"How can you expect the country to be loyal to you if your own family isn't?"

A New Hampshire mother posed this question to Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani at a town-hall-style meeting recently. The media has widely reported Giuliani's uncomfortable response--"Leave my family alone." Giuliani is taking enormous criticism for his family life, but he hasn't behaved anywhere near as badly as his many critics maintain. Moreover, he has also been the victim of some hurtful behavior by his ex-wife, Donna Hanover, with whom he has two children.

My new column, In Defense of Giuliani's Family Life (The Providence Journal, 9/21/07), discusses the enormous criticism Rudy Giuliani is receiving over his family life. The column asserts that while Giuliani is no choir boy, he has not behaved anywhere near as badly as his critics maintain.

To write a Letter to the Editor of The Providence Journal regarding the column, click here.

In Defense of Giuliani's Family Life
By Glenn Sacks

"How can you expect the country to be loyal to you if your own family isn't?"

A New Hampshire mother posed this question to Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani at a town-hall-style meeting recently. The media has widely reported Giuliani's uncomfortable response--"Leave my family alone." Giuliani is taking enormous criticism for his family life, but he hasn't

As many of you know, Mary Winkler recently appeared on Oprah. To watch the show in its entirety, click here.

Oprah was annoyingly sympathetic to Winkler, and seemed to buy her abused wife shtick. My opinion of her claims is as follows:

1) Winkler provided no substantive evidence for her claims--no medical reports, no police reports, no 911 calls, nothing.

2) The defense did put a few people on the stand who testified as to various indirect indications that Winkler might have been abused. A couple of these were of some value. For example, a doctor said Winkler visited her one time with what he described as a "minor injury" to her face, which Winkler said at the time came when a kids' softball hit her. She now claims this was an example of Matthew's abuse of her. The doctor said the injury was consistent with either one.

Also, Winkler's father testified as to seeing injuries on Mary previously, which Mary denied were related to abuse. Of course, even if these were true examples of abuse--and it's far from clear that they are--it doesn't mean that Matthew was the aggressor. Research shows that a large percentage of domestic violence is mutual abuse--Mary's alleged injuries could've been the end result of her attacks on Matthew. We'll never know whether Matthew was abusive or not, but we do know that one member of that household was violent--Mary Winkler. Anybody capable of shooting a sleeping man in the back and allowing him to bleed to death is certainly capable of initiating domestic violence in the home.

3) Some of the other witnesses were meaningless, including one neighbor who said that Matthew threatened to shoot his dog because it kept coming to Matthew's house and barking at night and waking him up. I guess my wife and I are abusers, too--at our previous house our neighbors' dog would bark outside our window at 3 AM, and after several complaints we banged on my neighbor's door and screamed at him, and, if we didn't threaten to shoot the damn thing, we should've.

4) One of the few times on Oprah where Oprah did voice skepticism was when Mary described the morning of the crime. Winkler told Oprah she was angry at her husband and "just wanted to talk to him," and then she "heard a boom." A more complete description of the incident would have been that she wanted to talk to him, waited until he fell asleep, retrieved the shotgun, pumped it, aimed it at his back, pulled the trigger, and then "heard a boom."

5) Ironically, the truth-teller on the show was feminist Court TV commentator Lisa Bloom, Gloria Allred's daughter. Bloom said, "At Court TV a collective gasp went up at this verdict. We all thought it was a first degree murder case....Didn't she make the decision to allow him to fall asleep? Didn't she make the decision to go into that closet and get that gun? Didn't she make the decision to aim it at Matthew and pull the trigger?"

Bloom also asserted that "there wasn't much corroboration [of the abuse] at the trial."

6) Perhaps the most absurd aspect of both the trial and Oprah was the way Mary highlighted the white platform shoes which she claimed Matthew "made her" wear, and which she said were deeply humiliating to her. During the trial, Mary held up the shoe and bowed her head down in mock pain and shame. Oprah bought it, telling her audience that on her show "everybody gasped when they saw the shoe." Bloom explained to Oprah that in any "big city" people would have "laughed at" Mary's claims that the shoes were part of the "abuse" she suffered.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

The American Coalition for Fathers and Children The American Coalition for Fathers and Children is dedicated to creating a family law system which promotes equal rights for all parties affected by divorce. Contact the ACFC at 1-800-978-3237 or visit them on the web at www.acfc.org.

