Fox joins Duckworth in stem cell support

Actor campaigns for fed funding of research

Shrugging off the ravages of his own battle with Parkinson's disease, actor Michael J. Fox campaigned Tuesday in Wheaton for Democratic congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, who shares his support of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Providing federal money for such research could lead to cures or treatments for an array of diseases, including Parkinson's, said Fox, who has filmed campaign ads in recent days supporting several Democrats who also favor federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

"We're dealing with a positive here. This is the greatest positive there could be," said Fox, who battles tremors and slurred speech as a result of his decadelong fight with Parkinson's disease. "We'll put into motion a chain of events that will have an amazing impact.''

Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost her legs when her helicopter was shot down, said early research into embryonic stem cells shows they hold the potential for revolutionary progress in treating numerous diseases and illnesses.

"This is one of those places where we must move forward. Embryonic stem cell research holds out hope for millions and millions of Americans around the country," Duckworth said, appearing with Fox at a forum attended by more than 250 supporters.

Duckworth blasted her Republican opponent, state Sen. Peter Roskam, for opposing federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, saying it shows he is out of touch with district voters and even other Republican leaders.

"This is an issue that does -- and should -- transcend party lines," Duckworth said, naming prominent Republicans who have supported embryonic stem cell research, including Rep. Mark Kirk and Rep. Judy Biggert, both of whom represent nearby suburban districts in Congress.

Earlier this year, Congress passed a bill providing federal funding for such research but President Bush vetoed it.

Roskam, at a campaign appearance Tuesday, said he strongly backs stem cell research -- as long as cells derived from embryos aren't used.

He said research using other types of stem cells -- those from adults or from umbilical cords -- has resulted in treatments for dozens of illnesses. That's a much better track record than embryonic stem cell research has so far achieved, he contended.

Duckworth and her supporters noted that embryonic stem cells have been known to medical science only since 1998 and that research has been stalled by a lack of federal funding.

drozek@suntimes.com