ABC PrimeTime w/ Diane Sawyer tonight - Freeper/Repuke Child Beaters

[NoodleyAppendage]

It's pretty sickening to watch, but if you want to educate yourself regarding the typical Freeper/Repuke parenting style, ABC's PrimeTime is not to be missed. The last family is so emotionally and physically abusive to one of their children that they should be locked up. As is typical these ABUSERS profess to be religious, patriots, and "good parents," when all the while they are nothing but blindly religious and authoritarian CHILD ABUSERS.

Repukes make me sick...

J

[Im with Rosey]

1. It is still early on the west coast

How do you know their political views?

[NoodleyAppendage]

2. Unquestioning Religiosity, Poor, Uneducated, Military, Authoritarian

I will eat my nightshirt and post pictures here if the family in question doesn't blindly follow the Repuke agenda and think King Chimp is a "good Xtian." Watch the show and you'll understand there's no way in hell that family is liberal democratic. No way.

J

[kestrel91316]

23. Authoritarianism is fundamentally incompatible with

DEMOCRATIC FAMILY VALUES.

Nuff said.

[kurth]

3. Poor Kyle. She deserves a medal

for surviving all that physical and emotional abuse. Her dad is a cowardly fascist thug and a worthless WUSS. He and his wife should have been arrested for beating Kyle.

Kyle was the only adult in the show.

[NoodleyAppendage]

4. Agreed. She was a saint, but I'm afraid she's scarred for life.

I only hope that she's not attracted to males with the same physical/emotional abuse characteristics as her father and step-mother.

The most sickening thing in the show was the telling reaction of the step-mother when Kyle's father was beating her. Her pantomiming right and left hooks/punches during the beating revealed her as a sick, sadistic, evil bitch. It was horrible to see.

J

[Guaranteed]

7. I didn't see that pantomiming, but my wife mentioned it later.

A vicarious beating...

Absolutely disgusting.

The worst was that they just kept trying to justify it, as if it was Kyle's fault.

[Digit]

5. My first reaction was that I wanted to take Kyle under my wing

I could show her alot more love than she received from her own step-mother.

With all the money this station has at their disposal, I really hoped that they would provide the family some intensive ongoing family therapy and maybe also provide Kyle with a college fund.
Here they were exploiting the family, and what in the hell did they give back except for some lightweight therapy on camera which would clearly not be enough.

I hate this kind of voyeurism and if these shows don't do something to help resolve the problems they have exposed, I really don't care to watch.

[Guaranteed]

8. Yeah, I felt kind of sick, myself, that I was able to watch it.

You're entirely right- the show should do a lot more to actually help the situation.

Although I think that just showing those parents what they were doing probably did a huge amount of good.

[NoodleyAppendage]

10. Don't kid yourself. Denial was in full force with the step-mom and dad.

The insight was close to nil for those two...

J

[Broken_Hero]

16. No doubt about the denial...

Both of the New York State parents were swimming in it. My wife and I watched the whole show tonight, and the last half hour of it was abosofuckinglutely insane. The abuse, both verbally, and physically was astounding. My first gut reaction was to jump through that screen, and show that national guard father, what it means to tangle with someone who is able to physically defend themself.

My first catch, of abuse, was of course, the fighting in Kyles room, where the mother was baiting her into "come on and swing, you fucking shit head etc etc" things like that...you dont' say that to a kid, come on, you honestly think, that saying things of that nature will earn you "honest" respect from a child? Hell no, the only thing it earns is respect "rooted in fear." Which it appears, is what the mother wanted fully, and her dad to a broad degree.

My second catch, was when Kyle was helping her dad find a music cd. The mother got up, and in a heartbeat was instigating confrontation, and she told Kyle to back up, and when Kyle did back up, "she flinced, her left arm came across her body, as if she was expecting to get hit." Kids/people dont' do that, "because" they dont' get beat/hit, its an instant reaction, Kyle was expecting to get hit, why? Because she has been hit before...not just once, not twice, but multiple times...