I am misquoted in Jim Kouri's recent column Racism in government schools (9/18/07). I wrote to Kouri last week asking him to fix his article but have not received a reply, and I do not know whether or not he received my email. Anyway, I'll at least make the correction here. Kouri wrote:

"According to Men's Rights commentator Glenn Sacks, '(School accuses 5-year-old of sex harassment' Herald-Mail, 12/20/06), over the past year, 28 Maryland kindergarten students have been suspended for alleged 'sex offenses,' including 15 for 'sexual harassment.'

"Sacks points out that all of the students disciplined were white males."

This is a mistake. I never made any reference to the race of the targeted kindergarten students, and I have no idea if they are white, black, Latin, or whatever. I have no idea where Kouri got the quote from--perhaps he was quoting someone else and mixed up the names, which can happen. The blog post of mine he was apparently referring to is 28 Maryland Kindergarten Students Suspended for 'Sex Offenses'.

As my readers know, I am not now nor have I ever been an advocate for "white males." As I've repeatedly said and written, black and Latino men and fathers usually face the same problems which white males do, and are our allies, not our opponents or competitors.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

A Legal Advocate for Fathers in Los Angeles & Ventura Counties The Law Offices of Adam Michael Sacks, Esq., handles cases of all sizes with compassion, understanding, and a commitment to helping fathers protect themselves in a divorce. Don't assume anything and don't sign anything--call Adam Sacks, Esq. at 1-800-340-7320, or write him at adam@adamlawyer.com. www.adamlawyer.com (No relation)

Ned Holstein has an interesting post on the Fathers & Families blog about the way CNN apparently shielded the identity of a paternity fraud perp in a piece they did earlier this summer. Holstein's post is below.

CNN Protects Perpetrator of Fraud

CNN has concealed the name of a perpetrator of "paternity fraud". Why?

Francisco Rodriquez is the victim of an ordinary case of paternity fraud. The state of Florida insists that he owes $10,000 in back child support payments for a fifteen year old girl who, according to DNA results, is not his daughter. The state even jailed Rodriguez for failure to pay.

Here is my twist on this otherwise ordinary case: In reporting this story, CNN refused to divulge the name of the mother--a perpetrator of fraud who wrongly named Mr. Rodriguez the father. Why did CNN protect her? She is not a victim. She is a perpetrator.

Mr. Rodriguez is struggling to support a family and cannot afford to pay $305 per month to support the girl. Mrs. Rodriguez says "It's hard when your daughter needs sneakers and you have to pay $305 or your husband goes to jail. It's just unfair."

We call on CNN to reveal the name of the mother, as they would for any other story involving fraud.

Okay, for those of you who do not understand paternity fraud, here's how it works. The mother wrongly named Mr. Rodriguez the father of the girl in about 2000. The court sent legal papers to an outdated address for Mr. Rodriguez, but no serious effort was made to find him -- until, of course, substantial child support arrearages had built up three years later. When he did not appear in court, because he never received the legal notices, the court named him the father and began accumulating child support arrearages. When they found him in 2003, it was already too late for him to contest the finding of the court in 2000 that he was the father, based only on the mother's say-so. All the DNA tests in the world will not get him off the hook now for paying child support, and even from being jailed.

This story is not just about helping out a fifteen-year-old girl in need. By insisting that Mr. Rodriquez pay child support for this girl, Florida is hurting the three other children Rodriguez supports with his wife.

Of course, this does not stop the apologists for an unjust law. Susan Paikin of the Center for Support of Families in Delaware offers the platitude, "There are no perfect answers." Actually, there are some simple answers, such as 1) insist that unwed mothers disclose ALL the possible fathers of their children; 2) institute universal DNA testing at the time of birth if the parents are unwed; 3) make a serious attempt to find biological fathers at the time of birth, not just after they owe child support arrearages, at which time our government suddenly becomes very interested in finding them. (Fathers & Families supports a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature that would institute near-universal DNA testing in such cases.)

DNA testing did not exist when these laws were written. Let's use it for everyone's benefit. It is best for children if we identify their true biological fathers right from birth, for medical reasons and so they can enjoy the lifelong support of their true fathers.

