Michael J. Fox Tells ABC He Can 'Take Some Hits'

Oct. 27, 2006 — -- The actor Michael J. Fox told ABC News that he's "a big boy" and can withstand a suggestion by conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh that he played up the effects of his Parkinson's disease in a television ad supporting embryonic stem cell research and a Democratic Missouri Senate candidate.

Fox made the comment in an interview with ABC News to be aired on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" Sunday.

Following is an excerpt of the interview. For more, watch "This Week" on Sunday. Check your local listings for airtimes.

George Stephanopoulos: Rush apologized -- I guess he apologized -- for saying you were acting. He didn't call you, did he?

Michael J. Fox: (laughs) It's beside the point. It really isn't germane to the issue.

It's funny, because what I'm talking about is a hope. It's about the promise. It's about moving forward. It's a forward-looking attitude about what this country is capable of, and what we can accomplish for our citizens.

And so if we get sidetracked into a dialogue about whether sick people have a right to display their symptoms in public, you know, that reaction -- I think it was more disappointing from the point of view of -- the [Republican Senate candidate Michael] Steele campaign. This spokesman said, "It was in poor taste," which really, I mean, I'm out here and I accept that, being in the lead. I'll take some hits. And that's fine. I'm a big boy.

(laughs) I'm experienced enough and mature enough to take my licks.

But (inaudible) the community was really hurt by it. And it really brings up the specter of "Go ahead, shut the windows, shut the doors, close the curtains and suffer. And don't let us know." Because it's a fearful response.

And what the irony is, is those people who are being pitied or being asked to suffer in silence don't want to suffer, don't see themselves as pitiable, don't see themselves as victims -- see themselves as citizens, participants in the process, and people with aspirations and hopes and dreams for the future. They are way more positive as a whole than what I've seen from the community that (inaudible).