As for, that insecure, instigating, fear breeding step mother, who was making the jab/upper cut motions, while the father was beating/slapping the shit out of his daughter, was ...for lack of a better word, "Fucking Sick." The step mother enjoyed watching Kyle getting beat, and she probably was "itching" to get in on the action.

I have no damn clue, why CPS or DFS wasn't called, and I'm tempted to do it my damn self(god damn i am writing after i'm done posting here). Kyle should never go back into that household, and I was extremely happy, that she continues to live with her granparents...moving in with her grandparents has probably saved her life. My degree is in Social Work, and there are many "warning" signs in that New York couple. I would be in there in a hearbeat, and remove all the kids that still live in the house, until the parents go through some marriage, and parent counseling. I can't believe how passive those 3 "so" called experts dealt with that couple...Man, if Dr. Phil, or any half rate social worker was in there, things would have been rolling in a heartbeat...

And the excuses, and crybabing at the end, with the parents, was almost ...almost believable...if you are George W. Bush that is...:) I feel to a degree the father felt bad, but he still was defiant, that what he did was justified, and that, is a sure sign, that "both" of the parents are saturated with denial....

The show was eye opening...I all ready knew we had a bunch of good ole idiots living in our country, its just amazing, how deep that hole of "idiots" goes....

[NoodleyAppendage]

19. Kyle was the focus of the abuse, but what about the other three??

Kyle escaped the abuse, thankfully. It's the remaining three children that I worry about. That step-monster has NO BUSINESS raising children. She's clearly mentally ill w/ a raging personality disorder. All of the children should be jerked from that situation immediately until the step-monster undergoes extensive therapy.

J

[Broken_Hero]

24. yes, yes...:)

Look at my post below, where i mention, that it seemed, the couple still had the kids in the house, and that any social worker worth their salt, would have yanked them out of that situation in a heart beat....:)

On Edit: I did mention the other kids, also...:) in the above thread...:)

"I would be in there in a hearbeat, and remove all the kids that still live in the house, until the parents go through some marriage, and parent counseling. I can't believe how passive those 3 "so" called experts dealt with that couple"....:)

[NoodleyAppendage]

27. Sorry. Missed that... On another note, here's a link to their address.

BTW - it's getting really nasty on the ABC discussion thread devoted to the show. The names and addresses of the abusers were posted and numerous people on that board are reporting the family to CPS.

http://forums.go.com/abcnews/Primetime/thread?start=0&threadID=344917

J

[Broken_Hero]

29. Okay, thanks for the link...

I all ready sent them an email to their Primetime address, from their homepage link, I didnt' even think of going to the messages boards...thanks for the link.

Its okay on missing it, I would have missed it too, this type of things get me bad...its one reason why I couldnt' work with abused children directly, i know, i can't deal with it the "right" way if i was directly involved. What I mean by directly is this:I couldn't be the case worker dealing directly with the case. But I could handle helping/counseling the abused, or reinforcing the postive, self-esteem values back into the abused...

[CoffeeCat]

30. I agree...

Those "parents" have Kyle in the scapegoat role, in the family.

When abusers feel the need to power up and abuse--they usually pick one child on which to focus the majority of the abuse.

When the scapegoat is removed, they create another one.

This cycle will not end until these parents get years of therapy.

Both parents--especially the mother--seems like a victim of abuse herself. She seems trapped inside her own pain, and she has become an abuser. She has a long, long way to go, before healing happens.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was sexual abuse between Kyle and the father. He's totally the type. Furthermore, the mother is so jealous of Kyle. Any interaction between Kyle and the father is met with white-hot rage. The mother knows, on some level--that something is going on. Jealously may be a part of it--but there seems to be many layers of abuse and dysfunction happening in that family.

So many people are outraged about this program. The ABC message boards are busy with people who are infuriated at these parents. We're not alone in our disgust.

[murielm99]

38. That program was like a look into my home when I was

growing up. I was the oldest, the only girl, and the family scapegoat. The abuser was my real mother, though. My dad backed up anything she told him. He was, and still is, weak and ineffectual.

