What Did The FLDS Kids Do To Deserve This?

Ben Stein Says Texas Authorities Are Acting Like The Gestapo By Taking Away The Children Of A Mormon Sect

(CBS)  Contributor Ben Stein has polygamy on his mind this morning … and children.

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May I ask a question? What the heck is going on in Texas with the kids caught up in the polygamy ranch disaster?

Look, I am not a fan of polygamy. For one thing, it's all any man can do keeping up with one wife. For another, it's against the law in this country.

But the polygamists that have been in the news have been operating for decades. The authorities knew about it, and them. They didn't do a thing about it for all those years!

Then, on a totally unsubstantiated telephone call about sex abuse - which apparently did not come from anyone even connected to the polygamist compound - the state closed down the compound, and (what is totally incomprehensible) took the small children of the settlement away from their mothers and fathers.

Why? What crime had the kids committed? Why are they being dealt the most drastic punishment imaginable - separation from their mothers and fathers - for no known reason?

The state of Texas has not found one single crime against these children yet. Even if they do find one or two, how can that be a reason for taking dozens, maybe hundreds of children away from their mothers?

The kids are the victims here - not of the parents, but of the incredible, unbelievable cruelty of the state of Texas authorities. If there is evidence of cruelty by the families to these kids, where is it?

Look, I am a huge fan of Texas. I have many friends there and love being there. But what is the attorney general of Texas doing? This is an Orwellian nightmare. For no reason except what looks like a crank call, the lives of these children have been turned upside down and into a screaming horror movie.

Can't someone say the obvious here? That in this case, it's not the Mormons who are the criminals, it's the government of Texas.

Governor Perry, wake up and give those kids back to their mothers until you have some compelling, proven reason to do otherwise. What your state is doing here is Gestapo tactics pure and simple.

[bgbevier]

AWESOME BEN!!! Thank you for stating the obvious. We live in a military state. The government is willing to abuse thousands of children nation-wide in the name of protecting a handful. This is the real crime. My county government is currently abusing my daughter by keeping her from me. Again no crime, no complaints, no evidence, no reason other than the government thinking they are God.

[sharncedar]

Ben, you''ve probably lived a pristine life and not had to deal with Bible-thumping pedophiles from rural America. These creeps at this cult are not really that unique in the US; there are a whole lot of Bible-thumpers living in the sticks in America who are trying to use their brand of religion to justify their sick desires, their pedophilia, their polygamist lusts, their controlling and mind-destroying cults of control over their families. The best thing you can do for these children is get them away from their "parents" who had these kids like a vreeder farm in order to turn them over to the lusts and sick mental lies of the middle-aged men who run this cult. These kids will do much better in foster homes, with a chance to live a real life without a "visit" from uncle/father/brother in the middle of the night. Their "parents" includnig their "mothers" have lost all rights to ever see their children except in supervised visits with a psychologist present.

[lucrezia4511]

Shame on you, Ben. Is it tragic that these innocent children have to live through this? Yes. However, forcing a young girl of 14 to marry is illegal and immoral. Forcing girls that young to bear children is nothing less than shockingly appalling. It''s nauseating that you would criticize the state for removing children from this situation. What were you thinking? Or were you?

[joanjet77]

I''m appalled by your commentary. These children are the victims yes, but of their parents who have tourtored them and raped them on their own church alter. Have you forgotten that? I applaude the state for taking action, these children should never be returned to their "parents"!!!! Wake up Mr. Stein!!!

[poisonpen2u]

Thank you Ben Stein! I heard on a news squiggle at four this morning that the state has ''lost'' two little boys in the process of placing them. I sure hope they authorities carefully screened the ''volunteers'' to assure no pedophiles were among them! Finally, Ben, a voice of reason in this witch hunt.

[fibonacci_]

Ben Stein is a religious idiot himself - his pathetic "documentary" propaganda Expelled is a testament to his monumental ignorance. He might make some good points here but all in all he is contributing to the already significant ignorance of the American people. He makes me embarrassed to be an American.