And finally, why should CNN protect a mother who outright lied, or, at the very least, failed to tell the whole truth about the father of her child?

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Fathers & Families: Advocacy for the Child-Father Bond Fathers & Families is a non-profit organization advocating for the right of every child to have two parents. Called by some a "fathers' rights organization," Fathers & Families is made up of men and women who believe that fathers are an essential part of a child's life and that divorce or separation should not change this. www.FathersandFamilies.org  FALSELY ACCUSED IN TEXAS? Domestic Violence. Child Sexual Assault. Child Protective Services Defense. Contact the Law Office of Stuckle & Ferguson www.PaulStuckle.com / falseaccusations@stuckle-ferguson.com

I discussed the Mary Winkler custody case on the Memphis Morning News on Friday, and the station has a listener poll up which asks the question "Should Mary Winkler get her kids back?" Those who'd like to participate in the poll can click here and see the left side of the screen.

Mary Winkler shot her husband Matthew Winkler in the back as he slept and then allowed him to slowly bleed to death. She got off with as slap on the wrist after she claimed, with little corroboration, to be an abused wife. She now seeks to win custody of her three daughters from their grandparents, Dan and Diane Winkler, who have been raising them since their son was murdered in March 2006.

I believe that Winkler is a dangerous, psychologically disturbed woman who shouldn't be granted custody of her three children. Winkler was granted visitation with her children on Wednesday, an important step in her winning custody of them.

To learn more about the case, see my co-authored column No child custody for husband-killer Mary Winkler (World Net Daily, 9/14/07).

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Parenting Plan Calendar Software Shared Ground (R) is an easy-to-use software program designed for divorced parents to track their parenting plan schedules over many years. Do-it-yourself or let us build your approved parenting plan into a multi-year calendar so that you can print, share, or modify the calendar later. Parents, attorneys, arbitrators and mediators can generate equitable parenting plans, which is especially useful for parents seeking fair division of their children's time. FREE ASSISTANCE TO OUR CLIENTS- $49.95 one-time charge, FREE TRIAL & MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Click here for more information. Jeff Leving's New Book--Divorce Wars Jeffery M. Leving, one of America's most prominent divorce lawyers, has written a new book on how to win any divorce fairly, even when your spouse brings out the heavy artillery. Divorce Wars: A Field Guide to the Winning Tactics, Preemptive Strikes, and Top Maneuvers When Divorce Gets Ugly provides essential advice on everything from picking the right lawyer and devising a winning settlement strategy to getting the most from your day in court and dealing with an ex-spouse. Divorce Wars is available here. Help, Resources for Dads The National Fathers' Resource Center is a division of Fathers For Equal Rights, Inc. (FER), located in Dallas, Texas, with offices in both Dallas and Houston. In existence for over three decades, it has services and resources for dads nationwide and is one of the largest and most active fathers' rights organizations in the U.S. www.fathers4kids.org

Ford has come out with a new father-positive car commercial for its 2008 Taurus. The ad, called "We Know," depicts a father looking out for his little son as he rides his bicycle, and then draws an analogy between the way the father knows how to keep his son safe and the way Ford says its automobile engineers know how to keep people safe.

The ad depicts the father as being what the vast majority of fathers (and mothers) are--caring, loving parents. To watch, click here.

Last year there was considerable debate in the fatherhood movement over Ford's  controversial "Bold Moves" divorced dad ad for the Ford Freestyle. The ad can be viewed here. Some saw the ad as degrading or insulting to divorced dads, and I received numerous letters urging me to launch a protest campaign against the ad, as we've done in the past.

Others saw the commercial as a positive for divorced dads. I discussed the ad's pros and cons in my E-newsletter here. As I've noted, while I understand people's negative reaction to the commercial, as a whole I see it as a positive development. In my co-authored column Dads finally get fair shake in the media (Chicago Sun-Times, 12/24/06) I explained:

"[The ad] was another step forward for fathers. The ad begins with a stereotypically happy family taking a trip to the beach in a Ford Freestyle SUV. At the end of the commercial comes an unexpected twist--the car pulls into a housing complex, and dad gets out. He hugs his kids, tells them he'll see them next week, tells his ex-wife, 'Thanks for inviting me this weekend,' and waves goodbye.

