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How strange is it that two of the front runners for the Republican nomination have wives (or ex-wife, in one case) with MS?

I'm just wondering how Romney & Gingrich's responses to their wives' MS (one stayed, one left) are influencing the decisions of Republican primary voters who either have MS or love someone with MS?

I'm not trying to start a political catfight here, so please don't start one. I'm sincerely wondering, as a Democrat, how Republican PwMS are viewing the news.

For me-it has no bearing whatsoever as far as I am concerned. I have already voted ( we have early voting in FL) and it was not part of my consideration at all.

I was expecting Michelle Obama to be involved in promoting MS research since her father had suffered from it. I am glad she has been working to support military families though.

If I think about the evolving situation, I believe there is clearly something wrong with the system, not just in the USA but everywhere.

If I can work out as an semi-litterate in one year (in my spare free time and with the help of others) what is MS (don't say it is all wrong because it is not..), why for heavens sake can't a system like ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS that met in Amsterdam in October 2011 with over 7000 specialists and after 150 years not come up with something consistent and coherent, some plausible explanations?

But can we blame the pharma industry? There are big debates on evolving social reponsibilities of corporate actors.. But at the end of the day, these companies are responsible to their shareholders.

Then, can we blame the clinical sector, the hospitals or the doctors? Perhaps, I am not sure, they've become the victim of more bureaucratization and protocols e.g. to limit liabilities of their hospitals and themselves, whilst craftmanship was lost on the way.

Can we put the blame on public health institutions? As Nigel Crisp said in his book Turning the World Upside Down, public health has been eclipsed by the pharma and clinic sectors since the 1950's. And to an extent the officials may have been submissive, perhaps even because they did neither have the manpower nor the knowledge. That's bad...

So we as patients are faced with a situation where the system failed massively and the failure is persistent. But we can not find a perpetrator. What's worse, we can not even find the button to press to launch the change process so much needed.

I hope you can use the presidential elections to raise visibility of this problem. It occurs to me that the fact that all candidates have or had relatives with MS so close to them can only help you. Good luck!!

I knew Ann Romney has MS, but it does not make any difference to me.

Val, may I ask you a question? As a democrat, were you disappointed that Michele Obama didn't take up the cause considering she grew up witnessing MS first hand? I was hoping she would, but she did find some worthwhile causes.

maynaka,

I'm ambivalent about public figures, such as Michelle Obama and JK Rowling (another of my heroes), taking up support for MS research. Why? Because they so often throw their powerful voices behind the national societies, which are of questionable value to many of us MSers. (I'm PPMS and so pretty much overlooked by most studies & research.) What I would love to see these famous people publicize what it's like to have a loved one with MS, what the challenges are, and what keeps people going in the face of adversity. I guess I'd like less emphasis on drugs and more support for hope and love.

Perhaps you aren't aware of what motivated me to start this conversation--Ann Romney has MS, and with the full support of her husband Mitt and family, has pursued complementary treatments like horseback riding. Marianne Gingrich (2nd wife) saw her husband Newt leave her for another woman shortly after her dx. Something like that may or may not have an effect on voters' views of the candidates, and many people do not make it a part of their considerations. I've never seen any interviews about how pwMS are taking the news, so I thought this thread would raise some interesting discussions.

Val,

I am in total agreement with you as it relates to the NMSS. This organization has been of no value (in my opinion) to anyone with MS.

I was aware of Romney's devotion to his wife (childhood sweethearts, etc.), but unaware the Gingrich left his wife due to her diagnosis. I had just heard he was having a long term affair with his current wife.

As a republican, I think it says a lot about Romney's moral fiber and character. It is one of reasons he has my support.

If I offended you with my question, my apologizes.

M

maynaka,

Oh no, not offended! I just wanted to keep the discussion on track.

V

Agreed. Didn't mean to go off track.

I reviewed my grammar and spelling in the last post...I should apologize to all readers. I will proof more carefully in the future.

M

I would also they would want to support healthcare for all americans including the 50Millions americans who have no coverage as well as some of beneficial changes in the healthcare plan such as no pre-existing conditions.