Obama/Biden: Escalating the War on Fathers and Families
By Gordon E. Finley (08/25/08)
Tragically -- but true to the radical feminist agenda -- the Obama/Biden Democratic ticket portends an escalating war on boys, men, fathers, and families. On Father’s Day 2008, Sen. Obama could have spoken on any number of topics. His choice was to castigate African-American fathers and blame fathers, and fathers alone, for the ills of the African-American family.
He called upon African-American fathers to be more involved in their children’s lives (certainly a worthwhile call) but he also castigated them for failing to endorse “responsible fatherhood” which essentially means signing up for 18 years of overly highly calculated child support. Economists understand, but Sen. Obama ideologically overlooks, the reality that child support currently is calculated at a level far above what the majority of fathers -- including poor and unemployed fathers -- actually are capable of paying or that children require (see W. S. Comanor, The law and economics of child support payments, 2004).
So, what then does Sen. Biden bring to the ticket? Sen. Biden brings the divisive Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which he originated, expanded, and vigorously supported in subsequent years. Unfortunately, substantial evidence now indicates that VAWA not only fails to protect women from domestic violence but in many cases increases their risk of harm and contains much fraud (www.mediaradar.org). What VAWA does best, however, is squander billions of taxpayer dollars annually to finance the war on fathers and families.
As promoted by divorce lawyers (see The American Bar Association’s position on Domestic Violence at www.mediaradar.org) and domestic violence shelter operators, mothers are advised that the surest path to fortune and child custody is to obtain a restraining order through VAWA by telling a judge that they are “afraid” of their husband. No physical evidence of violence or abuse is required, only her claim of “fear.” Based on this “evidence,” judges routinely and immediately grant ex-parte temporary restraining orders against husbands.
With the restraining order in hand, Sen. Biden’s VAWA removes the father from his home at any hour of the day or night, separates him from his children, requires him to stay away from his wife, and immediately orders him to begin paying child support to his wife based only on her self-reported “fear.” VAWA explicitly denies the father his Constitutionally guaranteed due process protections. Children explicitly are denied the love and companionship of fit fathers. In short, the feminist objective of destroying family life is achieved and the only real beneficiaries are the lawyers.
While Sen. Biden’s contribution to the war on fathers and families is clear, much remains to be learned about Sen. Obama and his attitudes towards fathers and families. The problem is that Sen. Obama’s book Dreams from My Father and material emanating in the media and on the web differ very substantially from one another.
In closing, and of critical importance for the balance of the presidential race, it must be noted that “change” was the seminal issue which propelled Sen. Obama from obscurity to the Democratic Nomination. Is it then not fair to ask-- after three decades in the Senate -- where voters are going to find “change” in Sen. Biden? And, above all else, what does Obama’s selection of Sen. Biden portend for his future appointments and the future of the American family?
Gordon E. Finley
Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at Florida International University in Miami.
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