Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's Disease.  He has been an outspoken supporter of stem cell research in hopes of finding a cure.  He recently made a political ad in support of a candidate in Missouri who supports stem cell research.  On his radio program, Rush Limbaugh claimed that Michael J. Fox was acting and exaggerating his symptoms.  Some of his listeners called in to correct Limbaugh's observation and he later apologized, but that doesn't win him any prizes in my book.

My mother has Parkinson's.  Fortunately, it struck her much later in life than Michael J. Fox and her symptoms are far less obvious.  There are medications for Parkinson's, but they lose their effectiveness over time and no longer control the tremors and uncontrolled movements.  My mother takes 3 pills a day (one after each meal) to control her tremors.  Simple daily tasks like walking and eating can become impossible.  Many Parkinson's victims lose the ability to swallow properly and have trouble eating.

Limbaugh doesn't have to support Fox's cause, but he should have the decency to get his facts straight before making a pronouncement.