I did reach out to a teacher once, when I was sixteen. I only did it because I was genuinely afraid that my mother would scar me physically, or kill me, because she was so jealous. My parents made sure I was cut off from the teacher. They told her I was a liar, too. I see similar jealousy in Kyle's step-mom. The woman is fat, unattractive and stupid. Kyle is young, and a threat to her.

I left home as soon as I was eighteen, and never looked back. Later, after I left, my middle brother caught some bad abuse. I have visited my brother's psychiatrist with him. She was emphatic that she should not diagnose anyone she has not met and evaluated. But she said, with caution, that it sounded like my mother had a narcissistic personality and mood disorders.

I am 57 years old, but Kyle's cruel home life echoed my own so much that I am still upset at 7:00 a.m. I did not sleep well last night. I hope that everyone in Kyle's family gets the help they need. I hope the stepmother does, too, if she is willing to accept help. God help them all.

[CoffeeCat]

39. I just wanted you to know that you're not alone...

I was the oldest girl in my family and also the family scapegoat. I completely understand all of the pain that comes from being in that position, and I am so sorry about your childhood. You didn't deserve it!

I'm sorry you had trouble sleeping last night. I also had a difficult time, and I also had nightmares. I didn't even watch the entire show. I just pulled up clips from ABC's Web site. It's very difficult to see those images on-screen. It's almost like watching yourself. I felt that powerless feeling, all over again. I also felt rage. When you witness what abusers do--as an adult--it is so infuriating to see it.

My therapist told me that the scapegoat is always the most "emotionally honest" child in the family. They do not hide their feelings and they often fight back. Other siblings take on much less-explosive roles--and they seem to adapt better. In the long run though--the scapegoat is the most likely to be out of denial and seek therapy.

We're fighters. Don't ever forget it. We were placed in the scapegoat role because we were a threat. Because we were strong. And they were afraid of it. They looked at us and saw strength and goodness that they new they would never have. It's not our fault. I grew up thinking that I was bad, stupid, at fault, a troublemaker, too sensitive--and the list goes on. The truth is--they were attempting to extinguish the light in me. My other siblings didn't fight back. They went along.

I don't know about you, bust most of my siblings are pretty messed up inside. I've chosen to seek therapy and to continue being "emotionally honest." I'm actually proud that I was the scapegoat. I saw so much of my mother in that abusive mother. Did it help you to see that jealousy fueled the "Prime Time" mom's rage and abuse? I see now that it was all about jealousy and her own inadequacies--which were sparked by my positive points.

We can't let them beat us down. What happened to us...is not about us. It's about their failures and mental illness.

Obviously you were a very astute child. You told a teacher. You spoke out. How amazing--after all of that, you knew it was wrong and you tried to reach out. I'm sorry you didn't get help then. It sounds like you are getting it for yourself now. I'm glad you have a brother who is getting help as well. At least you have a sibling who can validate your feelings.

I just wanted to let you know--from one scapegoat to another--that you've got guts and heart. You survived. You were strong then, and you're strong now. We had rotten childhood, but we have the power and the tenacity to heal and thrive.

I'm hurting a bit today too--and I just wanted to reach out and let you know that I'm proud of you for being the most "emotionally honest" child in your family.

:) :hug:

[murielm99]

49. I realized that it was about jealousy when I was in my forties.

It took some insight and counseling before I saw it. But I blame my father as much as my mother, who, like Kyle's dad, allowed and condoned all the abuse.

I have spoken here about my first marriage. My husband was 22 years older than me. He was a wonderful man who died too young, at 49. I am sure now that I married him because my own father was such an enabler. I was lucky to have married a good and gentle man. I think many girls like us end up with abusers. I hope that doesn't happen to Kyle.

I remarked to my brother one time that our dad was never our father, only her husband. He was not allowed to be our father. Our mother was jealous of every bit of attention he gave us. My brother, who has some good insights of his own about our family, agreed.

My mother never stopped her jealousy. My middle brother, whom I mentioned above, married a nice woman. My mother broke up their marriage. My father supported every cruel, lying thing she did. I tried to help, but it did no good. My brother has had enough therapy now that he sees what happened.

My mother is threatened by every woman who is part of her family. My brother's three daughters have nothing to do with my parents. I don't blame them.