[labb3]

Ben-
While I usually love your commentary, today I have to vehemently disagree. Yes, it is tragic for small children to be taken away from their parents, but it is far more tragic for young teenage girls to be forced into "spiritual marriages" with men old enough to be their grandfathers and expected to have babies when they should be in the 8th grade! If that''s not child abuse--I don''t know what you would call child abuse. And the fact that the boys are brought up in a culture that tells them that some day they, too, can have several wives and dozens of children is also abusive.
Also, you have some of your facts wrong--the FLDS sect has only been in Texas for a few years, not decades. They came to Texas after Utah and Arizona started cracking down on them for their polygamist ways and expected child abuse. (see this story for a fact check: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4629743)
Yes, it is a sad situation. However, the state would probably like nothing better than for the mothers of these children to realize that their lifestyle is not just illegal, but immoral and also traps them in a kind of slavery. A handful of the women actually asked to be taken to a women''s shelter. Hopefully, these women will start a trend and get free of their tormenters and will one day get their children back and be able to raise them in a healthy, safe way.

[stevepolignano]

Couldn''t agree with you more, Ben. What I see in the news everyday about this situation is just heartbreaking. When "Big Brother" can reach-in and yank the kids away without a shred of hard evidence, we had better all watch out. Whose next, the Amish? What happens when & if the government ever perceives children who work on a family farm as "child abuse"? Is this the kind of country we want? Parents and familys have got to be trusted! They are the best resource for raising children, not the government. Only in rare extreme cases should the government ever step-in. We live in America, where people can live as they choose, not Nazi Germany or Communist China.
These kids will be tramatized for the rest of their lives and they did nothing wrong. We can all agree on that! Give the children back to their parants!

[invenanet]

Ben missed the mark on this one. We''re talking about girl children trained from birth to think it''s God''s will that they be raped by older men as soon as they reach puberty. And boys who will have to forego a normal, loving married life because a few old men have dictated that they get to impregnate all the females. Sounds like abuse to me. These are not the Amish. These are people who have exploited religion in order to perpetrate an antique notion of sexual slavery. Those kids deserve a chance to live a normal life.

[myrlyn222]

CBS should take a great more time deciding what opinions they should share. I am not a being who believes in right or wrong, I believe everyone is doing the best they can based on how complex this human experiment is. The only time I jump outside of this discipline is when people in a position of responsibility publish baseless statements as if they had an intelligence behind them. What they are going to eventually find in the DNA agenda is the eight men, felt to have superior genes fathered 300 of these children and that ten 26 year old women are connected to ten 12 year old children. This is what the Nazi nation attempted in their Arien purity so why should we advocate another attempt.

[stella1260]

THANK YOU MR STEIN, I AM SO GLAD some one is telling it like it is. These children need their mother, if there is a crime here is to take these innocent children from their mothers. Why are they doing this AFTER ten years? They knew these people where polygamists ten years ago... if they have a complaint, they should have investigated it and go after the quilty ones, but NO to take the children from their mothers! Is Texas moving to be a totalitarian State?.......

[alicia10947]

Ben,
Your reasoning is exactly what has kept drugs and organized crime successful. Just because no one wants to step up and put a stop to known illegal activity does not make it legal! The pain and suffering of these children did not start with Texas law enforcement, it started with blind, ignorant apathy of any and all other law enforcers who chose not to do anything to stop their exploitation.

[jonesmi3]

Ben - until this morning, we have enjoyed your acting contributions and sharp wit. But your FLDS editorial today has destroyed any credibility with me and my wife you ever tried to create. You should have researched this SO much more thoroughly before taking a viewpoint so outrageous that you appear to be condoning pedophilia.

What more evidence do you want than pregnant 12 and 13 year old children, fathered by men old enough to be their fathers or even grandfathers? FLDS is a cult out of control, created and ruled by a group of degenerate men that have banded together to get all the *** they want, any time and way they want. Those poor little girls are raised for one purpose, to be *** cattle. They are brainwashed from the time they can learn English to be totally subservient to the "church" men, and to spread their legs on command right after the first sign of menstruation.

