On November 6, 2006 Michael J. Fox visited Tempe, Arizona to stump for U.S. Congressional candidate Harry Mitchell and U.S. Senate hopeful Jim Pederson, who are both advocates of ethical embryonic stem cell research.

Fox, who has Parkinson's Disease, has traveled the country the past several weeks stumping in congressional districts where the incumbent has voted against federal funding of stem cell research. As stem cell research continues to be a hot topic in congress, Fox is doing all he can to help sway elections in hopes of getting candidates elected who support this vital issue.

While about a thousand supporters and media waited patiently, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon took the microphone to energize everyone. After a few brief remarks he introduced me as the next speaker. After I made my opening remark about crossing Republican lines for the first time in his life to vote for Pederson and Mitchell in this election, the crowd broke into a loud round of applause.

“My name is Phil Hardt. In speaking out today I am doing something I have never done before - crossing my Republican party lines for the first time in my life because of the dire importance of this life and death cause!"

"I have Huntington’s Disease I hope that none of you have any experience with Huntington’s, the disorder that is slowly destroying portions of my brain and its control over the body."

"Things are getting worse for me, and Huntington’s Disease has NO cure."

"Like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, Huntington’s takes you away from your family and loved ones years before you physically die. You don’t recognize your loved ones, you can’t communicate with them—but yet you are painfully aware of what is going on all the time. The physical incapacity… is humiliating… and constant. The onset of Huntington’s happens in the prime of life, when typically you still have children at home and are actively pursuing your career."

"Just getting diagnosed with Huntington’s can ruin you financially—because being diagnosed allows health and life insurance companies to cut off your coverage, denying you, your children AND your grandchildren protection—all nice and legal, according to the laws of Arizona."

"The stress on your family is unbelievable. The spouse of someone with Huntington’s Disease may have to be a caregiver for decades. One caregiver widow lamented: “I have been a caretaker for over 30 years. I lost my husband, 3 children and a granddaughter to this horrible disease.”

"The emotional agony is so intense that the suicide rate for individuals with Huntington’s is 2 to 3 times higher than ANY other disease known to man. In fact, before even drawing your blood for testing FOUR health care professionals must ALL certify that you are 'stable' enough to not commit suicide if your test comes back positive."

"I want to show you something," I said, taking off my jacket. "Because of loss of hope with the Bush administration I have had DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) tattooed on both of my arms because when I start to slip away, I don’t want to be revived… to continue living my nightmarish inheritance. This is what a person does when they are denied hope."

"The limited number of existing stem cell lines that were “approved” by President Bush have no Huntington’s on them so they offer me no hope either."

"Naturally, I support Embryonic Stem Cell Research. It is ethical, and I strongly believe that it may unlock the shackles of Huntington’s Disease, and also solve many other diseases and conditions that are attacking millions of other good folks every day."

"I urge everyone to join with me in voting for Harry Mitchell and Jim Pederson tomorrow as they are committed to making stem cell research a REALITY, and bring hope to all!”

I received several other rounds of applause throughout my talk. The crowd was visibly moved, especially while I described what it was like to live with Huntington’s Disease, as you could hear them gasp with disbelief.

After the enthusiastic crowd quieted down, I then introduced Mr. Jim Pederson as the next U.S. Senator to Washington, D.C. and the crowd went wild as Jim entered through a side door and shook hands with well wishers. I then introduced Mr. Harry Mitchell as the next U.S. House of Representatives member from Arizona and he also entered a side door to the cheers of his supporters.

As the anticipation rose, I enthusiastically announced Michael J. Fox as the time-traveler, movie star and now untiring advocate of Stem Cell Research. The crowd hollered even loader as they welcomed the man who many had come to see. Fox shook hands as he also headed towards the podium.

Jim Pederson took the microphone first and made some brief remarks about why he supported stem cell research and then he turned the microphone over to Harry Mitchell who also made some very compelling remarks about the necessity of stem cell research.

Harry Mitchell then introduced Michael J. Fox who received another standing ovation. Although he was teetering back and forth on his toes, Michael’s speech was very inspirational and from the heart.

Fox joked about Rush Limbaugh’s comments regarding him and said “some people think I should wait to talk to you until after I quit shaking.” He then said that wasn’t going to happen tonight. He said diseases don’t know which political party you belong to but will need bi-partisan support to cure them.

Fox asked everyone to support Pederson and Mitchell and then stated he had to leave to go “back to the future!”

Fox stated in one interview before the Rally: "What I want to do is cut through the noise, cut through the screaming matches and just say, you know, this is an important thing," he said. "Honorable people can disagree but its something we really need to talk about because a lot of lives are in the balance."

Fox believes his efforts are making a difference. "I'm really satisfied at this late stage of the race that we're talking about science and stem cell research, and the health of our people," he said.

I believe that Michael J. Fox’s quick stop in Tempe, Arizona last Monday raised critical awareness for stem cell research and could possibly help Harry Mitchell unseat incumbent J. D. Hayworth as ballots are still being counted! [Note from the Editor: Harry Mitchell won Arizona Seat 5 in the U.S. House of Representatives.]

Photos by Dina Rossman and Phil Hardt