WASHINGTON - Actor Michael J. Fox has taken up the issue of supporting stem cell research in a big way and has become a passionate advocate for five Democrats who support the research as well. The actor, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, appears in 30-second TV ads for Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Maryland Senator seeking reelection.
Fox shakes and squirms from the symptoms of his disease in the ad. "What you do in Missouri matters to millions of Americans. Americans like me," he says on the ad that has been watched by more than 1 million people on YouTube.com.
Fox is also supporting reelection bids of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Tammy Duckworth, Senate candidate Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. Fox has been a passionate advocate of embryonic stem cell research, which is believed to hold the key to incurable diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
"Stem-cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's," Fox says in an ad. "But George Bush and [Cardin opponent] Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem-cell research."
The 45-year-old Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, but did not reveal it till 1998. The disease had nearly finished off his acting career.
Reacting to the stem cell ads Rep. Mark Green, the Republican candidate, branded them a smear campaign. "It's unfortunate that the Democrats are using a good man like Michael J. Fox to distort our candidates' positions for political purposes," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the Republican Senate campaign committee.
