What is the big deal? Getting repeatedly stood up by your own daughter while going through a divorce is probably pretty stressful.
In the long line of hurtful parents there are plenty of them that have swung belts, coat hangers, wooden spoons, shoes etc. And if you want to argue that words hurt even more I'll bet there is an equally long line of parents that have uttered things like "I wish you were never born" or "you'll never amount to anything."
The way I see it there are also plenty of parents who aren't involved in their kids lives and here's a guy on the other side of the country doing his best to stay in touch with his daughter. I'm sure there are many dads in the same area code as their daughters that can't find the time to drop a call never mind different time zones.
This is a case of hypocrisy. Alec is getting crucified for getting angry and as far as rage goes this was on the lines of a tantrum. He didn't even swear or get into those below the belt self esteem crushing comments..... okay maybe pig might fall into that category.
Anyways, my point is that it's not like he stole millions of dollars, has heads in his freezer, ordered a war on taxpayers money, broke the kyoto accord.
All Alec is guilty of is getting angry. That's it.
He didn't cross any lines.
If anything people are focusing on his rant but ignoring that here's a guy that is probably providing a very good life for his daughter (unlike many deadbeat dads) and tries to stay in touch even when far away.