[Roy Anderson]

Martha's sickness is for her own good. The State does much that is very good for the children (but not TOO good).

[freddy]

Hey...I'm a dad of many years with a little girl...
My findings are, any little girl that is even the least bit sick...WANTS...NO, NEEDS her mother...Period..!!!

[AppyPappy]

Her mom ADMITTED beating her. You might want to keep up with the story.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

I had this really wierd tinfoil hat thingie when I first saw that beating, and then heard there were no marks or bruises on that kid and knowing that beatings like that are not a one time event, and I told my wife. She had her back to the camera, you don't suppose she faked that beating like they do in fights on TV an movies so that if she were arrested and they could find not signs of previous beatings she could sue the bejeepers out of the police? It's just a thought.Some folks will do anything for a handhout.

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, there are some people who feel that spanking is child abuse. I think they are wrong. I think some corporal punishment does a child good.

But I've seen the videotape, and what the mother administered to the child went far beyond a spanking. And it did not seem to be in response to any inappropriate behavior on the part of the child. I would also say that this sort of violent, arbitrary environment does damage to a child that cannot be seen in photographs. She may appear unharmed but that does not mean that she is unharmed.

Having said all that against the mother, I will also say that having the State take custody of your child has got to be one of the most terrible punishments that can be inflicted on a parent. There are so many horror stories. There is so little accountability. This poor child does not have a bright future, I'm afraid, with her mother or with the state. It's very sad.

[Humidston]

In fact there are nude pictures apparently showing Martha as intact as ever.

NUDE pictures of the child's genitals?? Mommy Dearest had to take pictures of the child's GENITALS??

Mommy Dearest is a petty thief, a liar, and a transient who beats her child and you think the state is out of line by putting Martha in protective custody?

Oh pulllease.

[Sinner6]

Have you ever met a kid that get his ass kicked by his parents? Not just a quick swat but a full on beating with a wire coat hanger or edge of metal spatula? That's the type of parent Toogood is.

[colorado tanker]

What's going on? The kid's now around other kids. My kids got sick their first week back in school. Tis the season . . .

[skeeter]

Momma went overboard with the spanking, but the state's abuse of this child by putting her in a foster home exceeds anything Mrs Toogood did by a factor of 10.

Absolutely sickening.

[Pete]

I am just glad there were no cameras around when my Mom would chase my brother and me around the house with a wooden spoon or high heel shoe. Atleast my Dad only used his hand with a few wacks to the butt. Our best friends' father had a college ring on his finger and used to punch them in their upper arm when they got out of line. I remember thinking how much that had to hurt.

Man, now-a-days we all would have been in Foster care.

[DoughtyOne]

Since the Martha Toogood's story is being dissected into the most minute details, here's one aspect not yet discussed:

- Martha gets a spanking from her mommy (some call it a savage beating). Whatever that was, it turns out that not one doctor, not even the prosecutor could find any sign of abuse such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, missing limbs or rigor mortis. In fact there are nude pictures apparently showing Martha as intact as ever.

- The state takes Martha under its own loving wing and... MARTHA IS SICK NOW!!! In fact, Martha is so sick, not even her mother can be allowed to see her.

Can anyone explain what's going on here? Is Martha better off with the authorities in charge? Or is she a victim of the authorities loving care. Perhaps too much love got Martha sick?
 

I've come very close to starting a thread long these lines.  You've taken a little differnt tac thank I would have.  The illness issue is valid and an interesting question.  The kid was fine until a few hours before the visit.  The excuse was a ruse in my opinion.

Look, the depiction of that mother shown on the video was clearly wrong.  No I didn't word that incorrectly.  The depiction was wrong.  The implication was wrong.  The child was not being brutalized in the manner we thought she was.  Now, if we wish to discuss the actions of the mother, I think they were wrong.  She shouldn't flail at and around the kid in that manner, and if the courts wish to make sure she doesn't do that again, I'm all for it.  But let's be honest.  The child was not physically abused, despite what we think we saw.  She was definately psychologically abused momentarily.

Now does that psychological abuse reach the level that we assess that mom should go to prison?  Folks, I gotta tell ya, that's a stretch.  The mom needs to be corrected.  This should never happen again.  But I am not particularly impressed by the authorities here.

The authorities have used this incident to delve into every aspect of this mom's life, even the procurement of the family vehicles is now in question.  What has that to do with the welfare of the child?  This has all the appearances of a witch hunt, law enforcement officials given carte blanche to pry into any and every nook and cranny of the mom's personal life.  Is that warranted?

We were told the child could be near death.  We were told that she would likely have brain damage and be a vegetable for life.  We were told that her mom had brutally beaten her to within an inch of her life.  All this was untrue.  If it was untrue, the public officials should back off and treat this case properly.  There isn't a chance I'd give that woman prison time under the circumstances.  I would place her on probation for several years and make sure she recieved parenting classes that would give her options when her child is a problem.

I would not keep the child in foster care.  I would place the child with the grandparents for the time being, slowly to be returned to the mother's home as parenting classes and anger management progressed.

This frenzied feeding based on the original mis-perception is frankly, scarey.

[AmusedBystander]

...some call it a savage beating...

The video looks shocking, but the incident seems blown out of proportion to me.

[OXENinFLA]

I heard on BOORTZ the other day that she (whooping mom) went to Vermont to see a doctor so her daughter could get the best care.

I have a TIN-FOIL Hat question. Is this the SAME girl we all saw in the tape, maybe a look-a-like replaced her.

[Harris]

After reading all these posts I realize I am reading way too much into this story. I thought it was some big metaphor regarding Martha Stewart

[The FRugitive]

Personally I think the whole thing was blown out of all proportion. I was beat way worse then that when I was a kid.

Yes, the mother was out of line, but I think she's remorsefull. Make her go to parenting classes/counseling whatever and let them on their way.

But for this to be national news for weeks is rediculous and for the state to take the child away is a travesty especially since there are relatives who will take them.

There's all this criticism of their lifestyle (as Irish Travelers) - well guess what, this is a FREE country. Their lifestyle shouldn't be an issue.

[skeeter]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/757095/posts

For a related thread on the benefits of foster care.

[frnewsjunkie]

It's really sad to think we have parents out there who would do this to their child. The seemingly "punching in the face" that I witnessed on the video, is what bothered me the most.

But the little girl is paying the price on both ends. She doesn't need to be in a foster home, being cared for by strangers.

Yes, the mother was wrong, (and I don't imagine it was the first time). But the authorities overstated the possibilities of the child's condition. I just have trouble with the "state" taking a child and doing what they want to with that child.

BTW... does anyone know why the woman did this to the child? Did the child do something to even warrant a spanking (let alone a beating!)... or did the woman just take out her anger on whatever was handy at the time?

Too bad we have children who are in homes like this.

[two23]

This whole story is sickening from start to finish. There is no excuse. Not only has this woman showed the world her poor mothering skills, people are now applauding the use of surveillance camera's on the American Public, and CPS (which has a dubiuos reputation in some states) just scored a round of applause.
Are we slowly being acclimated to public surveillance by video?
Yes, I'm glad Toogood got caught, but on the other hand, It saddens me that the child will be caught in the middle and many will applaud SPY CAMS. (aka: "security" camera's)

[tracer]

She probably has an infected hand -- cellulitis from the soft tissue injuries and tooth-related cuts she received when she pummeled her daughter's head........

[j.havenfarm]

I read your numerous comments the other day, as well. Seems to me, based on repeated viewing of the tape, that reasonable peoeple could differ on the authorities' getting involved -- but you seem so strident. Do you want to put your cards on the table?