"The ad does more than give heretofore invisible divorced dads some needed visibility; it also provides an important image of a divorced couple working to preserve their children's relationships with both parents. Dad remains involved, and his ex, instead of putting forth her new husband as the children's 'new dad,' invites him along."

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Thanks to Justin, a reader, for sending me the new Ford commercial.

Help for Midwest Fathers Cordell & Cordell is one of the largest domestic relations firms for men in the Midwest, representing fathers in Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, Indiana and Georgia. Men who come to Cordell & Cordell know that their interests and the interests of their children will be aggressively championed. www.cordellcordell.com Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody Joseph E. Cordell's Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody  gives fathers clear, easy-to-understand tips on how to achieve the best results possible in a divorce. Comprehensive chapters explain every step of the divorce process, the meaning of legal terms, how courts determine custody, and how to maximize chances of victory at every stage. Cordell is the founder of Cordell & Cordell.

Conservative nationally-syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher got it right about Mary Winkler in a recent broadcast. He panned her recent performance on Oprah and criticized the legal system's slap on the wrist for Winkler. To listen to Gallagher's broadcast, click here.

Gallagher doesn't discuss gender issues very often, but when he does he's often right on. During the Elian Gonzalez saga in 2000, Gallagher was one of the few conservatives in the country who said plainly and clearly that Elian belonged with his father, Juan Gonzalez. During the Clara Harris trial, Mike hosted a debate between myself and one of Clara's defenders, and, unlike many, Gallagher saw through Clara's "betrayed wife" shtick.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

"HOW DID I MORPH FROM BIRTHING A NATION TO A TRICK BITCH AND HO? AND PLEASE INFORM ME WHEN I...BECAME NOTHING BUT A COMMODITY...JUST ANOTHER TRICK BITCH OR HO, NOT A WOMAN THAT HAS A SOUL AND GOALS?"
 
A couple years ago we did a His Side with Glenn Sacks show called Misogynistic Rap Culture and the Decline of the Black Family. Author Hannah Drake saw it on-line recently and wrote me a nice letter about it, including a poem she wrote which asks a damn good question--"When Did I Become a Trick or Ho?" Her poem is below.

When Did I Become a TRICK OR HO?
By Hannah Drake

I wonder when I became a
TRICK
BITCH
HO
Please tell me
Because I want to know
When my
BLACK, PECAN TAN, MAHOGANY
HERE BEFORE TIME WAS TIME
LABELED ONCE AS GODLY AND DIVINE
SET IT ALL INTO MOTION WHEN HUMANITY BEGUN
FRENCH KISSED BY THE SUN
SKIN
Became EQUATED WITH 3 DEADLY SINS
TRICK
BITCH
HO
Please let me know
WHEN BEING A BLACK FEMALE BECAME EQUAL TO THE RICHNESS BETWEEN MY THIGHS
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHOSE FEEDING YOU THOSE LIES
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHY MY DAUGHTER CRIES AT NIGHT
CAUSE HER DADDY CALLED HER MOMMA A STANK ASS BITCH
THE MEDIA SAYS SHE AIN'T NOTHIN BUT A TRICK
AND WHY LUDACRIS SAYS SHE'S A DAMN GOOD HO IF SHE SHAKES IT LIKE THIS
PLEASE LET ME KNOW
HOW DID I MORPH FROM BIRTHING A NATION
TO A TRICK BITCH AND HO
AND PLEASE INFORM ME
WHEN I WAS DETHRONED AND LOST MY ROYALTY
AND BECAME NOTHING BUT A COMMODITY
AN IMAGE ON THE AUCTION BLOCK SIMPLY TO BE SOLD
JUST ANOTHER TRICK BITCH OR HO
NOT A WOMAN THAT HAS A SOUL AND GOALS
AND EVEN IF I DO WORK LATE AT NIGHT SWINGING FROM A POLE
I'M TRYING TO FEED MY THREE KIDS NOT A TIP TRICKING, DICK SUCKING HO
SO TODAY I SAY FUCK YOUR LABELS
FUCK YOUR "BLACK WOMEN WERE BORN TO BREED" FABLES
FUCK YOUR GAME-KEEPING WOMEN LIKE THEY HOUSED IN STABLES
I AM MORE THAN ABLE
AND CAPABLE TO KNOW
THAT HERE STANDS A QUEEN, A DIVA, THE EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE
NOT
A
TRICK
BITCH
OR
HO!

