Echoing Limbaugh, Halperin greeted Beck to discuss Michael J. Fox by stating: "[M]egadittos. And I just need you to know, I'm not doing this segment on my meds, so watch out"
Appearing on the October 25 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck to discuss conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's accusation that actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, was "exaggerating the effects of the disease" in a recent campaign advertisement for Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, ABC News political director Mark Halperin told Beck: "I just need you to know, I'm not doing this segment on my meds, so watch out." Halperin began the interview by saying: "Glenn, first of all, megadittos." "Megadittos" is a term used by Limbaugh's callers and fans to express strong support for Limbaugh and agreement with his views.
As Media Matters for America noted, on his October 23 broadcast, Limbaugh declared Fox's physical appearance in the ad, in which Fox endorses McCaskill because of her support for embryonic stem cell research, was "purely an act" and stated that "[t]his is the only time I have ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has." Limbaugh added that "this is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting, one of the two." On his October 24 broadcast, Limbaugh said the ad is part of "a script that they [Democrats] have written for years" in which "Senate Democrats used to parade victims of various diseases or social concerns or poverty up before congressional committees and let them testify and they were infallible."
In the segment preceding his interview with Halperin, Beck repeated the false claim that "Limbaugh almost immediately apologized for those comments" and that he did so "before there was a firestorm." In fact, as Media Matters documented, while Limbaugh stated on October 23 that "I will apologize to Michael J. Fox if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act," Limbaugh not only did not apologize, he defended his comments on his show the next day. Pointing to Fox's statement in his book, Lucky Man: A Memoir (Hyperion, April 2002), that he testified before Congress in 1999 "without medication," Limbaugh declared on his October 24 show that "all I said yesterday was: 'He's either acting or he's off his meds.' I was right. He was off his meds." Beck added that "much to the chagrin of Democrats, however, Rush didn't just say he's faking it. There was an 'or' in that sentence, and sometimes context matters."
From the October 25 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: All right, earlier this week, Rush Limbaugh said that actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, was "either off his medication or acting" in a campaign ad for Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill.
Limbaugh almost immediately apologized for those comments, but what a surprise, he still came under attack.
[...]
BECK: Like Michael J. Fox, I -- I mean, you know what? I think Michael J. Fox is a really nice guy. He's funny. And I hope that we can find a cure for Parkinson's. This is a horrible disease, and it is ripping him apart. Now, much to the chagrin of Democrats, however, Rush didn't just say, "He's faking it!" There was an "or" in that sentence, and sometimes context matters.
[...]
It was wrong of Rush Limbaugh to accuse Michael J. Fox of acting. It was shocking for even me to hear, and I'm a Rush fan. But he apologized before there was a firestorm.
But it's also wrong for Democrats to imply that Republicans don't want to cure diseases. Who's the bigger monster here? The person who wishes Michael J. Fox well, but asks if he took his medication during a campaign ad, or the person who says, "Don't vote for Republicans because they want Michael J. Fox to always be that way"?
[...]
BECK: Mark Halperin, he's the ABC News political director. He's the author of Way to Win.
Mark, light at the end of the tunnel?
HALPERIN: Glenn, first of all, megadittos. And I just need you to know, I'm not doing this segment on my meds, so watch out.
BECK: Well, OK. Look out.
HALPERIN: Anything can happen.
BECK: You're cutting loose.
I've seen this guy before, and he wasn't that bad at times. Lately, it's like he's become a one-man-version of FOX NEWS CHANNEL. And why has he been on so much lately? I understand that he is plugging a new book, but come on. John Harris must be embarassed that he co-wrote a book with him. ABC is apparently attempting to lure the troglodyte audience away from the FOX NEWS CHANNEL. What a disgrace.
THANK YOU. njguy93@yahoo.com
I am now officially throwing up. Beck, Halpherin, Limbaugh, Hannity . They are the lowest form of human being for attacking Michael J Fox, a man who has more guts than these morons combined.
Right. I will no longer watch ABC news. After the reporting on the Schiavo affair, actually wouldnt call it reporting, I stopped watching TV news. Just recently started watching Kieth Olberman, which led to me watching ABC nightly news. This is the worst congress and president ever. I find that KO is the only one that reports on the outrageous behavior of congress and Bush. Megadittos right back at you Halperin.
Halperin: "And I just need you to know, I'm not doing this segment on my meds, so watch out."
Watch out? For what, because he's going to exhibit symptoms of Parkinson's?? Wow, that's really.... not all that funny OR clever....
Not only has Limbaugh not apologized, but no one has said, as Beck falsely claimed in his straw-man above, that "Republicans don't want to cure diseases". And in fact, Fox has filmed an ad for pro-stem-cell-research advocate Republican Alan Spector.
"Alan Spector" should be Arlen Specter.
Beck, you are either suffering from brain damage or are just a worthless human being. It was an "or" statement, so naturally you're going to support me on that, right?
"I'm doing this without my meds" HAHAHAHAHAHA....aaaaahhh, Parkinson's.
A-holes.
I am infuriated that so many of these people are so mean spirited and heartless, but I am kind of glad that they are showin America just what they stand for and what their moral compass is right before the election.
The ridiculous way Halperin has been acting in public (ridiculous for someone in his position, that is) is like how someone with bipolar disorder acts when they're not taking their lithium. Maybe Halperin was serious about being off his meds.
Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, O'Reily, and others have been labeled as ' HATE MONGERS.' What has become of polotics in this country when this happens....ABC will no longer take any e mails form me.
really wants to get fired, and by his disturbing gum-flapping it sure sems like he does, we should all help him out.
Write ABC.
I hope they have all the sharp objects locked away.
I don't.
The expression of 'lipstick on a pig' seems to fit when speaking of Beck!
That would make the ABC political director???
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
more class in one shaky little finger than any of these bloviating blowhards could ever hope to have. His response to Jerkass Limbaugh was to say that it's OK, some people just don't undertand the effects of his condition. I, on the other hand, am not as classy as Michael J. Fox. I will say that if Halperin and Beck would get their tongues out of Oxycontin/Viagra brain-fried gasbag Limbaugh's anus for half a second, they could get back to their circle jerk in time to be the pivot men.
Can you imagine if a LIBERAL in charge of a news organization was going around talking like this? In all his interviews he's going on conservative talk shows and saying he's trying to make ABC more conservative. And somehow he still has a job?
Path to 9/11 was just the beginning, I guess.
megaf*ckyous!
I knew these sorry excuses for bipedal carbon based lifeforms had no shame but it is now apparant they also have no decency.