Chilly Willy- I agree with what you've been saying in this thread. I'll get eaten for saying this - but its mostly bad luck that the media is so obsessed with this case, where everything they do is broadcast. The Sunshine Laws air dirty laundry of people who are not involved - we know about JG getting fired, TL and crew admittedly smoking pot, AHs private text messages.
To make a point about the Sunshine Laws I think a local tv channel should file a request for the video visits of EVERY INMATE in that jail and put them on the internet. Heck, why not every inmate of every jail in the state? Lets see how fast the legislature's phones ring off the hook when everyone's family business becomes just as public as the As.
JMO and I know you'll say oh but the As went on TV, they asked for this. (1) I doubt anyone with a missing relative wouldn't jump at the chance to get national attention for their loved one, and (2) they asked to be interviewed and the media said yes - they didn't ask for private documents to be released. Everyone has - or HAD - a right to privacy. You don't (and can't) waive your constitutional rights by blabbing on the Today Show every week.
I liked your post, LawLady, and I don't think you need to be worried about getting eaten. :blowkiss:
I do disagree with you, though. In this case, it wasn't a matter of a family going on TV and pleading for the return of a child as normally happens. Cindy was just plain bizarre in her interviews -- way too worried about her own condition, telling untrue stories and being rude as hell in a lot of the interviews. She told the public to get off our asses and go search, lied about the pizza and many other things, just kept the bizarre comments and behavior coming day after day for the first few months.
IMO, and it's just my own opinion,
she is the reason for the media circus and feeding frenzy that ensued. Unfortunately, she made sure the interest wasn't just in finding Caylee, but in seeing what kind of story or theory or "mistruth" she was gonna come up with next. It was like a train wreck -- you didn't want to look, but you had to.
Had she approached it differently, I think that while it would still be a high profile case, it wouldn't have garnered anywhere near the attention to the family that it has. Even if she'd just acted weird and abrasive, but not out and out lied to the public, it would have been different. But she chose another path. In this age of electronic media and instant delivery of any tidbit to the entire world, there was just no turning back once she opened the gates. They needed help dealing with the media. I'm not sure Cindy would have heeded advice if given, but someone needed to step in and try to stop her (I believe Mr. NeJame tried, but even he couldn't stay on board).
I know there's no playbook for how to act in unfathomable circumstances, but Cindy was just SO out there in her behavior and remarks. That is what kept the public interest (and dislike by many) on the front burner, IMO. I think the public for the most part doesn't trust her and are therefore hypervigilant to what she might say or do. The media knows and takes full advantage of that to feed the beast. Can't really blame them...that's what they do.
I feel so sorry for the family that they've lost precious little Caylee. I have no doubt whatsoever how much George and Cindy loved her. Cindy may have thought she was doing what was best for her daughter and family, but it resulted in what we have now. Her out-there comments and behavior...over and over and over...are what exacerbated the media circus. That's how this case differs in media scrutiny than others. This is solely my own personal opinion.
As for the jail visit, Casey should be afforded whatever privileges and protections every other inmate receives. The reason we haven't seen other inmates' visit/calls is because there isn't a public interest in them; if there were, I'm sure we'd see them plastered all over the net, too. I have mixed feelings about the Sunshine Law and wonder if FL legislators might, too, after seeing how it plays out in this case.
I apologize that I'm not following you in regards to a violation of constitutional rights. Some days, my blonde goes brain-deep. :crazy: Would you please elaborate?
