Friendly Fire: PBS Targeting 'Dads' as Predators on "Breaking the Silence"
Dad is not always bad

October 21, 2005

I watched with cautious interest the PBS documentary "Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories." As only the liberal media can do, they tugged at our emotions and heartstrings by interviewing on camera many adolescents who claimed their fathers were abusive. This writer does not deny the fact that both domestic violence and child abuse are linked, empirically speaking, and still are both problems in America today.

Besides the program's goal to lambaste fathers and paint the same as monsters, the other target was PAS (Parental Alienation Syndrome). One would think if you're going to try and label a theory as "experts" on the program did as "junk science," that one would first be accurate in her definition of the same. Sadly, Law Professor Joan Meier missed the boat. She defined PAS as (not her exact words) a campaign of denigration, by ostensibly mom, against dad, in front of the child. But she forgot to mention the "Syndrome" part, which is when the child actively participates in the vilification campaign against the targeted parent; e.g. Sarah says, Dad I don't want to see you anymore because of what mom told me you did to her.

Moreover, and even more shocking, Meier claimed that 75% of domestic abusers receive custody in contested cases. Really? Since this writer has consulted on literally thousands of "these" types of cases over the past two decades, and the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) and ex parte PFA (Protection From Abuse) vehicle specifically state there's a rebuttable presumption against the accused receiving equity-at-law concerning visitation/custody until said allegation is extinguished, where is Meier getting her information? In addition, she stated that "there's no tests that can detect battering." Really? Would it surprise you to know, "Dr." Meier, that almost all of my clients are required to submit to anti-DV testing such as the CTS-2, HCR-20, SAI, MSI-II, and CAPI, all which are psychometrically validated instruments and measure one's propensity to commit spousal abuse, sexual violence, and physical child abuse?

Let me now critique Mr. Lundy Bancroft, whom the program admitted supplied them with much of their information. Two things stuck out in my mind when listening to Bancroft. First, he said that research corroborates the fact that many domestic violence perpetrators are also intrafamilial child sexual abusers. I don't recall hearing, Lundy, whether you stated your source for this jewel and whether the "study" achieved both statistical and clinical significance. In addition, this pundit stated toward the end of the program that "we should drop the best interest standard in family law cases." But, of course, he stopped short of offering an alternative solution and hypothesis that would be better than what we have.

Now, for the coup de grace. Attorney Richard Ducote. It is true that mothers who allege dad is a pervert and are in a bind both legally and financially can call on Mr. Ducote down in the bayou to file his Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission and save her and the kids. Trouble is, this writer has a "Ducote package" over 150 pages that includes court orders from four states (CO, UT, FL & VA) denying his attempts to enter cases as foreign counsel out-of-state. And Ducote has had several Bar complaints lodged against him, too.

Suffice to say, PBS' Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories was successful in promoting the ideological dogma that "Dads are monsters and obtain custody for it and that PAS is junk science." But this old news, right? What was more appalling and unconscionable than that were the so-called experts - Meier, Bancroft, et al, who spoke for PBS. This writer does not recall seeing before or after the program a disclaimer that said something like "PBS does not necessarily agree with the opinions of the speakers." The naive and unwitting aforementioned speakers lacked credibility and reliability. In this writer's opinion, other than Ofra Bikel, PBS does also.

Dean Tong