RADAR ALERT:
Tell President Obama, "Stop the Orwellian Half-Truths!"
Just about everyone knows men can be victims of domestic violence:
- According to a 2006 Harris poll, 88% of Americans have heard about a male victim of domestic violence in the past year.1
- Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy has noted, "We still have millions of women and men and children and families who are traumatized by abuse."2
- Nearly 250 scholarly studies confirm that fact.3
But a dwindling number of hold-outs still believe intimate partner violence against men isn’t even worth mentioning. Unfortunately, several of those persons currently work in the White House:
- Valerie Jarrett, director of the White Council on Women and Girls, once said, "Domestic violence is still a major issue, not just for women but also for girls."4
- During a recent teleconference, Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, repeatedly used the phrase, "violence against women." Lynn Rosenthal not once used the term, "violence against men," even though the call took place just two weeks after the murder of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair by his girlfriend.
- Despite repeated attempts to educate Vice President Joseph Biden about the truth of domestic violence, he continues to be a true believer in the myth that women never abuse.
But there is hope. Because President Obama has repeatedly promised that one of the hallmarks of his Administration will be respect for science over ideology. In his inaugural speech on January 20, Obama declared, "We will restore science to its rightful place."
Mr. Obama, we agree with you whole-heartedly!
So take 2 minutes out of your day and send this simple message to President Barack Obama: "Mr. President, Please instruct your staff to respect the truth about domestic violence. Have them acknowledge that men are victims, as well. Let us not forget the needless tragedy of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair."
Send your email to: and . Or go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ope/contact/.
Do it now. We can’t allow the Orwellian half-truths to stand.
1
Harris Poll. Majority of U.S. Adults Think Domestic Violence is a Serious Problem in the United States Today. Poll # 49. June 15, 2006.
2
Sen. Patrick Leahy. Introductory remarks. Senate hearing on the Violence Against Women Act. June 10, 2009.
3
"References Examining Assaults By Women On Their Spouses Or Male Partners: An Annotated Bibliography", Martin S. Fiebert, Dept. of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm
4
Interview with Valerie Jarrett, NPR Morning Edition, March 12, 2009.
Date of RADAR Release: August 17, 2009
R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of men and women working to improve the effectiveness of our nation's approach to solving domestic violence. http://www.mediaradar.org
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