It is a shame that stories like ours are not rare. I am sure that we are not the only ones who lost sleep last night. We can get the help we need, and stop the cycle of abuse. We can be supportive of those who have been through the same thing, and find help for children like Kyle.

It is an odd thing though, about my siblings, and yours, too. I am the most stable and normal of all of my sibs. When they have run into problems, I have helped them. I am sure my parents see this, too. The hated and reviled kid turned out best.

[Broken_Hero]

22. done, here is my letter to ABC...

I watched the Family in Crisis show tonight, it was a two hour show. And the last hour of the show focused on a family in New York State, who verbally, and physically abused a teenager.

The video documentaion that was shown, clearly shows the father slapping his "own" daughter in the face, and then he proceeds to hit/slam his fists on her arms/shoulder/back. I saw this and was absolutely appalled.

I got my degree in social work, and there were many signs, of both verbal and physical abuse, on the teen, Kyle. I am not mad at ABC for showing this topic on its news show, I applaud it, for bringing this type of things into light.

What I'm writing for is this:There was no mention of CPS, or DFS being involved with the family. I have seen cases like this, were immediate reaction takes place quick as a heartbeat, and ABC made no mention of any action taking place, and I'm not even sure if ABC has even notified the New York State CPS or DFS about the situation.

The couple(it seemed) still have children in their home, and that is a bad sign. If that treatment happens, its common knowledge in the "field" that the treatment will tresspass onto the other children.

So, my question is this, did you notify CPS, or DFS about this couple? If so, I applaud you, and if you haven't, I strongly encourage, strongly encourage that you do. Their is video proof, and admmission of both verbal/phsycial abuse to the girl Kyle. I hope and pray that ABC has notified the proper authorites.

Keep up the good work, I enjoy all of your news programs, and please...help those kids out, Kyle has suffered enough...so show your compassion, and strength, and help those kids...

[Guaranteed]

37. Absolutely, it was denial. That's why I liked the video...

Sure, they'll try to find their excuses, despite the instant replay....but, damn, that cuts things down quite a bit.

It's the most direct way of forcing them to deal with reality.

[dogday]

42. That Step-Mom was freaked up in the worst way,

she could not stand Kyle in her house, around her, kids, and her husband... She is the adult and was the one acting like a kid... And the Dad was a dick, plain and simple. So worried about himself and having marital problems because he could not stand up to his crazy wife.. When he hit Kyle, I wanted to jump right into the TV and beat his ass!!!!

[Guaranteed]

6. I watched it. Was thoroughly disgusted.

Those parents were so fucking abusive. And they kept blaming it on the girl.

I'm extremely glad she managed to get out of that house and live with her grandparents. Good for her.

She seemed surprisingly resilient, despite the abuse. I have a lot of respect for her.

[NoodleyAppendage]

9. What surprised me was the absence of social services intervention.

There was clear video evidence of physical and emotional abuse and ABC didn't feel ethically obligated to report it to the local DHS? Something tells me that the child abusers were insulated because the CHILD ABUSER father was military.

J

[moc]

12. Sadly, I was not surprised.

Did they say what state they were in? I saw the last hour of it or so. Mr. moc is a clinical social worker in private practice. He provides therapy to many children in therapeutic foster care settings. He has many experiences of reporting abusive situations to local CPS that are never investigated. We're in TX, and we're ranked near the bottom in terms of how much we fund CPS.

I think it has more to do with de facto dysfunction in CPS as opposed to the military dad per se.

[kurth]

14. ABC did say Joe and Lynn Nelson of Lake Placid area in New York

See http://forums.go.com/abcnews/Primetime/thread?threadID=344917

[NoodleyAppendage]

20. The Freepers are defending the parents on that ABC board...

They are saying that the parents need police protection and the children need to stay in the abusive home.

J

[CoffeeCat]

31. Now that is very disturbing and disgusting!

I know we disagree with freepers on most political issues. But come on! They think that abusive children need to be further terrorized by staying in the home? No one with a conscious or a soul would wish any child on those horrible, ingrate "parents" who beat and terrorize their children! Those parents were fucking dullards!

