Rusty Yates and HIS Family on TODAY Show (Where's the Kennedy Family?)

3/18/02 | Self

[MVV]

Did anyone catch the two-fold interview on the TODAY Show with Katie Couric?

What a joke! And where was Andrea Yates' representation? No family members from her side! I smell a division brewing in that family.

Just like on Friday during the separate news conferences, hasn't anyone noticed this? Your thoughts and comments.

[oremus]

"One TV news report a few weeks ago said this itinerant preacher sent religious tracts to his followers and one of his dominant issues was that women were eternal 'sinners, daughters of Eve, sisters to Satan'."

That preacher seems to ignore the rest of the story, you know, the part where Adam goes right along with Eve. Adam FAILS TO PROTECT EVE FROM THE SERPENT (what a joke - right back at ya, "preacher"!), just as Rusty failed to protect and care for Andrea and his children. Another example of these types using scripture to put women under their thumb and shirk their true responsibilities.

[oremus]

... forgot to add, Adam said "the woman gave me the fruit." Yep - the man's blaming the woman and refusal to take responsibility started way back then!

[NYCVirago]

What kind of dad doesn't even walk around the block with his children? Ride bikes with them, etc? Looks like maybe he was piling the pressure on?

Hey, he had to have time for riding his bike by himself, going to the gym, etc. You can't expect him to have time for his kids as well!

[OldFriend]

If women are ever indeed to be emancipated we must be responsible for ourselves and our actions and not depend on a man or anyone else to assume responsibility for us or our actions.

[NYCVirago]

The Yates family seems like they fell under this guy's sway, selling their home and living out of a motor home for a while.

Yes, Rusty did that in an effort to "simplify" the family's life. Of course, now when there's only him left in the house, he's keeping the house!

[mel]

I wonder what NASA thinks about him!

[Pagey]

Does anyone know if Rusty gets 'Paid' when he goes on shows like this?I'd really like to know.If Leno/Letterman pay a couple hundred dollars,(I know Johnny Carson did) how do the morning shows work?Rusty--- He's a real piece of work.

[twyn1]

Well yeah--"I am woman hear me roar" and all that -- But the point here is:

Andrea Yates was unable to take responsiblity for herself (or for her children) because of her mental state -- and a decent husband and father would have done something (anything !) about this and been there to protect the kids and help his wife (not because he was a chauvinist, but because he cared for & loved them)

[NYCVirago]

I wonder what NASA thinks about him!

Good question, since he didn't bother taking any leave when his wife was suicidal, but can now find the time to miss work to go on the "Today" show!

[OldFriend]

There are very strict laws regarding committing someone to a mental institution against their will. There is no doubt that she should have been confined to an institution. Usually only the very wealthy have the option of placing a family member in a hospital for any length of time. There is no one size fits all solution to this tragedy.

[Baseballguy]

Oh yes I like this. Women are slaves now.....Barf Alert

[all4one]

"She killed those kids. ....then...she told Rusty.." I FINALLY DID IT "

Thank you for the comprehensive post. I was also thinking that Andrea's comments were an affirmation of a previous threat. My hypothisis is that she maybe found out about some infidelity on his part, and followed through on a threat.

I think that I had also read that Andrea was a nurse and held a graduate degree. She did at one time have a career in the medical field.

I was appalled by Yates' press conference this morning. Placing blame on the medical community to bolster you chances of suing and getting a fat check. I can easily see where this is all headed. Blood money in the name of his sacrificed family.

[cake_crumb]

"Actually, that belief is, once again, a distortion of scripture."

Yes, but distortion is a tool that fanatics always use. Such veiws are extremely prevalant, because there's always some sicko out there who will believe it because it fits neatly into his/her psychotic fantasies. There always will be.

[cake_crumb]

"I am woman hear me roar"

LOL...EGAD I hate that phrase!

[cake_crumb]

"I think there is a difference here. If you believe in Jesus you know we all are etrenal sinners, and faith in Jesus the savior alone can save you."

I wasn't speaking in a strict religious sense. I was referring to individuals who use religion as a phychological tool to personal power, wealth, fame, dominance over others etc. No, there s no difference in the sick minds of the people who use religion for this. The only difference are between the religions they choose to use.

