Protesting Lifetime TV’s “Deadbeat Dads” Show
(Chicago, IL) – Lifetime TV, with its audience of 100 million households, announced the launch of a new reality series, Deadbeat Dads. The show follows National Child Support founder Jim Durham as he tracks down and confronts fathers who don’t pay child support.
The worst part about Deadbeat Dads is that innocent children of divorce may be subjected to public humiliation on national television and shamed in their local communities. These are all factors that can contribute to parental alienation.
The show will offend and insult millions of American parents and could harm millions of children. “Kids are too young to realize that 80% of divorced dads pay their full child support, and may form negative opinions of divorced fathers – opinions which could damage their relationships with their own dads,” says Dr. Linda Nielsen, a Fathers & Children advocate.
In addition, the National Child Support Center is a private collection agency that bills clients 34% of whatever they collect. These types of collectors have been accused of charging steep fees and using ultra-aggressive tactics.
The deadbeat dad stereotype is a distortion and it perpetuates the many myths surrounding child support. Fathers’ Rights attorney, Jeffery Leving (founder of DadsRights.com) says, “The vast majority of men who fail to pay their child support do so because of unemployment or poverty. US Census data shows that noncustodial mothers are 20% more likely to default on their child support obligations than noncustodial fathers.”
In fact, Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement data shows that two-thirds of those behind on child support nationwide earn poverty level wages; less than 4% of the national child support debt is owned by those earning $40,000 or more a year. According to the largest federally-funded study of divorced dads ever conducted, unemployment, not willful neglect, is the largest cause of failure to pay child support.
It’s time to take a stand against this father-bashing show and fight the media’s demeaning and defamatory depiction of fathers. Although Lifetime has already received thousands of protests via letters and phone calls, Deadbeat Dads is still slated to air soon.
| More from Jennifer Whiteside
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May 9th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I think that this show is long over due. Non payment of child support is the last abuse placed (most often) upon women who no longer want to be a part of an abusive relationship or choose to leave a marriage. Child support and its enforcement were determined necessary as law due to men leaving their families in poverty. The abuse by financial abandonment is something that most people do not see as devastating until it happens to them or their loved ones. It is not about men or women but about the children who are all too often forced to live in poverty due to a parents criminal decision in violating a court order.
As far as the embarrassment theory…as a child my dad refused to pay child support due to his wanting to control my mom. He knew (as most deadbeats do) that without his financial assistance she would be forced to sacrifice her life to raise their children alone. Although he and I have reconciled, I grew up to marry a man who would do the same thing to me and our child. BOTH men could easily afford child support payments as most men that I personally know of who refuse to pay child support. If you are poor and/or lose your job you find a way to take care of your child. I did! But what deadbeat dads do is refuse to work, work under the table or remove themselves from responsibilities of life in defiance and to inflict pain. I say let this show responsibly show the truth. Children are embarrassed at being poor along with the criminal activities of their parent. Placing them on tv will highlight what is acceptable in this country in the same manner as rape, child abuse, pedophilia and any other criminal activity previously silenced.
I am sick of deadbeat dads and even more ill that we as a society attempt to make this an argument in support of a person refusing to take care of their children. There is no excuse, none.
May 12th, 2009 at 3:51 am
What exactly is a *deadbeat parent*?
Is a deadbeat parent someone who stops paying so-called child support because they cannot, in good conscience, continue to pay the unwarranted court imposed financial obligation?
Is it someone who refuses to pay because they are systematically denied equal custody of their children?
Is it someone who refuses to pay what amounts to extortion in order to *visit* their children twice a month … someone who has the self-respect to reject the role as *visitor* to their children?
Is it someone whose arrears skyrocket because the amount awarded is extortionate?
Is it someone who refuses to pay because *he* is denied the equal protection of our laws when it comes to decisions about parenting … someone who was ordered to pay as a result of a blood test, or DNA test, and was denied any other option?
Is it someone who refuses to pay the extortion because *he* is a victim of paternity fraud?
Of course not … we should all know better than that.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who pays the so-called child support … which enables the courts to continue kidnapping millions of children from one of their parents … in order to extort hundreds of billions from them and the duped taxpayer.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who pays the so-called child support … knowing that the courts are violating their inalienable, constitutionally protected rights … knowing that their thoughtless actions put all Americans at risk for loss of liberty.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who values their paycheck, and their driver’s license, more than their own children, and the future of our country.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who does not have the courage to *do the right thing* for fear of incarceration.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who would rather pay the extortion than accept an equal role in raising their children.
The *deadbeat* is the parent who by paying the so-called child support insures that their children will be the next victims of this injustice.
There needs to be a show about deadbeat parents alright. People just need to understand who the real deadbeats are.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am
Well, I can describe my dead beat dad … Someone who is not their for their children but claim they love them. Someone who leaves the mother to everything or majority of everything for the child and want to see the mother struggle. Someone who works under the table. Someone who doesn’t care if their children are hungry and in need of healthy food, in need of medical/dental/vision attention, in need of clothes, in need of shelter, etc. Someone who lies to their children (broken promises), someone who doesn’t work and support their children, someone who doesn’t take off work for their children (re: sick child, dr. appt, school activities, etc) instead has the mother miss work (which may loose their pay or job that supports the children.) Someone who is not a good role model. Someone who has nice things but their children don’t. Someone who blows their money on alcohol, drugs, partying, gambling, woman, other woman’s children, etc but not their child. Someone who uses their children as an excuse for sympathy. Someone who lies about the Mother to make themselves look good. Someone who is not their when their child needs guidance and emotional support. Someone who is not there to see or appreciate their achievements and watch them grow. Most importantly, someone who is not there to PROTECT their children.
Too add, I would LOVE to embarrass my father on a television show, he should feel like trash for being a selfish coldhearted person. Once a child is born, the children come first before the parent(s).
Also kids do not care if 80% of “Divorce” dads pay child support, they only care about if their own father pays child support to them.
Usually men that disagree with the laws are doing something wrong, or they want control, or just can’t get over the mother, IT IS NOT ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT RAISING A GOOD SUCCESSFUL CHILD. Men shouldn’t have children if they can’t do the right things for them regardless if they are not with the mother anymore. If you are a good responsible person, then courts will give fair custody & child support.
Obviously if a man is a victim of paternity fraud, then he wouldn’t be considered a dead beat dad. Common sense is to take care of your child, who cares about a dead beat dads constitutional rights, a child needs to be taken care of!
October 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
@ Strong mother #3,
Just because of you name I role my eyes. Is it possible your strength (strong mother) makes him hold back? It doesn’t make sense a man would care for all other children but his own…. unless there was something or someone blocking him from giving. Did he by chance run away from you?
“Too add, I would LOVE to embarrass my father on a television show, he should feel like trash for being a selfish coldhearted person. Once a child is born, the children come first before the parent(s).”
Say no more. BTW, if you ever happen to find an itsy bitsy of kindness in your heart towards him, tell him about this site. IMO, he could do with the support.