[Bernard Marx]

Not that I know of. I've observed Stein over a long period. It's hard to find fault with much of his political/economic opinion, but he seems to live his own life pretty much along the lines of most Beverly Hills/Malibu liberal elitists. The stories he used to tell about Tommy browbeating him into all sorts of terrible parenting caused me to be more aware of his double-standards.

He's a wonderful, warm writer and it's hard to take issue with him directly on most fronts. But his tales about buying Tommy his own boat and other misadventures in Idaho and other horror stories about indulging the kid to near pathological levels started me wondering. I was more disillusioned when he interviewed Mark Fuhrman in Idaho and seemed aghast to discover that Fuhrman was the kind of guy who did his own engine tune-ups and other "redneck" (my term) work.

The final straw came with "Win Ben Stein's Money" on TV which featured foul-mouthed Jimmy Kimmel as emcee. There seemed to be no level of toilet "humor" or politically correct stereotype that Ben found offensive. I eventually was unable to watch the show -- and I'm definitely not a prude. I doubt Stein would be willing to consdider any outside advice about his parenting no matter how well intended. In some respects I think Stein's a total hypocrite.

[international american]

Stein is a mystery to me in certain ways. On the one hand, he is highly intelligent, and shrewd about political and financial matters. On the other hand, he appears obtuse when it comes to raising his son, and his perverse fondness for that unintelligent,uncouth, unfunny, foul mouthed clod, Kimmel.