[MaggieMay]

I believe it was stated that Andrea was a passive person. Perhaps if at some point she could have said,"Rusty get off you butt,turn off the sports, I need at least two of the five children outside working off some energy." But we already know Adrea wasn't very assertive. As a matter of fact she was exhausted from taking care of a hospice father, caring for five children,homeschooling, fitting in two suicide attemps, unable to even care for her own house, hygene or stopping the demons in her head. But you say,poor Rusty is trying to work and take his wife to the doctor all the time, he's bought her a book on getting organized, is in the process of moving his mom in state,gives her two hours a week free time, he's trying to make it work. It was NOT working not even close and you do not have to be a psedo-consevervative,or a not so closet feminist or a man-hating freeper to figure that out.

[f.Christian]

off to see the Wizard, and get all that is coming to him.

I've mostly avoided the subject---too gruesome!

The part about not changing the kids diapers makes me think this woman was being tortured--punished through her children...physically and mentally abused.

Jesus said..."Come unto me all ye that are heavey burden--laden and I will give you rest--love"...also---

Let go(evil)--Let God(good) and the doctors/lawyers will be collecting unemployment checks.

I didn't want to form an opinion on Russel Yates because I couldn't imagine what a shock--sorrow he would be under---naturally withdrawn even bizzare.

But if he didn't have the love and concern---help his wife--children...this is all cult--self mentality---jimmy jones/clinton/renoism---cover your ass and use/kill everybody---blame society--the victims!!

[Pegita]

There evidently is an exception to the rule of the family's "ownership" over a family member. I'm one outside of a family who had concern for suicide, and I expressed that concern to the appropriate people. The agency had an abundant file on this individual, and specifically asked me to sign commitment papers, which I did. I later learned that family members had refused to do the same.

There was a price to pay for doing this, but the outcome meant someone is still alive ... that's not so for the one(s) Andrea's friend tried to protect. With each new bend and twist in this story, it becomes increasingly horrific.

[Neenah]

Another thing on Rusty's behavior and control. As we learned, they HOME CHURCHED as well as home schooled. After the murder's took place, down the street, within eyesight of the house, was this church. Forgive me, I can't remember the name of it..something like Christ Church or something. It was the church that eventually buried the children.

This Pastor, upon hearing the news of the multiple murder's of the children, and knowing the house was within eyesight of the church, prayed and decided to befriend the grieving father.

I was very touched by how this came about, and could see the contrast of a "real" Pastor and the "fanatical" one. This Pastor, not only befriended Rusty, but opened up his Church and church family to him if he wanted it. Suzy's book tells in detail all that was done for Rusty. The Pastor prayed about all of this, and found that Rusty did not have a church home, so he invited him to join them, and that he would be available to him at any time. Rusty did. But I soon learned that Rusty "took over". He did go to service there immediately, but actually HE was serviced. By that I mean that those wonderful people really reached out to him..and I am sorry, but reading the detail of this in the book, I could see that Rusty used the situation for HIS benefit. Now, I have been hard on myself, thinking that it was my bias against him, that I had those thoughts, but....

When I read further, I saw the quotes from the Pastor about his offering to give the funeral for the children,and Rusty agreeing to it. Then, she (author) told of the hard times for the Pastor with all the press and such, but he handled it quite well. When the funeral came, the Pastor really had the service TAKEN OUT OF HIS HANDS !! He offered some prayers and read from the Word..but then it was Rusty's platform. I just know that all people are different, but he took control of the service and preached. He eulogised the children one by one..but as you read the full account of the service itself, you cant come away from that without saying to yourself..." what superhuman could handle the murder of their 5 kids, media at your doorstep, police investigation, making a web site, etc..and writing a sermon and holding service ! "

This man is strange. It also said...( p. 76 ).."Mourners walked out the door to their vehicles, some exiting to the Catholic Church where those not going to the graveside service had been told to park. Those going to the cemetery climbed into their trucks and cars, parked headlight to taillight, as church members had expectred a standing room only crowd. But there had been space enough for more mourners and cars alike. Only a few NASA co-workers had shown for the funeral. Many of the NASA women..HAD BOYCOTTED IT."

[Lady Jag]

You are making me want to read this book. What fascinating accounts you are reporting! Thank you so much.