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Online Dating Rights Online Dating Rights opposes the new federal International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, which requires Americans who seek to meet foreigners via the internet to have a criminal background check and an intrusive report about intimate details of one's life BEFORE any communication--the first time in US history that such checks have been required. www.onlinedatingrights.com SAMSONLAW--Divorce Lawyers for Michigan Men & Fathers If you're a Michigan man faced with divorce, you need SAMSONLAW on your side--SAMSONLAW defends men. Smart Advocacy Means Stopping Oppression Now. INeedSamson.com My Sara My Sara--How the Adoption Assistance Agency stole a baby girl away from her loving family and put her up for adoption, for a nice profit. To learn more about this incredible story, go to www.my-sara.com

Josh Gonze and David Standridge recently penned an interesting article on high-earner child support. The article refers specifically to New Mexico law, but is applicable to the laws of many states.

Their basic argument is a solid one--child support levels should not go up to infinity, even for high-earners. What a child support obligor pays should still be linked to the actual cost of raising a child, no matter how much the obligor earns.

Legislature must correct child-support inequities
Santa Fe New Mexican, 7/22/07
By Josh Gonze and David Standridge

The rap musician, 50 Cent, might not like paying $25,000 a month in child support for one child, but he's lucky his son resides outside New Mexico.

That's because in New Mexico, child support is unlimited. It has no ceiling as it does in nearly every other state. In New Mexico, if the payer's gross income exceeds $8,300 a month, child support is 11 percent of gross income, rising to infinity.

It is irrelevant if the child does not benefit from the child support. No law requires child support to be spent on the child. The statute permits judges to deviate from the guideline, but downward deviations are rare.

In addition to paying child support, high-income payers pay "extraordinary expenses," which bizarrely include the principal costs of child raising such as medical bills, schooling, summer camp and daycare. Of course parents are responsible for supporting their children. The problem is that our statute has harmful unintended consequences for children. The arbitrary 11 percent harms children by propelling parents into endless litigation over the parents' gross incomes.

In some cases, child support diverts money from the child -- the exact opposite of its purpose. In one case in Santa Fe, dad pays $1,755 a month in child support for one child, with joint physical custody. In a situation such as this, it does not cost that much money to raise a child half of the time. The excess money could then be used by the mother on luxuries for herself as another form of alimony.

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

[Families Against Confiscatory Child Support is the national voice for fair and reasonable child support. To learn more, go to www.faccsonline.org or contact them at contact@faccsonline.org.]

Happily Un-married! Living Together & Loving It! Living together is becoming widely accepted among all ages. Happily Un-married! is the first book to take a serious & non-judgmental look at helping these couples improve the fitness of their relationships. The rate of cohabitation is skyrocketing--10 million couples, 40% of whom have children. Happily Un-married! helps unmarried couples stabilize and strengthen their relationships. www.cohabitating.org Help for Georgia Dads Georgia attorney Edwin M. Saginar has 36 years of experience in family law and criminal defense, including domestic violence. He has seen many spouses falsely accuse their significant others of family violence, and knows how to defend your rights. www.edwinsaginar.com Need Affordable Help with Child Support and Custody Issues? Legal Services Centers of America provides fathers with affordable help in family law matters such as child support and child custody. Based in Colorado, they handle cases throughout the US. Call them at (719) 219-3561or write them at lscalegal@earthlink.net. www.legalservicecentersofamerica.com

Below are some recent articles and items of interest from Fathers & Families' latest News Digest.

Torn by distance, he wonders how far to take custody fight (Boston Globe, 9/24/07)

Rell Cancels Plan To Charge Custodial Parents For Child Support (Associated Press, 9/24/07)

When Ties to a Parent Are Cut by the Other (New York Times, 9/23/07)

Marriage declining in Oregon, especially suburbs, rural counties (Associated Press, 9/23/07)

Men are smartest and dumbest, say scientists (London Times, 9/23/07)

Stephen Baskerville's Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fathers, Marriage, and the Family will be released soon--click here to learn more.