FLDS is SICK , Ben! Evidence? You and that *** "bgbevier" above don''t think pregnant 12 year old girls are evidence? Just exactly what do you think is in their wombs, Ben?

You owe America an apology, based on more thorough research you should soon be doing. Meanwhile, I think we''ll be skipping your movie.

[jonesmi3]

Ben - until this morning, we have enjoyed your acting contributions and sharp wit. But your FLDS editorial today has destroyed any credibility with me and my wife you ever tried to create. You should have researched this SO much more thoroughly before taking a viewpoint so outrageous that you appear to be condoning pedophilia.

What more evidence do you want than pregnant 12 and 13 year old children, fathered by men old enough to be their fathers or even grandfathers? FLDS is a cult out of control, created and ruled by a group of degenerate men that have banded together to get all the *** they want, any time and way they want. Those poor little girls are raised for one purpose, to be *** cattle. They are brainwashed from the time they can learn English to be totally subservient to the "church" men, and to spread their legs on command right after the first sign of menstruation.

FLDS is SICK , Ben! Evidence? You and that *** "bgbevier" above don''t think pregnant 12 year old girls are evidence? Just exactly what do you think is in their wombs, Ben?

You owe America an apology, based on more thorough research you should soon be doing. Meanwhile, I think we''ll be skipping your movie.

[wb6012]

Shame on you Ben. Have you not heard your own news stories? There are 12 and 13 year old girls having babies. What about this is right on any level? What if your child was molested and pregnant from the next door neighbor and when it happened he yelled "Religious Freedom". I think your commentary would be different. With opinions like yours, any serial rapist can state "Religious Freedom" and never get convicted.

[jonesmi3]

Ben - until this morning, we have enjoyed your acting contributions and sharp wit. But your FLDS editorial today has destroyed any credibility with me and my wife you ever tried to create. You should have researched this SO much more thoroughly before taking a viewpoint so outrageous that you appear to be condoning pedophilia.

What more evidence do you want than pregnant 12 and 13 year old children, fathered by men old enough to BE their fathers or even grandfathers? FLDS is a cult out of control, created and ruled by a group of degenerate men that have banded together to get all the *** they want, any time and way they want. Those poor little girls are raised for one purpose, to be *** cattle. They are brainwashed from the time they can learn English to be totally subservient to the "church" men, and to spread their legs on command right after the first sign of menstruation.

FLDS is SICK , Ben! Evidence? You and that *** "bgbevier" above don''t think pregnant 12 year old girls are evidence? Just exactly what do you think is in their wombs, Ben?

You owe America an apology, based on more thorough research you should soon be doing. Meanwhile, I think we''ll be skipping your movie.

[soliver48]

I was so upset I went on line to find your commentary and registered so I could post a comment. This is the first time I have ever done this but like most of those who have alread commented I was shocked that CBS could possibly have let this be put on the air. Yes in the US we have freedom of speech, but this man is absurd and has shown he is completely ignorant of the situation. Twelve, thirteen and fourteen year old children have babies and this guy doesn''t thing this is wrong???? It''s illegal and immoral. Someone has to stand up for these kids. Thank God for the whistler blower. I am,like the others before me just appalled and disgusted by this. Does Ben have daughters or granddaughters. I can''t believe he does or he never would have made these ignorant comments. Shame on CBS and Ben!

[julieworth]

Thank you, Ben! Only when the national news media gets involved will this outrageous travesty of justice come to an end. And not only for these FLDS folks, but for all the Texas children locked in this dysfunctional and uncaring CPS gulag.

[henry259]

I don''t know whether to shame CBS for giving Stein airtime or thank them for exposing him once again for being biased, narrow minded and political. Where was the mention of the growing number of children because some mothers are being discovered as under 18? He clearly frames his argument as a crime against children and families as opposed to one of child protection, which thankfully our public servants take seriously. Who does he think he''s kidding by inserting words like "polygamy" into his piece and thereby implying that is the reason for the intervention. The truth is that underagege girls are getting pregnant and there is a group effort to mislead authorities. The real story here CBS is how the children can ever be safely reunited with their families. Hopefully the free thinking viewers of Sunday Morning will see the bias of this editorial rather than blindly take Mr. Stein''s opinion for face value.

