Is This Man REALLY the ?Second Worst Dad in Illinois??

Background: My new co-authored column, Child Support System Ignores Dads’ Economic Reality (Chicago Sun-Times, 4/14/07), responds to the Sun-Times’ father-bashing news story State’s deadbeat dads owe $3 billion–Deadbeat parents owe $3 billion in Illinois alone, $100 billion nationwide. When parents refuse to honor child support, their kids pay. And so do you (4/8/07).

The story was on the front page of the Sun-Times with the huge headline “The 12 Worst Dads in Illinois.” I do commend the Sun-Times for its willingness to publish such criticism; however, I question some of their priorities.

Mark Saban (pictured, with his daughters) was singled out by the Sun-Times for criticism. Yet the article also backhandedly informs us that Saban:

1) Visits his kids regularly

2) Has paid some child support

3) Puts forth a plausible case that after his business failed he lost the ability to pay the support that was demanded of him, thus becoming a “deadbeat dad.” (I don’t know if Saban is being completely truthful about his economic situation, but from the article it certainly is at least debatable.)

Despite this, the Sun-Times lists him on its front page (with a picture) as the “Second Worst Dad in Illinois.” Only one who views a father as an ATM machine and nothing more could agree with this characterization.

Read our full column here.

Help for Los Angeles/Ventura County Dads Peter M. Walzer, Certified Family Law Specialist www.California-Divorce.com