:45 pm
Bang, I understand that (the idea of clutching at any straw). I lost my best friend and love of my life in July to lung cancer and I’d give most anything to have her back. Life is precious but the disagreement is not about who “cares” more or who is more for “science”.
Boiling it down to either of those two issues is what muddies the water and does disservice to the debate. I recognize that some conservatives come off looking mean, but there are plenty of liberals who are very condescending on this issue and if you take away those groups of people you essentially have the typical conservative versus liberal debate about the role of government funding and or the private sector and bio ethics and differing views about the science and facts….
Bang wrote, “It might also alert him in the future that the Dems, hard Left in particular, will do, say, and use anyone, to regain power. ”
I believe you are right. And to the extent that liberals have misinformed and used African Americans, Fox, and others it basically builds a house of cards that easily falls given more and better information (clarity). Conservatives need to take a lesson from this and generally strive for clarity, facts, common sense and not be knee jerk.
I know I tend to have a gut feel and react based on my own knee jerk reactions myself sometimes but we as conservatives are much better being pursuasive when we research and find out the facts and do the due diligence that the drive-by legacy media types fail to do.
Comment by Baklava @ 10/30/2006 - 2:57 pm
In answer to some points raised here:
I don’t think liberals “care” more than conservatives. Generally, I believe both sides care. That’s actually why I pointed out the full video. I thought the excerpt was not representative of the case and I felt everyone should have a chance to listen to his full case. I think enough of it is available in that video and if it doesn’t change anyone’s mind, it doesn’t.
I assume that MJF is a generally intelligent person and, like most generally intelligent people I know, that he did research into something that means life or death to him. My dog needed a TPLO on her leg and I promise you I know more about that procedure than anyone else except for vets and other dog owners who have had to go through it. Since that was minor and I had only a week to prep for it and she was in rehab for three months, I can assure you my knowledge would grow with the length of time I have to deal with it. He has had this illness for 15 years.
Steele and Talent are for adult stem cell research and that is brought up in his interview. He is saying the embryonic lines that have been used for research are contaminated and old. If you are against it for ethical reasons, that is something else but saying it hasn’t proved out seems to be dismissive of the long hard road of science (no I’m not a scientist but my father was - part of the time in the aerospace industry and there is a LOT of patience there). Perhaps you are right and our government can no longer provide good research - America is certainly falling behind in a lot of areas. There was a time government funding produced the polio vaccine and everyone got their vaccination for free but those were different times.
Cardin is for ESC research. He voted against the bill (I believe it was his own bill, in fact) that became loaded down with more tax cuts for the super wealthy and who knows what else. I’m sure everyone here is savvy enough into the political game bills have become that to say someone voted against a bill doesn’t even mean you know what the bill was about.
Okay - that’s all. I am spending my day off with this but I think this is my last round and I’m off the computer.
Comment by jillbryant @ 10/30/2006 - 4:06 pm
Jillbryant wrote, “Perhaps you are right and our government can no longer provide good research - America is certainly falling behind in a lot of areas. There was a time government funding produced the polio vaccine and everyone got their vaccination for free but those were different times.”
This is sort of a weird way of putting things. I’m not sure if it was government scientists that produced a polio vaccine or private companies who did (with or without government funding), but there are a hundred times more discoveries, inventiond, patents etc due to companies and individuals rather than the research and development done by “government”. Government is mostly involved in providing for the defense (20% of federal expenditures) and providing for social services (50% of federal expenditures) and with the remaining 30% providing veterans benefits, other health programs, educational dollars to the state, nutrition dollars, etc. The 13 trillion dollar economy in “America” has a wealth of smart people in great companies doing great research. Government should step back and let these companies compete in the marketplace without providing “funding” to a “chosen” “winner” company based on no results but some evaluators choosing who wrote up the best looking Proposal to the government for the lowest price.
If it is true that government scientists produced the polio vaccine that is great anecdotal evidence but NOT a overwhelming case for the general purpose of shifting government expenditures to choose winner and loser companies to award dollars to in advances in technology nor a reason for government to shift priorities from defense or the social services it has a hard time providing already towards newfangled unproven theories that groupthink dictates we all focus on for this moment in time.
JILL without due diligence made the accusation, “that became loaded down with more tax cuts for the super wealthy and who knows what else.”
Class warfare rhetoric is typical of lefty debate tactics. I’m not going to generalize you Jill as a liberal but the tactic itself is not productive to the debate especially since there was no reference to prove your CLAIM and it’s a common claim by liberals that generally pan out to be UNTRUE. Note: The caps and bold are not yelling but a stress of important words.
Jill wrote, “and who knows what else.”
And there were racist, sexist, anti-environment, anti-gay riders in the bill. Those wascally wepublicans…
Again also, Fox isn’t relevant. What is relevant is the issue and candidates. Fox may be 10 times smarter than you or I on the issue. However, the issue and the candidate Talent and Steele are being misrepresented in the ad.
BTW, Hope you read my 2:20 PM post and are for my cause. Are you?
Comment by Baklava @ 10/30/2006 - 4:29 pm
“I assume that MJF is a generally intelligent person and, like most generally intelligent people I know, that he did research into something that means life or death to him.”
This despite the fact that he told the world that he hadn’t ever read the legislation in question?
Please.
“Steele and Talent are for adult stem cell research…”
Steele is also for non-destructive embryonic stem cell research.
Ma’am, one of your buzz-phrases is, “Think about it.”
Go ahead, think about it.
Comment by stoo @ 10/30/2006 - 5:04 pm
- Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccines that was really successful. He did it working in a Private institution/lab, funded about half and half with private and government grants.
- The Left is always going on about GOP spending, which is another pure strawman. They spend as much, or more, its just that they spend on social programs, at the cost of everything else. Bush is driving them nutz, because in spite of a costly war, he’s actually outspent the Dems by a record amount on their pet programs, which really harshes their mellow.
- BOT - Fox claims he hasn’t read the initiative “in it’s entirety”. Maybe. I’d have to buy the idea that he’s that gullible, to jump feet first into this issue, spending his celeb on a cause he hasn’t even researched. I suppose it’s possible, but you’d have to say, now that it’s true wording, and meaning, has been outed, that would be an awfully coveinient exit.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 10/30/2006 - 5:38 pm
On a related note, this article is fascinating:
Human Liver Grown In Test Tube From Stem Cells
This is potentially huge, as within a decade and a half they predict being able to grow whole livers, and in much less time than that be able to grow enough to act as a repair for damaged livers in human patients.
The liver is grown from, guess what? Umbilical cord stem cells. Another very promising, stunning actually, positive result that isn’t based on Embryonic Stem Cells.
Comment by Severian @ 10/30/2006 - 7:16 pm