Why has David Goldman’s child custody case gotten so much media attention? Five years ago, Goldman filed a lawsuit to gain custody of his son, who lived in Brazil. The culmination of that suit was presented as real “news” on major television networks every day for more than a week!
Goldman is obviously wealthy and well-connected. Only the wealthy could afford the legal fees of a five-year, international child custody fight, not to mention the cost of traveling to and staying in Brazil on multiple occasions. Only the well-connected could get U.S. politicians and federal officials to intervene on their behalf. So the media coverage, guised as news, is really a story about a wealthy, well-connected “mover and shaker” imposing his will on others. Where’s the news in that?
A real news story is the dysfunction of our family courts system. Politicians and the media turn a blind eye to the hundreds of thousands of American dads who are denied access to their children because of parent alienation or assorted violations of visitation agreements.
These dads don’t have wealth or political connection, so they’re unable to counter when denied visitation and other parental rights. They can’t afford protracted divorce proceedings, or to fight violations of visitation agreements, or to battle other child custody issues. They don’t have the “connections” it takes to attract the media spotlight, or to acquire the services of politicians, federal officials or other “game changers.”
The quandary these dads face in divorce and child custody battles deserves the attention of politicians and the media! That’s a news story!
Michael K. Broughton
Green Park