National Enquirer Claims Linda Rondstadt's Political Statements are Because She's "Unstable, Unhinged" By Thyroid Condition!!!

The National Enquirer has never been a hotbed of truth and information, but they've really gone over the edge. One of this this week's cover stories screams "SECRET BEHIND LINDA RONSTADT'S VEGAS MELTDOWN: Friends believe outburst triggered by chronic disease." Read Enquirer Story Now. The disease her so-called friends believe "triggered her bizarre headline-making meltdown in Las Vegas?" -- Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The article goes on to quote other unnamed "friends" claim that she's "unstable," "unhinged," and even "gone over the edge" and that "her thyroid disease contributed to these outbursts." Is an artist having a controversial political opinion so threatening that unnamed "friends" need to be recruited to mount an Enquirer smear campaign that pretty much calls the singer everything but a nutjob?

All political debate aside, this is also an amazingly ignorant and unfair portrayal of Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Given how many people actually get their news from the Enquirer -- and think that what they read is actually the truth -- this article has done a HUGE disservice not only to the singer, but to thyroid patients -- both Republican and Democrat -- around the nation.

Just think. You might think twice about even mentioning you have Hashimoto's disease, because someone might say to you, "Oh, that's the disease that made Linda Rondstadt all nutso and fat, right?" Or your spouse/boss/friends may dismiss things you say or think, deciding that you too are unstable or unhinged, due to your Hashimoto's disease! Or think how many doctors probably secretly read the Enquirer...just what they need is more fodder for their theory that thyroid patients are head cases!!

I don't care whether you agree or disagree with what Rondstadt had to say, but the fact that the Enquirer has found unnamed people who dismiss her statements as "unstable" and "unhinged" because of her thyroid condition means that any of you expressing your opinions may be derided in the same way by someone who is out to discredit you.

If you don't like the damage the Enquirer has done to thyroid patients, write them now:

Email letters@nationalenquirer.com

Or write to:

Letters
National Enquirer
1000 American Media Way
Boca Raton FL, 33464-1000

AND...no sooner had the Enquirer come out, then apparently, morning DJ's decided the story is good fodder for a laugh. Last Friday, 8/6/04, about 7:15 am Gary Bryan, the morning DJ on oldie's station KRTH 101 FM decided that Linda's thyroid problem was simply hilarious, and worth many jokes. If you've heard of others making fun of thyroid disease, let us know. But in the meantime, let's help reeduccate Gary Bryan... Go to http://www.k-earth101.com/contactus.asp, and click on the down arrow and select "Gary Bryan" and type in your message.

More to come on this story soon.