Action Alert: Tell Nationally-Syndicated Talk Show Host That Dads Aren’t Deadbeats

“Consider the number of American deadbeat dads who spend money week after week on their cigarettes and beer but nothing for the children they’ve fathered along the way.” –Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz A few days ago nationally-syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz slammed “deadbeat dads who spend money week after week on their cigarettes and beer but nothing for the children they’ve fathered along the way.”
While there certainly are parents of both genders who don’t come through for their children, Boortz’s statement is a wild generalization contradicted by established research—most fathers who can pay their child support do so. These fathers often pay despite being unfairly driven to the margins of the lives of the children they’re paying to support. [To learn the facts about “deadbeat dads”, see my coauthored column When Beating up on ‘Deadbeat Dads’ is Unfair (Houston Chronicle, 1/7/07).] Boortz’ show is ranked seventh in overall U.S. listeners, with 4.25+ million per week. It can be heard live on the web here or on your local affiliate here. What we want you to do: 1) Boortz show airs live from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM ET Monday through Friday–we want you to call him at877-310-2100 while he’s on the air and tell him he’s wrong about American fathers. 2) Contact his advertising sales manager Dave Keiser at (404) 897-6293 and dave.keiser@coxradio.com and let him know you’re unhappy with Boortz’s insulting, inaccurate generalization. 3) Email Boortz here. If Neal Boortz is interested in having a representative of Fathers & Families on the show, he can contact Dr. Ned Holstein at 617 542-9300 or Glenn Sacks, MA at 1 800 439-4805.