Video: Domestic Abuse No Longer A Problem, Say Bruised Female Researchers (The Onion, 9/21/07) (Satire)

Inside the Charlie & Denise Custody Battle  (OK! Magazine, 9/21/07)

N.D. group studies state custody laws (Fargo Forum, 9/20/07)

Public committee to abolish automatic maternal custody of children under 6 (Haaretz, 9/20/07)

Global Warming Is All Men's Fault, Part VI

"Sorry, Harold, but I'm reducing our carbon footprint."

From the New Yorker. For some other examples of how editorial cartoonists seem to hold men and only men responsible for global warming, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Thanks to Steve Deluca for the cartoon.
 

Alicia M. Crowe's Real Dads Stand Up! Alicia M. Crowe's new book Real Dads Stand Up! explains what every single father should know about child support, rights and custody. Learn how to exercise your legal rights, avoid 'baby mama drama', navigate the child support system, gain and maintain access to your children, and settle issues without going to trial. www.realdadsstandup.com Fathers' Rights Legal Help If you need help with divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and visitation issues, The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. is one of the only law firms in the country focused almost exclusively on fathers' rights in divorce. Leving did heroic work on the Elian Gonzalez case, helping reunite Elian with his father. He also co-authored Illinois' Joint Custody Law, and was named one of "America's Best Lawyers" by Forbes Radio. Leving is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard Hitting and Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Call today for an initial consultation (312) 807-3990 or visit us on the web at www.dadsrights.com.

An Interview with Paternity Advocate Eric Johnson of RuDaddy (Part I) Background: Paternity Advocates Eric & Donna Johnson of RuDaddy provide affordable legal assistance to men who are paying child support for children who may not be theirs. Below is the first part of my interview with Eric Johnson about the world of paternity fraud. Glenn: Who is the typical client you serve? Is he married, never-married, or divorced? Does he have a relationship with the child in question? Did the mother intentionally deceive him, or was it an honest mistake?   Eric:  We address all of the above.  Fathers in every station of life have to deal with child support and paternity fraud issues.  Those who are married may find that the child they thought was theirs is, in fact, not.  Perhaps the child is the result of an adulterous affair, and they know or suspect the child is not theirs. The same is true for fathers who have never been married or are divorced but have been accused of fathering a child. Some fathers do have a relationship with the child, and this will impact the decisions they will need to make.  Some have decided to step away from the situation and allow the biological father space to create a relationship.  Other fathers decide to maintain the relationship but ask for relief from mandatory child support.   In choosing a father, we have found that some mothers have made a mistake, however, many know and have chosen the father to intentionally deceive the man for the purposes of financial gain.  We call this 'father shopping,' which is fraud because it is intentional deception with the intent to obtain personal monetary gain at the expense of another. Our case administrators are trained to make these determinations on a case-by-case basis. Glenn: Let's say a man is living with his girlfriend and their three-month-old baby. He suspects the kid isn't his. He doesn't want to create a fuss or a problem, but he wants to know the truth. Is there a discreet way you can help him?   Eric: Yes, not only discreet, but affordable and fast.  The informational DNA test is only $122.00 including shipping with 7 day turnaround time.  (It can be faster for a small  additional charge.) If the father does not want the mother to know that he suspects anything, there are several different types of tests available. He can use things like chewing gum, soda cans used by the person or hair clippings to send in for a determination. If the results prove he is not the father, we would then advise him to get a court admissible DNA test, which is a service that we can provide, and then petition the court for a hearing to make a ruling on the issues of child support or paternity fraud. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. Help for Los Angeles/Ventura County Dads Certified Family Law Specialist Peter M. Walzer was one of the key figures in our successful legislative struggle to preserve the LaMusga move-away decision. As Chair of the State Bar of California Family Law Section Executive Committee, Walzer lobbied the state legislature to improve California laws on child support and child custody. He's an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellow who has authored numerous articles on custody issues, business valuation in marital dissolutions and spousal and child support.  www.California-Divorce.com The LaMusga Company The LaMusga Company provides customized solutions to assist individuals and business owners in reaching their financial goals. The LaMusga Company is committed to helping you accomplish your long-term financial objectives. LaMusgaCo.com Funny 1981 TV Ad with Billy Martin and an Angry Umpire This is a funny 1981 commercial for the Oakland A's, featuring controversial former A's manager Billy Martin. FYI for non-baseball fans, Martin was super intense and something of a nutcase, but had an uncanny ability to take over wretched baseball teams and turn them into winners. For example, the Oakland A's went 54-108 in 1979. Martin took over in 1980 and finished over .500, and in 1981 had the best won-lost record in the American League. He was repeatedly fired from jobs (including a record five times from the Yankees by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner), in part because of his drinking and propensity to get in fist fights. Martin also had a reputation for giving umpires hell, and this TV commercial plays on this reputation. I've written about Martin before--see my blog post 'The Bronx Is Burning,' Billy Martin, & the Misleading 'Paternal Abandonment Script' To watch the commercial, click here. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. Dr. Warren Farrell's Shared Parenting Evidence Kit--What You Need to Win Shared Physical Custody Dr. Warren Farrell, a top expert on children of divorce now offers a complete evidence kit to help you win shared custody.  The DVDs, audio CD and electronic files summarize the best scientific research available collected over decades.  Scientific research has proven that children do far better with near equal time with both parents with minimal conditions.  This video set was developed to educate parents, judges, lawyers, psychologists and other divorce professionals. Most judges are doing exactly what is worst for children with sole-custody.  Submitted as evidence this will maximize your chances. Divorce Reform groups call(508) 381-1450 to use as fundraiser. www.BestInterestofChildren.org   Help for Michigan Dads Michigan family law attorney Mindy L. Hitchcock has experience fighting for noncustodial parents against Michigan's abusive FOC. Her holistic approach to divorce gets results for her clients while avoiding the scorched earth approach to law that leaves families emotionally and financially devastated. Lady4Justice.com

