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September 17th, 2014
11:38 PM ET
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Where do you draw the line between punishing and abusing a child?

Adrian Peterson's mother describes him as a loving father and says he was only disciplining his son in the same way he was disciplined growing up. Speaking to The Houston Chronicle, she went on to say, "When you whip those you love, it's not abuse, but love. You want to make them understand what they did wrong."  Peterson is charged with felony child abuse. The case set off a national debate over discipling children. Gary Tuchman had a frank discussion about spanking with three generations of a family in Georgia.

Anderson discussed the culture of child discipline with CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin, New York Times columnist Charles Blow and cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis.

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Filed under: Adrian Peterson • Charles Blow • Gary Tuchman • Michaela Angela Davis • Sunny Hostin
September 16th, 2014
10:20 PM ET
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Advertisers pull out as Peterson prepares to return to the field

The Vikings are hoping to rebound from last week's tough loss against the Patriots with the help of star running back Adrian Peterson. He is set to return to the field this weekend, despite facing a felony child abuse charge.

Some big advertisers are now jumping ship. Castrol Motor Oil says it is dropping its sponsorship of Peterson. Radisson pulled its advertising deal with the Vikings. One of the NFL's biggest sponsors Anheuser-Busch is still on board, but released a statement expressing its disappointment and increasing concern.

Ed Lavandera has new information on a second allegation of child abuse by Peterson involving a different child.

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Filed under: Adrian Peterson • Ed Lavandera • NFL
September 15th, 2014
10:52 PM ET
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Vikings clear Adrian Peterson to return to the field

Adrian Peterson will be back on the field, playing with the Vikings next weekend. The decision comes just days after he was benched following his indictment on a felony child abuse charge. Peterson released a statement on the way he punished his son, saying in part:

"The way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man..."

He is talking about a style of parenting that millions of Americans will recognize. It is also a style of parenting that's at the center of a national debate over what constitutes abuse. Ed Lavandera takes a closer look at the Peterson case.

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley weighed into the controversy surrounding Adrian Peterson saying:

"I'm from the south. Whipping is…we do that all the time. Every black parent in the south is going to be in jail under those circumstances. We have to be careful letting people dictate how we..you know treat their children."

 Anderson discussed all of this with children's advocate Areeva Martin, New York Times columnist Charles Blow and Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin.

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Filed under: Adrian Peterson • Charles Blow • Ed Lavandera • Jeffrey Toobin • NFL

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