Freepers really scare me, if that is what they think.

I'm beginning to think that many, many Republicans are very pathological. Anyone who does not feel pain and heartbreak for Kyle--after watching her endure beatings, psychological torture and the emotional pain of being blamed and robbed of her humanity--is an abuser themselves.

ANYONE who sticks up for these parents has some serious, sick issues that parallel the issues that these abusive parents have.

[qanda]

44. That link doesn't work

I think the shut that thread down. Here's a link to other threads: http://forums.go.com/abcnews/Primetime/forum?start=0&forumID=10

[CoffeeCat]

13. I agree, and I think ABC has a moral obligation...

to make sure that the appropriate agencies are notified about this abuse. The tapes should be turned over to DHS. ABC made money off of showcasing this family's abuse. They can't just pack up the cameras and walk away.

That would be outrageous.

Child abusers are often insulated because society looks the other way, and is in complete denial about the epidemic of child abuse in this country. If a boss treated a co-worker like this; or if a man in a park beat up a stranger like this father did to Kyle--the boss and the man in the park would be locked up and charged with assault and battery. However, when a father does this to a child--it's just "parenting."

I don't think this is the end of the story. I imagine that ABC is receiving loads of emails about this heartbreaking tragedy. Let's hope that Kyle is helped by this in many ways.

[kurth]

Don't forget the other kids who had to cover their ears

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/contact/
New York State Office of Children & Family Services
Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-342-3720

Lake Placid Police Dept
[phone]
[e-mail]

[qanda]

43. That surprised me too

The blow that man delivered to Kyle's head could have killed her instantly. Why wait until the abuse causes death or serious injury? The responsible thing to do would have been to call social services.

[CoffeeCat]

11. I grew up with a mother like this...

...and it was very hard to watch.

The mother was jealous of Kyle--obviously. The mother definitely has some mental-health issues. She seems not only mentally ill, but incredibly stupid. A lethal combination, when that person is an abuser. It's an excruciating trip into hell, living with them.

I agree that Kyle is resilient. It's amazing that she understands that she needs to be out of there. They blame her and beat on her so viciously--it's amazing that Kyle has the fortitude and self esteem to walk away to something better. I was so trauma bonded to my abusive parents. They treated me like Kyle was treated, but all I wanted was their approval. So glad I escaped later in life!

I wish there was some way to find out where Kyle is and how she is doing. I would like to contribute to a college fund or help her, so that she never has to return to that awful household.

On the Prime Time Live message boards, someone posted the parents address and phone number. I bet they're getting a lot of interesting phone calls.

It's too bad these cowardly abusers will never heed any of the opinions that will be thrown their way. These people are ignorant, sick, abusers--and their scapegoating of Kyle shows just how deep their sickness goes. They'd rather ruin an innocent child--to satisfy their need to hit and abuse. They're too far gone.

I hope Kyle is able to get therapy and heal. She has a long road a head of her. However, it's an excellent sign that she moved out. That's very encouraging. I hope goodness surrounds her, as a result of this show.

[NoodleyAppendage]

15. She didn't "move out," she was kicked out by the step-monster...

I was left with the impression that the move from the home to her grandparents was not Kyle's choice but her step-monster's. If this is the case, then I still worry about Kyle's risk for trauma bond.

The step-monster struck me as someone given to mood problems with an unhealthy dose of personality disorder.

J

[CoffeeCat]

25. That's too bad...

I'm sorry to hear that Kyle might have been "kicked out."

I was hoping that leaving was her choice.

I didn't see the entire program. I watched clips from the ABC Web site, so I missed some of these details.

This entire story is so sick and heartbreaking.

I agree about the step-monster having a personality disorder. She seemed like an unhealed victim herself.

So very sad.

[Warren DeMontague]

17. It's the "stern parent" versus the "nurturing parent" model.

Nurturing Parents give you Bill Clinton. Stern Parents give you a nation of little Hitlers.

[NoodleyAppendage]

18. They were way more than stern. Stern with a sadistic streak.

The step-monster was CLEARLY revelling in the physical abuse perpetrated by the father upon Kyle. It was the sickest display of sadism I've seen in awhile.