His Side with Glenn Sacks Radio Commentary: Mary Winkler's Bid for Child Custody My latest His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentary for KLAA AM 830 in Los Angeles discusses the child custody case of husband-killer Mary Winkler. I argue that Winkler got off with a slap on the wrist, is psychologically disturbed, and shouldn't be granted custody of her three children. Winkler was granted visitation with her children this week, an important step in her winning custody of them. To listen to the commentary, click here. To learn more about the case, see my co-authored column No child custody for husband-killer Mary Winkler (World Net Daily, 9/14/07). His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentaries are broadcast daily on KLAA AM 830, a 50,000 watt talk station in Los Angeles and Orange County. KLAA AM 830 is owned by Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. KLAA hosts include Glenn Beck and Michael Savage. From 2003-2005, His Side with Glenn Sacks ran in a syndicated talk show format in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and other cities. To listen to show archives, click here. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. The Diary of a Patient Man--How a Male DV Victim Fought the System and Fought for His Child William Stoneking's The Diary of a Patient Man is the compelling and inspirational true story of a father's fight for his child against a violent ex-wife and a biased court system that tried to drive him away. Get it online or order your copy here. Are you or someone you love being abused? The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women provides crisis intervention and support services to victims of domestic violence and their families in order to help survivors recover from the trauma of domestic violence. Contact them by clicking here. Tiger Woods and His Father "When Tiger became the first black man ever to win the Masters [in 1997] he cried like a little boy in the arms of his father, who was there against doctor's orders after almost dying in heart surgery." Tiger Woods' father Earl died last year at age 74. Eugene Robinson wrote in the Washington Post: "Earl Woods did much more than raise a supremely talented golfer. In an age when it's rare to read a sentence with the words 'African American' and 'father' that doesn't also include 'absent' or some other pejorative, Earl and Tiger Woods were the world's most visible, and inspiring, counterexample. 'He was the person I looked up to more than anyone,' Tiger Woods said following his father's death, and even the world's biggest cynic had to know he meant every word. "To me, the two defining aspects of Tiger Woods' career have been his supernatural ability to make a golf ball do impossible things and his relationship with his father. Two moments stand out: The Sunday afternoon in 1997 when Tiger became the first black man ever to win the Masters and cried like a little boy in the arms of his father, who was there against doctor's orders after almost dying in heart surgery. And the Sunday afternoon in 2005 when Tiger won his fourth Masters and cried again, because Earl Woods, for the first time, had been too sick to come to the course and root him on." To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Are You the Target of Parental Alienation? Parental alienation cases are among the most difficult and complicated in family law. J. Michael Bone, Ph.D., is an expert on parental alienation. If you're a target parent, he can help you get back into your children's lives. Bone has worked as a custody evaluator and as a therapist and knows how to help the court find the truth. His services are available throughout the U.S. Dr. Bone can be reached by phone at (407) 645-0662 or by email by clicking here. www.jmbconsulting.org     Help for Colorado Dads As someone who has personally experienced the heartbreak of divorce and family breakup, Brett W. Martin, Esq. works to advance the interests and concerns of fathers in domestic and family law litigation. Personal attention is given to clients to help them through a very difficult time in their lives. www.brettwmartin.com