[tsuga4]

Ben Stein exposed himself. He''s appears to be a pedofile. Only a pedophile would make those accusations without knowing the facts.

[war_eaglemom]

THANK YOU BEN!!! Most of the negative comments above are no doubt from people who shudder at the suggestion that their protective Big Brother could ever make a mistake. The media is perpetuating fears of child abuse and neglect, but we should not forget the rights and laws America is founded on. Please do not forget that the innocent must be PROVEN guilty! How many of you would like your children to be taken away because of rumors and a crank call? If members of your church, school or neighborhood abuse or neglect their children, should yours also be taken away? I in no way condone young girls to be forced into marriage or *** abuse, but if the government can strip children from their parents on so little evidence, aren''t all of us at risk of losing our kids?

[ndsrds]

Ben Stein, You are right about your views, Our Constitution Protects everyone. I may not believe in the lifestyle and what was going on in side the compound but what TEXAS did was wrong. A False Warrant. Can you imagine what would happen if the Authorities raided a Southern Baptist Church due to a false warrant and took all the children.

[skt4mn-2009]

The problem with most of the comments here is that they have an opinion without any facts. They think they know what''s going on but they could be wrong. What "facts" the authorities have now are all based on prejudice and are not "facts" in evidence. It''s the gunslinger mentality from yet another high ranking official from the State of Texas. Does any of this sound familar...like George Bush leading us into war based on "facts" that turned out to be wrong.

[gutierca]

Ben Stein''s commentary on the FDLS was wrong. Of course the children did nothing to deserve being taken away from their mothers. This is not about Polegamy. This is about sexual abuse of young girls as a part of everyday practice in the name of religion. It''s very sad to see the mothers crying for the children. This is the only life some of the mothers have ever known. It seems right to them, but is it right to have 13 to 17 year old girls having *** and babies with older men in the name of the religion and spirituality? Do the laws not apply to the FLS sect? Please, if you are going to shed light on this, shed it fairly for the kids. What is happening is out of their control. The moms are allowing this to happen to their daughters. They do not know better, but need to look at the laws of the land as well. And the men? They are getting by with criminal behavior in the name of religion. Give me a break, Ben! What in the world are YOU thinking, sir?

[sharonjoy60]

You''re way out of line, Ben Stein, on this one.

Amazing. An intelligent man such as yourself not viewing this situation as grave beyond measure for these children. Your proclamation of "unbelievable cruelty of the state of Texas authorities" made me livid!

My question is, "Why did it take so long for the authorities to step in and do their job?"

The law is clear on these issues. All of these children need to be removed from their homes until the adults who care for them do just that - care for them!

[savanvleck]

Just because the state has taken decades to deal with this issue, does not mean that they should wait another decade.

Obviously Ben Stine thinks that seeing pregnant thirteen year old girls is not an indication of abuse. Obviously, seeing children afraid of the color of red (the devil%u2019s color to the LDS) is not a sign of brainwashing. Obviously, Ben Stein, doesn''t think that women who speak in a monotone, give identical rote answers are brainwashed.
Ben Stein, you should have your grandchildren in one of these situations. I would like to see how you would feel then. Believe me, even if I could never see them again (which I can''t now anyway), I would rather see them in a good foster home than with their parents who abuse them. They will get over it if taken away younger, but how does a thirteen year old girl get over being pregnant?

[cschwalm]

I cannot believe how naieve Ben Stine is on this one. He is an educated, bright man, but he has really missed the mark here. CPS, Child Protective Services, intervened and took the FLDS children to PROTECT them until the charges of sexual abuse become certain. Freedom of religion does not extend the right to older men to have sexual relations with young girls, which is what is the investigators are finding has in all probability happened. Where are the tears of the women when young girls of 13 and 14 are "spiritually wed" to middle aged men? I disagree strongly with Ben Stine and cannot fathom why he doesn''t see the abuse these children have suffered in the name of "religion". And that is religion according to the whims of Warren Jeffs. Ben, I usually enjoy your commentaries, but today I was just appalled. These children, similar to holocaust victims, are finally being liberated from their camps of torture, abuse, and sexual slavery.

