God, Dad and apple pie. Nothing against moms, but the new mantra of the Bush administration is all about fathers.
"Celebrating fatherhood is something our whole society should be doing," Laura Bush said at last night's National Fatherhood Initiative awards gala. The address at the Willard Hotel was part of the first lady's Helping America's Youth project to give children -- especially boys -- adult role models.
Moms, it seems, are a given. It's fathers, or the lack thereof, who are getting all the attention these days. The high-profile organization promotes the importance of dads as loving, involved parents -- and the presence of the first lady gave its message a White House seal of approval.
She was, of course, preaching to the choir. The audience was full of guests committed to traditional families, traditional dads and traditional values who are deeply concerned about the number of single-parent households in the United States.
At every stage of parenting, the first lady told the 250 guests, it's easier for fathers than mothers to become disconnected. Unwed fathers are frightened of the responsibilities of a baby, career demands take dads out of the home and men aren't taught to trust their paternal instincts.
"It's Mom who usually provides the kiss that makes the pain go away, and Dad who's up for wrestling on the living room floor," Bush said. "But the differences don't allow one parent off the hook while the other provides all the support and love. Parenting is best done as a team, with both Mom and Dad fully committed to raising their children."
Helping America's Youth includes proposals for two federal programs: A "Responsible Fatherhood" initiative for community and faith-based organizations to provide training to keep fathers involved emotionally and financially, and a "Healthy Marriage" initiative for research into ways to keep marriages strong.
"Helping men become good fathers who show their love is what this organization is all about, and that's why your work is so vital," she told the audience. "Every father faces challenges, regardless of his circumstances. The father who's absent because he's in prison or the father who's absent because he works 80 hours a week both have children who wish they could see their dads more. The National Fatherhood Initiative provides help for fathers in just about every situation imaginable."
The NFI was founded in 1994 by Reagan White House aide Don Eberly; Wade Horn, former (Bush 41) commissioner for children, youth and families; and Institute for American Values founder David Blankenhorn. Their mission: promote the well-being of children by increasing the number of involved fathers, using high-profile advertising campaigns on television, radio, print, Internet and billboards. In 2001, Eberly and Horn left to work for the current President Bush: Eberly as deputy assistant for faith-based and community initiatives and Horn as assistant HHS secretary for children and families.
NFI officially is nonprofit and nonpartisan but it leans to the right, with funding from conservative groups such as the Bradley and Scaife family foundations. Supporters praise the group for educational and outreach programs. Critics charge that it exaggerates and distorts research on the effects on children of being fatherless to promote traditional, patriarchal family structures.
"This isn't about trying to use data for some kind of agenda," said NFI President Roland Warren. "This is about the data that shows kids overwhelmingly do better with involved, responsible and committed fathers."
To underscore its point, NFI began presenting awards in 1997 to high-profile individuals, corporations and organizations. Past winners include actors James Earl Jones and Tom Selleck, country music star Tim McGraw, NFL quarterback Jim Kelly, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson and Chevrolet.
Emcee Leon Harris last night presented corporate awards to tax firm KPMG for its parental leave policies, and to Levi Strauss Signature, Principal Financial Group and Saturn for print and broadcast advertising promoting "father-friendly" role models.
This year, Fox News analyst Fred Barnes, Orlando Magic Vice President Pat Williams, country music singer Buddy Jewell and Atlanta Falcons player Allen Rossum received Fatherhood Awards.
"I think you have to learn how to do it," said Williams, the father of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four countries. "In many ways, I'm my father's protege," said Williams, who just finished his 38th book, in which he interviewed 800 people about the most influential figure in their lives. "Over and over I got the same answer: 'My dad.' This is no slap at moms in any way, but Dad -- you are the key person."
"It's very simple: If the father's not there, the kids have less of a chance of being successful and happy," said Barnes, the father of four. "Of course you need moms, too. I'm not a social scientist, but everything I've seen and experienced tells me a traditional family with mother and father and kids works best."