"Ah, yes, divorce ... from the Latin word meaning 'to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet.'"--Robin Williams

Robin Williams had one divorce, but I don't know to what degree it shaped his thinking on the issue. It's interesting though, that a couple of the characters Williams has played in movies are divorced men who were very hurt by the experience.

He plays Tom Dobbs, a comedian-turned-presidential candidate, in Man of the Year, and Dobbs speaks of his divorce in hurt tones, as if he had been greatly criticized or vilified by his ex.

Of greater significance is Williams' role in Mrs. Doubtfire, where, cut out of his beloved children's lives by his ex-wife after their divorce, he poses as an elderly Scottish woman to get a job as a nanny for his own children. Wikipedia' s write-up of the plot can be found here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Thanks to Michael Robinson of the California Alliance for Families and Children for the quote.

My Family Has Two Houses...and I'm Okay A workshop for children of separation or divorce in a workbook! In the privacy of your own home, you can provide your child with a safe way of looking at their thoughts and feelings and help to open discussion of relevant issues for them with you. This workbook can make the difference between your child surviving your divorce and thriving despite it! To learn more about My family has two houses ...and I'm Okay! and to order, click here. How to Win Shared Custody Here are the litigation secrets to winning shared physical & legal custody from Boston trial lawyer  Nick Palermo, Esquire  who has won these cases for 24 years.  It costs $5,000. or more in legal fees to gain the knowledge and guidance contained in this $10 handbook--The Ten Essential Elements to Winning Joint Shared Physical and Legal Custody. www.TenEssentialElements.com Think of Your Light Switch as an ATM Machine Wouldn't you like to get paid every time you turn on the power?  Find out how you can get paid on thousands of electric bills each month at www.jjsparks.igniteinc.biz

My recent His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentary for KLAA AM 830 in Los Angeles criticizes an outrageous new anti-father Virginia law. The law has been debated in the press, but commentators have missed its central purpose--to remove fathers' rights to prevent their children from being put up for adoption against their will.

The law asks any Virginia man who has had non-marital sex to register with the State. Men who fail to register waive all parental rights to children they may have fathered.

To listen to the commentary, click here. To learn more about the story, click here.

His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentaries are broadcast daily on KLAA AM 830, a 50,000 watt talk station in Los Angeles and Orange County. KLAA AM 830 is owned by Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. KLAA hosts include Glenn Beck and Michael Savage.

From 2003-2005, His Side with Glenn Sacks ran in a syndicated talk show format in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and other cities. To listen to show archives, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Help for Los Angeles/Orange County Dads--Because They're Your Kids, Too If you're a dad facing a divorce or separation and you need quality legal representation in Los Angeles or Orange County, the Law Office of David Stone can help. Remember, they're your kids, too. www.help4dad.com Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com Stop Parental Alienation--a terrible form of Child Abuse. Eight states have now officially recognized Parental Alienation Awareness Day. To learn more, go to Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com.

A letter from a reader:

"Once I was at a southern-style diner in Virginia. A man was eating with friends when I can only guess his wife showed up, mad as hell. They exchanged words, and she picked up a plate and hit him in the head with it. However when a [police] officer walked in for lunch, he saw him push her out of his face. He was arrested right there on the spot.

"The waitress informed the cop what had happened, but he still refused to arrest the woman. He only arrested her after other customers informed him that if he didn't, they would all go the police station and file reports on him for not doing his job.

"He replied that he was under orders to arrest only the man in any domestic violence situation, no matter what."

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

[Note: If you or someone you love is being abused, the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women provides crisis intervention and support services to victims of domestic violence and their families.]