[sharonjoy60]

You''re way out of line, Ben Stein, on this one.

Amazing. An intelligent man such as yourself not viewing this situation as grave beyond measure for these children. Your proclamation of "unbelievable cruelty of the state of Texas authorities" made me livid!

My question is, "Why did it take so long for the authorities to step in and do their job?"

The law is clear on these issues. All of these children need to be removed from their homes until the adults who care for them do just that - care for them!

[hobiecat47]

Ditto with comments from JoanJet77!! Shame on you Ben!! I have one word for you, HOMEWORK, do yours before you spout off as if you know what you''re talking about!
This is the worst case in history for Child Protective Services. Their mission: remove children from harm! That''s what Texas law enforcement has done. Where children are concerned, the perpetrator is guilty until proven innocent.
BTW, be careful about generalizing people, too. I''m a native Texan and was shocked myself to learn that a polygamist institution exists in our state. In that regard, shame on law enforcement for turning a blind eye to this and other cases of abuse in the past. I say thank goodness for the phone call, hoax or not!! We should all be thankful for the whistler blowers in the world!!

[kaci444]

I''m confused why CBS gives Ben Stein a platform to rant about things like FLDS. Just read the opinions posted here. Hello? Are any of the CBS producers reading any of these comments? Ben, you are dull. I really used to like Sunday Morning, but I think I''ll go elsewhere to get my news.

[yogidavis]

Ben Stein needs to read the book titled ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop. If he had, he might have understood that this issue is about abuse to women and children that has reached insane dimensions.

[joanjet77]

FACT IS MOTHERS WHO HAVE LIVED ON THIS RANCH, AND HAVE GIVEN INTERVIEWS, ARE SAYING THAT YOUNG GIRLS RANGING FROM AGE 12 ON HAVE BEEN RAPED BY OLD MEN WHO USE RELIGION AS AN EXUSE TO RAPE THEM. DO YOU NOT FIND THIS SICK AMERICA? WHAT ABOUT THE BABIES WHO WERE MADE TO CRY AND THEN HELD UNDER WATER TO THE POINT OF EXHUASTION..........? THE STATE IS RIGHT! THESE CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE RETURNED TO THEIR SO CALLED PARENTS WHO ARE THE ONES WHO ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. OMG ARE YOU PEOPLE AWAKE OUT THERE? IS BEN STEIN?

[yogidavis]

Ben Stein needs to read the book titled ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop. If he had, he might have understood that this issue is about abuse to women and children that has reached insane dimensions.

[jlsct]

It''s not often when I think I''m smarter than Ben Stein, but Ben: You are WRONG. I am DEFINITELY smarter than you on this one.

Is your reasoning that because Texas already knew about the illegal activity (polygamy, forced under-age marriages)before and did nothing, that they should do nothing about it now?

Polygamy is ILLEGAL. Forced marriage at 12 is ILLEGAL. You''d be repulsed and claiming outrage if you read about this same thing happening in India or Pakistan or Katmandu or Burkina Faso, so why aren''t you outraged about it happening here?

It''s mighty hypocritical of you as a life long Republican who has advocated the gov''t sticking its nose in just about every conceivable activity, to suddenly feign horror that the gov''t interceded to make sure that pre-pubescent girls were not being forced into marriages of sexual convenience by randy old men who share the perverted belief that they need at least 3 (young, complaint, subservient)wives to garner favor in the kingdom of heaven.

The Fed gov''t gave the male overseers of this female-slave organization 1 Mil in federal loans and 1.2 Mil in defense contracts to support this perverted lifestyle.

And you''re concerned when the gov''t said it had to stop?

