Mother to surrender in videotaped beating of girl

Associated Press ^ | September 21, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[agrace]

I guess you missed the closed fist punches at the end.

If you happened to be in that parking lot and witnessed the "spanking" first hand, what would you do, stop her and say, "Your technique is all wrong - here, let me show you how it's done"?

[RandallFlagg]

I just know that it breaks my heart every time I have to dicipline my Son with a smack on the wrist and he cries. The only thing that keeps me doing it is that I know if I fail, my Son'll end up wrong; without borders or respect.
At least I know I'll never be a beast like her because I now know what the statement, "This is gonna hurt me more than it will you," really means, and it does.
Yes, I did give my Son more than a few hugs after I saw the video. Now I'm stuck at work for only one hour and I already miss him!!!!

[knuthom]

I watched the tape and did not see her punch her

I saw the tape several times last night on Hannity and Colmes. After the girl got into the car the mother punched her several times, knocking her to the floor. Then the girl got into the car seat. The mother continued to hit her after she was in the seat.

[alnick]

Well, my prediction was right after only 5 posts. The next type of post I await is the "My father shot me in the face with a bazooka every night, and it was GOOD FOR ME!"

You're good. Post 21 bears out your prediction.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Absolutely, bring 'the courts' into your life. Next time your kid nedds correction think of what 'the courts' might do if you do A, B, C or D or, better, call your attorney before you do anything.

Sorry, gotta go. My kids are calling me.

And, seriously, could someone explain 'white trash'? I went through some spanking when I was a kid but I never called someone 'white trash' or 'nigger' or any of those bad words.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I know there are several parts to the video that are chopped up. I had to watch a CBS link to see the part where the mom is apparantly pummeling the child in the car seat with her fist. She is more than out of control.

I have personal experience with this. My natural mother tried to kill me by beating me in the head with a metal object when I was two years old. The state still refused to take me until this woman finally told them to take me or she would kill me next time.

Now I have two children of my own. If my voice even gets the slightest bit sharp with them in public, people are watching to see if I will strike them, they just can't wait to turn in child abuse.

But here is my problem. I do think this child could do better in a different home. I am not for the state taking children away from natural parents because they don't agree with their discipline, but I truly don't think this woman is in any frame of mind to raise this child or any other.

And for those who suggest that she should be taught on how to discipline, who do you suggest teach her? The same state who wants to take children away from parents who use positive discipline? Come on, we can't have it both ways.

Also, if this were a dog being beaten viciously in public, we would have an outpouring of money and loving homes for that dog. Who will take this child in and provide her what she needs, and how miserable is the state going to make them in their pursuit?

[Let's Roll]

I didn't see any punches either and after the hysteria I saw on several threads I thought the mother must have pulled some WWF moves followed by jumping on the child with both feet. I didn't study the video frame by frame but I didn't see the mother look in both directions either - she looked but she might have heard squealing tires, a car horn etc.

Perhaps I am influenced by the fact that spanking my kids with my bare hand through their jeans left me with a swollen hand and them trying not to laugh. And I was trying to make it hurt.

[MeekOneGOP]

Can't wait to see how many posts come in decrying the liberal nanny state trying to dictate how people discipline their kids. As predictable as daily sunrise.

It start around post #5 actually. Good guess !!

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh, I see you found it already....

[primeval patriot]

Quit blubbering about a police state. The perp is obviously beating the hell out of a four year old child.

[JZoback]

I downloaded the full video. I have reviewed it several times at different speeds.

At no time can you tell if she was punching her. Everytime you see her hand it is an open hand. You can't see her hand hardly at all during the taping, it is inside the car

I don't like what I see, but there is no evidence on the tape she punched the child.

[MeekOneGOP]

Discipline is not rendered with a closed fist. And i did watch the tape. When she wasn't pulling the child's hair, slapping her, and shaking her, the mother was indeed striking the child with a closed fist.

That's not discipline. That's abuse.

I can tell you saw the same video I did. She was WAY over the line. It wasn't discipline, it was a pummelling, I agree. And she knew what she was about to do was wrong.....looking left, looking right, then beating the 4 year old child like that.

[alnick]

I don't like what I see, but there is no evidence on the tape she punched the child.

And OJ was framed and Don Matthews had the constitutional right to murder a police officer over a traffic ticket and the three medical students are telling the truth and Saddam Hussein does not have weapons of mass destruction.

[txrangerette]

Tell me, please, what evidence exists
that the little girl deserved to be
disciplined? I know of none. Only if
such was the case should we be talking
about how the monster(er, mother ???)
chose to "discipline" her. Authorities
(local LE) believe the evidence shows
an unprovoked ASSAULT, not discipline.

[MinuteGal]

I doubt seriously if there will be any tell-tell marks on the child. Kids heal quickly. The mother was cunning enough to spirit the girl away for as long as she could get away with it.

The law and family services will decide if the child can remain with the child. There are many unanswered questions. She already has a rap sheet. There's a possibililty she's a "gypsy" that hauls her children around the country for her own nefarious purposes.

There are two other kids. Are they being schooled properly? Are they old enough to provide information on the home situation? Where is the father in all this? What is the general health of all the children?

When all these questions and more are answered, a picture will emerge. I'll bet it ain't gonna be purty.

Leni

[Patriotic Rich]

All the outrage over this is misdirected. Doesn't some of this blame belong in the courts. If a woman has the right to "choose" whether to have her unborn child destroyed or spared. Does it not cheapen the childs life after he or she is born. Especially to someone who may not have wanted a baby anyway. Just MHO

[MeekOneGOP]

I don't like what I see, but there is no evidence on the tape she punched the child.

And OJ was framed and Don Matthews had the constitutional right to murder a police officer over a traffic ticket and the three medical students are telling the truth and Saddam Hussein does not have weapons of mass destruction.

Winner of this threads posting award.

[JZoback]

Bad policy to hit kids.

Hitting kids is a bad idea. Disciplining them is another story.

I'm very glad you never had to discipline your kids with a spanking.

I had one son that I guarantee you, would have been in prison for hurting or killing someone, because he had a rebel streak in him a mile long. It took several years of discipline to get him on the right road. Most of the discipline was at the end of a wooden paddle. Thank God, I trained him the right way, or you could have been his victim.

It just gives rise to violent, angry kids. Ask any professional dog trainer.

I'll raised six kids and not one of them ever acted like a dog. Bad comparison

[ican'tbelieveit]

I agree that I didn't see anything that deserved discipline, but again, we are only seeing bits and pieces. That is not my decision there. But even then, you don't teach a child but just pummeling them. That is why I said she was more than out of control. Discipline should be accompanied by an explanation. IE: child reaching for the hot stove, smack their hand and say hot.