Robert F. Kennedy's health?

[garybeck]

I just started listening to "Ring of Fire" on Air America Radio. I'm usually busy on Saturday afternoons but I've heard the show a couple times now. I think it's a great show but I'm wondering, Robert Kennedy doesn't sound good. His voice is shaking and he sounds like he has health problems. Does he just have a cold or is there something serious? Anyone know?

[JJackFlash]

1. he's always sounded horrible

don't know what it is with his weak vocal cords.

[garybeck]

2. Unfortunately I think he could never be president just because of that.

But I'm glad to hear it's not a new or sudden illness causing it.

[NYCGirl]

3. He has a condition known as "spasmodic dysphonia"

More about it here:

Robert F, Kennedy suffers from a vocal disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia. 15,5500 people in this country are afflicted with the condition.

The voice disorder gives a strained, broken or sometimes breathy tone to people who have the condition, who include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Public Radio's Diane Rehm.

With spasmodic dysphonia, which is caused by the involuntary movement of muscles in the larynx, Botox injections can relax those muscles in the same way it relaxes the muscles in the furrowed foreheads of those who use it for cosmetic reasons.

Doctors have found that patients respond extremely well to Botox shots into the voical chords a few times a year and as a result did significantly better both socially and emotionally.

http://dragonballyee.blogs.com/philly/2005/04/robert_f_kenned.html

[Eric J in MN]

5. I wonder if he's tried Botox for the condition (nt)

nt

[anitar1]

7. Let's send this to Rita Cosby, n/t

[bobbieinok]

9. didn't know this abt DRehm.....find her hard to listen to

[longship]

11. And Rita "Wheezy" Cosby?

nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. He has a neurological condition called spasmodic dysphonia.

http://www.dysphonia.org/about/board.asp

[goclark]

6. If it doesn't hurt him to talk, I am ready to listen

RFK Jr. can be my President any day.

If we could be on the same planet with GWB for 5 years, I know I could take an intelligent giant like RFK jr.

[stillcool]

8. When we have to rule out...

an individual of this caliber for public office, because of the sound of his voice, we are in much deeper doo-doo than i'd realized.

[garybeck]

10. I agree 100%. I have nothing but respect for him and I'd love

to see him run. I'm just saying that the american people would have a hard time with his voice.

not to demean the intellect of the american people but I've always said that in order for a person to have a realistic chance of running they have to satisfy a few basic things. For one, their name has to be somewhat simple. Clinton, Gore, Bush, Reagan, Carter... These are all simple names. I think someone like Kucinich will have a strike against him just because of his name. Then they also have to be at least average height, and not obviously ugly.

I don't think the voice problem would be insurmoutable but it would be an obstacle.

It sucks that that's what it comes down to but I believe there's a certain amount of "American Idol" mentality in the presidential race that can't be ignored.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. He lost my respect when he

wrote the misleading article linking autism to immunizations not long ago.

[stillcool]

13. you sound like my husband....

worried about Peoria, and Kansas...:hi: while i'm ready to :nuke:

[jean]

14. Did his grandmother, Rose Kennedy also suffer from spasmodic dysphonia?

Her voice sounded so similar to RFK Jr's.