The government''s already involved, Ben. And since some portion of my tax-dollars went to support this illegal lifestyle, I''ve been dragged into this, too.

Shame on you Ben. Shame on you.

[fibonacci_]

Ben Steins lack of intelligence was laid bare for all to see in "Expelled".

[bighoov-2009]

Come on folks, the man took a wrong turn. It is not so surprising to have this opinion, wrong as it may be but after all it is about Texas. I mean, duh, goofy state of the union. What happens stupidly anywhere probably happens in Texas first.

[rabbit2502-2009]

So what everyone is saying is that if someone pretending to be an underage girl/boy calls this hotline in Texas and claims abuse saying she''s a Baptist. Then the State of Texas should take away the children of all Baptists on the chance that she''s right?

[georgedewey]

You''re right on the money, Ben! I''ve been forwarding your article out to the world. I was very reassured to see you say the same things I''ve been saying for weeks. Thanks for writing this!

[rabbit2502-2009]

So what everyone is saying is that if someone pretending to be an underage girl/boy calls this hotline in Texas and claims abuse saying she''s a Baptist. Then the State of Texas should take away the children of all Baptists on the chance that she''s right?

[jcf68]

No one has published reports about sexual abuse. If you all are considering sexual abuse to be young girls having ***? We need to remove all young girls from their families and the public schools. Girls are told to have condems ready, they are given shots to prevent cervical cancer, and girls are taken to the abortion clinics where their unborn child is killed. None of this is considereda abuse? Women outside this compound are inflicted with more sexual abuse than any on the inside. This attack on our rights is an outrage, anyone of us could be next on the hit list. These children need to be with their mothers. Just because we don''t agree with anothers religious views gives us no right to take their children. That is basis for a lot of these other reviews.

[dobsonimages]

Ben
Great comment really right on I sometimes diagree with you but you really hit the nail on the head this time. Thank you for your compassion and understanding of this horror in Texas

[edinmo]

While I don''t share Mr. Stein''s view on this matter, I due on many others and look forward to his weekly commentaries. What I find disturbing is that my local CBS affiliate attempted to not allow us here in St Louis Missouri to view it at all. They however faultered by showing the last few seconds. Shame on you KMOV CBS channel 4 St Louis.

[kga2u]

I think taking the DNA of all the children and the parents, to find out how incestual this cult is and how much their belief system is a made of of cruel and abusive behavior towards the females and the young males. I feel that without question the other areas where the cult is that they too should be DNA''d
and that the Utah and Texas should unite and Get to the Real Deal. I hate that the children are being separated from the mothers, I think the mothers and children can be together, the dna, the age of the girls and the Fact that no birth certificates or death certificates are required by the state of Texas and that a man is allowed to kill his wife if he so deems her "against the god rules" is why I feel that this needs close scurtiny and that both states should make a bond to cooperated and get ot the bottom of what is actually going on in this cult, this has nothing to do with separating the mothers and children if anything, show the mothers and children the outside world , the compassion, the museums, the crayons, the parks the beauty, open uo and take into our being our spirit not critical deamonization, but open and caring trying to understand, and then re introduce methods of living and "dicipline" that are not harsh and demeaning.

[linfinster]

Quote:
It''''s not often when I think I''''m smarter than Ben Stein, but Ben: You are WRONG. I am DEFINITELY smarter than you on this one.

Is your reasoning that because Texas already knew about the illegal activity (polygamy, forced under-age marriages)before and did nothing, that they should do nothing about it now?

Polygamy is ILLEGAL. Forced marriage at 12 is ILLEGAL. You''''d be repulsed and claiming outrage if you read about this same thing happening in India or Pakistan or Katmandu or Burkina Faso, so why aren''''t you outraged about it happening here?

It''''s mighty hypocritical of you as a life long Republican who has advocated the gov''''t sticking its nose in just about every conceivable activity, to suddenly feign horror that the gov''''t interceded to make sure that pre-pubescent girls were not being forced into marriages of sexual convenience by randy old men who share the perverted belief that they need at least 3 (young, complaint, subservient)wives to garner favor in the kingdom of heaven.

