Chris Freind: Freindly Fire
McCanns, and British Media, Are 'Suspect'
By: Chris Freind, The Bulletin
09/07/2007
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According to CNN, the recent naming of Kate and Gerry McCann as suspects in their daughter's disappearance was a "surprising twist".


This should have been a surprise only to those whose heads were buried in the sand or who were blindly, and foolishly, loyal to the McCanns.

"Equally suspect" has been the performance of the media.

For the most part, the American media gets a pass. It wasn't on their turf, and they didn't grasp the significance of the story. Their sole focus was that the May disappearance of a four year old British girl was a kidnapping. Since she wasn't quickly found, the story faded into obscurity.

The behavior of the British media, however, is another matter. This was their story, their citizen who went "missing" in a foreign country (Portugal). It's one thing to give the parents the benefit of the doubt, at least with respect to criminal conduct. But where was the thirst for the facts, the investigative instinct that is the hallmark of any good reporter? To put it succinctly, besides all but canonizing the parents, the British media did nothing.

Here's an example. No effort was made by anyone to verify the true distance between the restaurant where the McCanns dined and the room where their three children were left alone---three children, by the way, with a combined age of seven. There have been wildly different claims of the distance, including contradictory statements by Gerry and Kate. And what about the claim that they could see the room from their table? Why didn't the BBC run video that clearly showed that a large hedge and wall actually blocked the McCann's line-of-sight?

The list goes on, but the overarching sin of the media is that it unequivocally shut down any talk of the McCanns as suspects, or, at the very least, incredibly negligent parents. As any detective will tell you, in the case of a missing child, everyone is a suspect. You begin with those closest to the child and work your way out. No one is left off the hook.

The vast majority of Brits were appalled at young children left alone while their parents---doctors mind you--- dined. But such criticism was consistently squashed by the biased UK media establishment: letters to the editor were filtered to only reflect "victim status" towards Gerry and Kate, blog posts and forums containing criticisms were shut down, and common sense questions went unasked. Why? As an August Freindly Fire column pointed out, both the mainstream media and the red top tabloids, which pride themselves on their "print and be damned" attitude, wore rose-colored glasses and disregarded the true victim---Madeleine--- by not doing their job.

Here's the $64,000 question: What will they do now? Will they blindly defend the McCanns as they've done for the last four months, or do a courageous about-face and diligently investigate the facts---all the facts--- in the case? Of course, there is another path they can take. Will the media, now that the forensic evidence appears damning and charges against Gerry and Kate are imminent, hang Team McCann from the yardarm to rot, jettisoning their cause without the slightest hesitation, oblivious of its hypocrisy?

We shall see, but don't hold your breath waiting for them to do the right thing.

In the meantime, since Freindly Fire has been on the case from Day One exposing the child-negligent, globe-trotting, celebrity-wannabes known as Kate and Gerry, perhaps it is time to take a trip across the pond to do what the British media has not---and will not--- do. Report the facts.

I might even visit with one of my admirers, who just last week threatened me with slander and libel:

"Chris Freind,

I have forwarded your slanderous dribble onto the McCanns and I hope they take you to court for every penny you have. You have a responsibility towards the public and should support your so-called facts with documentary evidence. All your reports are hearsay and extremely slanderous and your futile attempt at journalism beggars belief."

Colin, UK"

Thanks, Colin. But aside from that, how do you like me?

He then sends a message to the McCanns:

"McCanns,

I have forwarded this on to you as you seem to be taking some action now against these idiots' attempts at journalism, although I understand if you don't want anything to do with this idiot because you are compassionate people. It's good to know that these so-called journalists are only a minority...and to try to build a reputation with sensationalism with no documentary evidence on the back of someone else's misery is ing. You can do with this what you want."

Colin's right about one thing. While the journalists who have reported the truth and asked the tough questions are in the minority, they enjoy overwhelming support from the public at large. British responses agreeing with Freindly Fire's sentiments are running about 150-1.

Colin, I have only two questions for you:

1) Why don't you ask little Madeleine about her parent's "compassion"?

2) Since I relish a chance to talk with Kate and Gerry about my "slander", and since you seem so close to them, how about arranging a meeting? They may have a lot of time to kill.
Chris Freind can be reached at [email protected].