I totally agree with you. We are watching a long ingrained family dynamic.
Casey lies, steals, cheats, does whatever she wants to get whatever she wants.
Cindy yells at her behind closed doors, makes her feel worthless, Casey uses this to justify her behavior. In public Cindy tows the line, fixes the mess, and DEMANDS that everyone around her accept the explanation regardless of how ridiculous it is. This too reinforces and escalates Casey's behavior since she has no consequences except her mother berating her behind closed doors and occasionally in front of her boyfriend of the day.
Lee acts as Mr. Fix It/Peacekeeper because that is his role. He is noted as being the one closest to Casey. This swooping in when mom walks away to find out what really happened and calm Cindy down did not start on July 15th.
George clearly has his own opinions but will only go so far in crossing Cindy. In interviews alone with the police he sounds logical and accepting of the facts. In public he tows the Cindy line, regardless of how illogical he knows it is. That is his role (I hate men like this by the way, men that appear to be victims in the family dynamic but really are part of the abuse cycle their kids and grandchildren grow up in by not stopping the crazy woman they live with. And then they get sympathy from people around them.).
I do think George towing the line with the kidnapping story is his attempt to manage Cindy who is clearly not manageable. Cindy is use to believing she is in control and her behavior enabled by Lee and George. She cannot fathom that she cannot steer this situation and cannot get people to sway to her view of events. Cindy acting like she is in control and Casey playing the submissive victim while pulling all the strings is nothing new.
They are surrounded by people like Baez and the PI telling them that Casey is falsely accused, that there is no evidence, and that there are sitings of Caylee. Those are the only people that will be allowed near. In Cindy's interview of a few days ago when she says "Nothing will ever convince me that Casey harmed Caylee in anyway".... I think that is the most honest thing that has been said so far.