J

[Warren DeMontague]

34. I'll have to take your word for it. W/ the possible exception of

Conan O'Brien, I've religiously avoided network TV since about, say, 1985.

[CoffeeCat]

28. Actually...

Bill Clinton's parents were very abusive. President Clinton describes a very violent childhood with an abusive, alcoholic father and a mother who was beaten by his father. If I am remembering correctly, the President said his father shot a gun in the house, to scare him.

Bill was obviously a very resilient, intelligent person who rose above his childhood.

Also..."stern parents" sounds so "ok." These parents were not ok. They were physically and emotionally abusive and clearly--incapable of taking care of children. I know stern parents. They're a bit more rigid and strict, but they don't repeatedly hit their child and call them a f**cking b**ch. They don't psychologically traumatize their children into submission.

Those "parents" are mentally ill and they should be reported to CPS and their children should be removed from the home. They should also be imprisoned.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. It's more of an archetype that I'm speaking of:

And I didn't come up with it, I think Lakoff did:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&pwb=1&ean=9781931498715

Although for Bill Clinton, I think it's pretty clear the major (beneficial) parental influence on him was his mother. And more power to 'er, I should think.

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. That poor girl. I hope child services went in and took the other children

out of that miserable, violent home! That step-mother is the POSTER CHILD for WICKED STEP-MOTHERS! What a WITCH she is! I pray the other kids are removed from that house.:cry:

[medeak]

26. soooo glad I missed it! sounds terribly heartwarming. n/t

[devilgrrl]

32. Our house was almost as fucked up as that one.

Only we lived in a slightly better neighborhood. The Brady Bunch on brown acid - an incessant shout fest - perpetual tension - you have no idea, I can't go into.... and people wonder why I'm single, no kids.

[ratzworth]

35. HOW ON EARTH DO YOU KNOW THEY WERE 'FREEPERS'?

Or 'Repukes'--or anything else? It really goes way too far when any of you say these are 'typical rightwing parenting methods'; I was raised by Republican parents--AND grandparents--and you're as wrong, and as unfair, as you can be!

Do you always make such wide sweeping generalizations about people with no proof--and to seemingly bolster your side? That's not right...that's just not right, fair, or honest.

:spank: :tinfoilhat: :thumbsdown:

(And don't jump on me because I only have a few posts; if something is wrong, it's wrong whether there are 5 posts or a million!)

[Guaranteed]

36. Their fragile egos stressed loyalty and what they thought of as "love"

over being a GOOD PERSON.

That's how you pick out a FREEPER.

[BlueGirlRedState]

40. I kept yelling at the TV -- why isn't this man in jail?

When the dad was punching Kyle, I couldn't understand why he has not been arrested at least based on the evidence on this show? The police should have been at his doorstep.

The stepmother hardly looked Diane Sawyer in the eye and the dad -- oh, poor man -- it was all about him and he didn't want to lose his wife and family. What creeps.

We call these people white trash in the south. And unfortunately, it seems to perpetuate from generation to generation.

[qanda]

41. Kyle was an abused child

I really hope that's not someone's normal parenting style. My heart aches for that poor girl. The way the step-mother antagonized her and her father gave her no protection from it-- it makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

[Arugula Latte]

48. He nor only didn'r protect her, he joined in on the abuse.

That man disgusted me, the way he chose his evil wife over his daughter, who was trying so hard to please.

[knitter4democracy]

45. I couldn't watch it.

I was never beaten, but my step-mom did everything she could to break me down and ultimately ruin me. The constant verbal and emotional abuse is still something I deal with all these years later.

Just reading this thread gives me the willies. I hope they get those kids out of there.

[qanda]

46. I'm glad to say that not even FReepers found this behavior acceptable

Here's a link to their discussion:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1619465/posts

BTW, creeps come from all sides of the political divide.

[AlCzervik]

47. that was one of the worst things i think i've seen on tv in a long time

that poor girl and wtf is wrong with her father?? Even after seeing the tapes he was still all touchy feely with his wife, it was maddening.