By FITSNews || If U.S. Rep. John Spratt is to win a fifteenth term in the U.S. Congress, he’ll have to beat back a rising fiscal conservative tide, a credible fiscal conservative opponent and … Parkinson’s disease?
That’s right … Spratt, 67, made the surprise acknowledgment that he is “in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease” via a statement released from his office Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Spratt filed paperwork with the S.C. Democratic party making his reelection bid official.
“My doctor tells me that I am in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, but the symptoms are mild and the progression is slow,” Spratt said in the statement.
Wow.
Spratt’s statement went on to outline a series of other health ailments (bone spurs, prostate problems) that have afflicted the powerful House Budget Chairman in recent months. Guess all those medical issues may explain Spratt’s lackadaisical performance at several town hall meetings last year – public appearances (here and here) at which the Congressman seemed confused and disoriented.
Spratt’s opponent, S.C. Senator Mick Mulvaney, wasn’t taking our bait when we asked him about the impact of the Congressman’s surprise announcement on the upcoming campaign.
“Pam and I wish Mr. Spratt and his family nothing but the best as they deal with this disease,” Mulvaney told us.
Pressed to elaborate, Mulvaney declined, saying that Spratt’s admission “is a private matter for the Congressman and his family.”
Of course as West Wing writer Aaron Sorkin famously noted once, voters “have a funny way of deciding on their own what is and isn’t their business.”
So … how will Spratt’s Parkinson’s affect this race?
Honestly? We think it’s a net negative.
Sure, he’ll receive plenty of short-term sympathy, but in our opinion his acknowledgment of these health issues hurts him in the long run. After all, it’s just one more reason for people to vote against him – and Spratt has been giving Fifth District voters (particularly independents) plenty of reasons to do that already.
In addition to his votes in favor of the Bush and Obama bailouts, “Cap and Trade,” and “Obamacare,” Spratt has been leading the fight to raise the U.S. debt limit to a ridiculous $14.3 trillion, and has recently voted in favor of another $150 billion bailout of state bureaucracies. Also, as Chairman of the Budget Committee, he’s presided over more than $3 trillion in new deficit spending over the last two years alone.
That’s hardly the sort of record you want to run on in this economic climate … as unemployment in the Fifth Congressional District is well above the state and national average.
Still, Spratt’s announcement may result in a tempering of some of the white hot rhetoric that’s been directed at him in recent days – which is probably why he chose to make the announcement in the first place.
For example, on Monday, the SCGOP “welcomed” Spratt back home from Washington D.C. with some choice words for his advocacy on behalf of President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Now that John Spratt is home from Washington D.C., where he led the charge for the $2.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare, his constituents will be eager to hear why he put liberal, partisan interests ahead of the needs of the hard-working voters of the 5th Congressional District,” the GOP release said.
Ouch …
By Ynotfirst March 30, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Parkinson’s makes it hard to swallow and talk. Don’t we need a voice SC???
By Fred March 30, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Shit, if Mick can’t beat him straight up, he might as well get his buddy, Will Folks, to throw some shit on Spratt. If it sticks, strategy works. If it does not Mick is still a squeaky clean prick who has our best interests at heart.
Fred
By hardee boie March 30, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Too bad, soooooooooo sad for John Spratt. Perhaps now he will GO HOME to where he belongs.
By countryboy March 31, 2010 at 8:03 am
Wouldn’t be looking for a little sympathy, would we John? Curious that he announced not just one but several health problems along with plans to file again…. Well I honestly hope he fares well with his health problems, but I also hope he is serving his last term as a liberal democrat member of congress. I will do my part to insure the latter.
By Pat Hendrix March 31, 2010 at 9:27 am
With Parkinsons, Spratt will still beat this chump like a rented mule.
By MulvaneyIsAJOKE March 31, 2010 at 10:05 am
Well this might be the only thing that Mulvaney has done properly thus far in this campaign by not attacking a man for health problems. John Spratt is by far the greatest statesman that SC currently has. He has one of the sharpest minds in Congress. If you do a little research on Parkinson’s, you will notice that it is an extremely slow progressing disease and does not attack the mind, but the nerve system. Hell, Sic Willie you’ve struggled with being a complete dumbass for years, but you are still allowed to write history in between kissing Mulvaney’s ass. Show a little class (even though I know thats not in your being) brother.
By Crooner March 31, 2010 at 11:50 am
Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder in the family known as movement disorders. It does not affect intelligence, is slowly progressive, and is responsive to treatment with levadopa. One of the symptoms, as Spratt discussed, is tremor. Another can be a “mask-like” face.
Michael J. Fox was excoriated by Rush during the stem cell debate for not taking the medication to control his tremors. Fox doesn’t do that because the medication affects his ability to be expressive with his face, which is an actor’s stock in trade. Think Janet Reno.
By cmitchz March 31, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Well damn, I guess we’ll all have to forget what a vile socialist Jabba the Spratt has become and vote for him out of sympathy now. We wouldn’t want to be mean and vote against a sick guy, would we?
By Ol' MacDonald March 31, 2010 at 12:18 pm
If Spratt can’t adequately fulfill the duties of the office, then the honorable decision would be to sit out this election.
Aside from its obvious physical manifestatinos (rigidity, tremor, etc.), PD is emotionally and cognitively debilitating, even quite soon in the disease course (early short term memory loss, fatigue, and depression progressing to severe dementia).
The state’s collective prayers and thoughts are with Spratt and his family as they deal with his health problems…but Spratt’s diagnosis shouldn’t be used as an emotional return ticket to D.C.
By SprattisSCUM March 31, 2010 at 12:48 pm
The absolutely ironic twist with this entire deal is that John Spratt helped vote in a piece of legislation that will dramatically stunt the development of the life saving drugs and treatments that could help people like with Parkinsons.
He sold out his district. His shoved this piece of crap bill down our throats. He is done. I don’t care about his health. Karma is a bitch.
By Mike March 31, 2010 at 12:56 pm
At 5:30 this morning I was driving to work and put on RHI. I caught the middle part of some old old man barely able to speak without sounding like he had marbles in his mouth. Turned out to be Spratt.
Its time for him to retire to the front porch and sit in his rocker
By lars March 31, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I am saddened for Congressman Spratt. However I agree with Mike. It’s time for Spratt to step down.
By Frog April 1, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Spratt stay home and take care of yourself. You have already messed up our health care and our FUTURE with your support for the health care bill so thanks FOR NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSE US!!!!!!!!!!!
By baker April 1, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Some fairly un-classy comments here, in my opinion.