By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 5:54 PM
Opponents of Amendment 2 have put together a quick response to U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill's powerful television ad featuring actor Michael J. Fox in support of the Stem Cell Initiative. Labels: Commercials, U.S._Senate_Race
The Anti-Stem Cell ad features a handful of celebrities including former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan, and actors Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Jim Caviezel ("The Passion of the Christ").
The ad was paid for by the Life Communications Fund. It appears to have been put together quickly, at times seemingly shot with a consumer camcorder. It is not clear if it is being considered for television at this time or if another version will be shot.
UPDATE: According to the Drudge Report, this ad will air tomorrow during Game 4 of the World Series.
UPDATE 2: This video from a Chicago TV station and this story in USA Today outlines some of the controversy stemming (no pun intended) from Michael J. Fox's ad and comments made in response by conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
Related Stories:
New Ad Hits Talent on Stem Cell
20 Comments:
FYI: Mike Sweeney is a designated hitter for the KC Royals.
10/24/2006 7:30 PM
That's a pretty weak ad in comparison to the Fox ad. It's also full of lies.
10/24/2006 9:29 PM
do any of these "celebrities" suffer from parkinson's disease?
10/24/2006 10:20 PM
Kurt Warner needs stem cell research to revive his career and repair his buttocks. He wants some human cloning of the Kurt Warner that played with the St. Louis Rams during his first Superbowl, and some stem cells to repair his buttocks from all that wood stuck in it from sitting on that OAK BENCH!
Suppan needs to focus on the World Series, and help the Cardinals win.
How can a baseball player with no disabilities denounce stem cell research?
10/24/2006 11:27 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
10/25/2006 2:11 AM
Does Michael J. Fox have some insight into embryonic stem cell science that others don't? Of course not, and this declaration that the rest of us can't understand what Fox is going through and, thus, can't pass a judgment counter to the views expressed in that ad is utterly ridiculous. It's just another way to squelch debate.
You don't have to be disabled to have an opinion on embryonic stem cells... just have to have a conscience.
10/25/2006 2:12 AM
Patrick, the celebrities don't have to have Parkinson's or another disease to comment on stem cell research, but they don't have the right to make shit up, either.
Aside from that, it's a terrible ad. A bunch of celebrities mumbling their arguments into the camera doesn't hit home like Fox's ad does. My wife wept when she saw that one.
10/25/2006 6:36 AM
Rush Limbaugh is a shameless piece of shit. Attacking someone that has Parkinson's disease is unacceptable. Rush Limbaugh is the worst member of the Republican Party, and deserves no support for his radio program or personally. There should be an all out protest to have his show shut down for attacking someone disabled for being disabled. That is one of the lowest things anyone can do in this world. Once again, Rush Limbaugh is a piece of shit, a ruthless piece of shit!
10/25/2006 8:28 AM
I imagine that M.J. Fox knows A LOT more about embryonic stem cell research than any of the "celebrities" in this ad. Why? Because people tend to spend a lot more time studying issues and the potential of medical research when it literally AFFECTS THEIR LIVES!
10/25/2006 9:33 AM
That's an assumption not based on any facts. It may be true MJF knows more, but then again, it may not be so, but it's quite evident that the argument before us is about two issues, not one - on the ethics of the research, as well as what that research might produce. And certainly, this response ad is not as emotionally impactful as MJF's ad; that said, the sympathy and fondness you and I have for Fox should not imply that he's any more right than any of the celebs in that other advert. (Note: Cavizel's Aramaic or whatever was hokey. Last I checked, he wasn't actually Jesus.)
10/25/2006 10:35 AM
It is a shame that celebrities are the ones who get to be in these ads. I'd much rather hear from some scientists who might actually know what they are talking about. I know, not as fun to watch, but at least to me it would be much more helpful.
10/25/2006 12:10 PM
No Patrick, my statement is not based on factual information that I could present in a court of law. Sometimes, though, you just have to use some good old common sense even if they don't teach that in law school.
10/25/2006 12:32 PM
The amount of propaganda on both sides is quite astounding.
The average MO citizen is basically forced to decide from two groups who make compelling and contradictory claims.
I encourage all of you to stop looking at the ads and check out the language of the legislation.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ppStemCell.asp
10/25/2006 1:16 PM
Can anyone make out the sumeric spooky language Jim Cavieziel is speaking at the beginning of this? I mean, uh, what the hell?
10/25/2006 1:36 PM
I mean, it's nice to know Antisemetic Hollywood Jesus' opinion on this, but it'd be easier to make out if he didn't use a dead language in his appeal.
10/25/2006 1:39 PM
So does a mother whose child was killed by a drunk driver have any rights if she wanted to make an add to support legislation in favor of more stern dui laws?
anyone has a right to express and opinion on anything. Being part of the inflicted group I feel may make a person a little more 'aware'. And the Jesus guy? He does more commercials that Tony the Tiger. OMG
10/26/2006 2:17 AM
Does Michael J. Fox have some insight into embryonic stem cell science that others don't?
Probably. You see he would likely be very interested in the potential benefits of stem cell research. Oh, and those scientists who want to pursue stem cell research? They probably also have some insight others don't, especially Kurt Warner.
All Kurt Warner really knows is how to fumble and throw interceptions. That's what he's really good at. That's why he got beat out by a rookie...again.
10/26/2006 8:26 AM
From today -
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.
10/29/2006 2:02 PM
Fox did the ad for Claire McCaskill. He didn't say anything about Amendment 2.
10/30/2006 2:07 PM
What's reprehensible to me about the Fox ad is that he makes no mention of EMBRYONIC stem cell research. Perhaps one of the staunchest social conservatives in the Senate, Rick Santorum, even favors adult stem cell research. The difference between the two is night and day--perhaps better put, life and death.
10/31/2006 4:58 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home