"'We will stop juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases..."

This statement made me both nauseous and furious simultaneously. I have an 11 year old who has juvenile diabetes and I can promise you that I know more about where cure research stands with this disease than Kerry and Edwards combined do.

I live with this beast of a disease and know the heartache and fear that a parent who has a child with it goes through. The complications of the disease are terrifying enough to send you screaming in frustration.

How dare Kerry and Edwards attempt to EXPLOIT the desperation of people's fears and often ignorance to get votes.

Some of the best minds in the world are working on understanding how juvenile diabetes works and how to stop it, they have been for years.

How would getting Kerry into office suddenly make the light bulb pop in the minds of researchers and the cure suddenly come to light?

In my eyes these men are stooping to an all time low and I would love to personally bitch slap Edwards for even DARING to make such an ignorant statement in order to deceive people.
Jeni | Homepage | 10.12.04 - 9:32 pm | #

I am a captain at a major national airline. I have a co-worker and friend, who found himself a quadraplegic after rolling a car. In an instant, he went from being a Boeing 757 Captain to a guy who'll wear diapers the rest of his life. I did not witness his accident as you did, but I did visit him in the hospital during his rehab. I have never witnessed anyone work so hard to do the simplest thing, yet have not one complaint about his lot in life. My friend is an absolute inspiration to me.

I am not at all suprised that Kerry or Edwards would plumb new depths of pandering. Bush's answer at the last debate about balancing the policy of the stem cell research with the ethical dilemma of destroying embryos in the process was the right tack to take here. While my sympathies go out to the Reese family (and the Reagans, and Jeni, and MF), the promise that these ailments will be cured if we will only vote for Kerry is the lowest of the low. I hope Bush calls Edwards on it tomorrow night.
azlibertarian | 10.12.04 - 11:10 pm | #

Amen! I've heard this subject discussed all day but in no way as moving, and lucid a way as it has been discussed on this post and proceeding comments. Thanks guys.

Mike
Halcyon | Homepage | 10.12.04 - 11:51 pm | #

I was speechless upon reading of Edwards' latest bottom-feeding antics. Thanks for the very moving and inspirational stories, and for bringing sanity to this subject.

Matt, you have some very impressive and admirable readers, I have to say.
Peg C. | 10.13.04 - 5:45 am | #

Froggy, what bothers me more than the fact that they USE PEOPLE like they are using Chris Reeve, is that the REAL heros, Frogmen like MF, are not heard from. Chris Reeve was no doubt a good man who sufferred a horrible accident and sufferred horribly since then, but just because he was in a few movies first he is able to speak for a nation? What about men like MF and other REAL HEROS who serve/served their country and are now left as para or quadra plegics? What about men who feel this country is WORTH DYING FOR? That sickens me more than the comment itself. Froggy, thank you for your commentary and your service, and God Bless you and MF.

Monty
Monty L | Homepage | 10.13.04 - 8:52 am | #

We live in a culture in which actors and athletes are "heroes" and the real thing is not recognized. Monty, I totally agree on who the real heroes are.

It seems most of the rest of the world has lost sight of what constitutes real heroism. Thank God so many Americans have not.
Peg C. in NY | 10.13.04 - 10:29 am | #

I hope you don't think I am saying that Chris Reeve is heroic for playing Superman. His perseverence and his attitude, like MF serve as an inspiration to many. I am as critical of Hollywood as anyone, but Reeve showed me something in the way he kept fighting to the very end. Froggy
froggy | Homepage | 10.13.04 - 10:50 am | #

I had totally forgotten about how they whored out the Paul Wellstone funeral. That's a great reminder of how low these assholes will sink. Nice post.
Preston Taylor Holmes | Homepage | 10.13.04 - 11:47 am | #

Matt,
Another one right on target. Edwards is also factually wrong. Check out my recent blog on embryonic stem cells -- http://gotdesign.blogspot.com/20...stem- cells.html

Hooooah!
GotDesign
GotDesign | Homepage | 10.13.04 - 4:20 pm | #

Good shot Matt!
FITH

Kiet Nguyen
LDNN
Kiet Nguyen | 10.13.04 - 11:39 pm | #

Thank Kiet, good to have an LDNN brother on board. Froggy
Froggy | Homepage | 10.14.04 - 12:33 am | #

Matt, I too know MF (met him after his injury) and share your assessment of his fortitude and courage -- whether in training or combat, it's hard to imagine the obstacles that one has to overcome particularly with the classic Type A personality that most of us frogmen bring to the table. It's very easy for politicians to throw out stray comments, but MF's daily struggles demand more than that --
Frog6
Frog6 | 10.21.04 - 1:10 am | #