The Fed gov''''t gave the male overseers of this female-slave organization 1 Mil in federal loans and 1.2 Mil in defense contracts to support this perverted lifestyle.

And you''''re concerned when the gov''''t said it had to stop?

The government''''s already involved, Ben. And since some portion of my tax-dollars went to support this illegal lifestyle, I''''ve been dragged into this, too.

Shame on you Ben. Shame on you.

Posted by JLSCT at 10:47 AM : Apr 27, 2008


SO VERY WELL SAID! Thank-you!

[kga2u]

WE all over the world are a reflection of our upbring which includes "ingrained" belief systems, so by acting like the belief these people have been told we would act inculcates cementss that negative belief of the outside world that they have been taught thru generations.

[lisaaustin5]

Dear Mr. Stein:
You need to redefine the issure that you are arguing. The issue is about child abuse. The State needs to do its diligence to determine first of all what mother has what child to begin the legal proceedings. Just because these people live excluded from mainstream society does not give them special privileges.
The State went in on a valid suspicion of sexual assault. It cannot now stop and not investigate to the fullest extent the ages and therefore when a woman or girl was pregnant. Normally a child''s birth certificates provide the basic information of birth date and names of parents. The State does not have that information.
This is not about government overstepping its power. It is about protecting children from sexual abuse and assault and to argue otherwise is changing the topic. From your statements, you must value freedom from government intervention over sexual assault, which fortunately for the people of the United States has already been determined by law to be illegal.
I hope that you will re-examine your statements and make an apology or correct yourself on air next Sunday or earlier.

[someofmany]

Mr. Stein, I have not always agreed with you in the past, but had, until now, at least respected your opinion. This morning your views came across as bad as the KKK saying what''s wrong with hanging people because of the color of their skin. Not only is polygamy illegal in this country, and 300 children from 8 pedophiles appalling, but keeping people from leaving, and people living in fear (because where will these women go and who will they be dependent on when the media goes away?) is called SLAVERY, no matter how pretty a bow you put on the package. Tell me, how you feel about having your 12 or 13 year old daughter married and pregnant to a 50 year old man who has many wives and countless children. And what of the ''Lost Boys'' who have run away from this trying to fend for themselves? WAKE UP!!! Children need to be taught all about their country, constitution and equal rights, not be hidden in a cult of spiritual abuse and teachings of supremacy.

Ben,

What did those children do to deserve the cruel reality of enforced sexual slavery?
How cruel is it for little children to watch their sisters disappear into "church" to be raped by old men?
How cruel is it for young girls to watch their brothers thrown out of their homes with nothing, into a world they have been taught is the realm of Satan, just so the old men can have all the young girls to themselves?
Ben, I think you''re more interested in generating controversy than you are in the welfare of these children. Which means you''re not a hell of a lot better than those men.
And your facile comment about how hard it is to keep up with even one wife was nothing more than a disgusting attempt to diminish what these women and children have been forced to endure.
All of which leads me to wonder about you. You must believe that those men had some right to do what they did, or you would never even entertain the idea that those children are better off with families committed to maintaining this abuse.
And let''s be clear, making the claim that those children should remain in that place because the original call turned out to be questionable is despicable. Once they found evidence of widespread *** with underage children, delaying the children''s removal because of the call only ensures more child rapes.
What kind of "man" can look past that for a little extra TV attention for himself?
Oink, oink, Ben.

[fibonacci_]

Little Ben Stein religious brain.

And guys - dont think he reads this stuff - he has better things to do, like produce idiotic propaganda like "Expelled".

[earthchild1]

In no way am I condoning pedophilia; but I do support the right of females who have had their first period to have consensual *** with any male they want nomater
what age he or she is. I don''t expect all the public to obey the law; but I do expect the government and it''s agents to obey the law. This means some law breakers will never be able to be prosecuted. I would rather see a billion law breakers go free than 1 innocent go to jail. I would rather see millions of police die than 1 innocent citizen die at the hands of the government or it''s agents.