US Presidential Candidates call for changes to family law system

Presidential Candidates Call For Changes To Family Law System

At least six presidential (or likely presidential) candidates have come out in favor of levelling the playing field for men.

The candidates’ platforms range from criticising family courts of having an "extreme anti-male bias" (Newt Gingrich) to admitting there is a need for reform but it must be done on the state level (Rudy Giuliani).
At the very least, it is commendable that all six candidates approached by Fathers and Families realize the importance of having fathers and two-parent involvement in a child’s life.
Here is where six of the candidates stand on the issue.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson:

"[Family court] is an area that is really ripe for reform…I understand this issue and have researched hundreds of these cases." "Family court injustices are one of the great injustices of our time."

"Anything I could do on the federal level I would do, as president, to address [this] real inequality. I recognise it, having been governor of New Mexico. It’s a huge issue…the courts rule…usually [if not] always against the fathers…[in these rulings, fathers rights'] are obliterated, they’re nonexistent. I recognise that…I’m open to ideas [on fixing it]."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich:

Gingrich criticised the combative family law system for its "extreme anti-male bias" against mens rights.

"We live in an age that is very different than 50 years ago and I think that it is very often very important…that we have a much greater sensitivity that both sides, both parents, both have rights and have responsibilities."

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty:

"[O]ne of the most significant determining factors of how children are going to do in school and more broadly in life is the degree of involvement and engagement of their parents in their lives. We want to encourage that to the fullest extent possible." "And so the laws…as they relate to the relative balance between custodial and non-custodial [should reflect] that we want both parents engaged and productive…in their children’s lives."

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman:

"I totally agree with [the] assessment on the need for children to be able to bond and interact with their parents. When they're there, they do better. And when they are estranged, they do worse. There is something about a parent figure that is so critically important and indispensable in the lives of families." "I’m somewhat familiar with some cases that have played out in Utah where fathers in particular were estranged from their children. Unfortunately, caught up in the legal system, caught up in bureaucracy, we did what we could do. But I understand where you are coming from and if you have any specific solutions on how we ought to be looking at this issue, I’d love to hear them."

Businessman Herman Cain:

"You’re preaching to the choir." He states, "I sympathise and I understand," and said he’d like to have further discussions about father's rights.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a 2008 and potential 2012 presidential candidate:

"Family courts absolutely need reform." However, Giuliani said family law is a state matter, not a federal one. Fathers and Families argues that there are many things the president and federal government could do to promote shared child custody since the “federal government helps shape states' policies in many areas by the disbursement or withholding of federal reimbursement funds."