Natalee Holloway And Cable News: A Season Of Fraud

Bumped: For all the talk of Rather-Gate and now the recent inaccurate reporting around Hurricane Katrina, the largest fraud ever perpetuated by the MSM is likely to go un-noticed and unchallenged. The cost may be millions of dollars and possibly even lives, but most elite media watchers and even bloggers won't care because of the topic involved - the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

For an entire summer all of the major cable news outlets passed off lies, unproven innuendo, false allegations, manufactured "evidence" and misrepresentations too numerous to even recall in the chase for ratings. I have researched the Natalee Holloway disappearance as much, if not more so than any other credible journalist and there is absolutely no excuse for what the Cable News outlets did.

It was unethical, misguided and flat out wrong. Had the subject matter been political or business-related, it is likely the result would have been Congressional hearings due to malfeasance through a betrayal of the public trust by the media. And it persists to this day, as a protege, Dr. Phil, of one of the largest talk shows in America, Oprah, recently called for a boycott of Aruba based upon a manufactured story during his show, Dr. Phil.

Now, A Current Affair and all the Cable Networks are trying to milk the beast right on into the ground regardless of the unethical nature of their reporting. Finally, it is time to clear the air.

There is no other way to write and unravel this complex tale other than to walk through it step by step. That is what I intend to do and it will take some number of entries. To date, I have written approximately 450 stories on the disappearance, as well as having hosted over 500 chat forums. Another half dozen posts to set the record straight while bringing the story up to date isn't too much to ask.

I'll begin with Joran's "Lies" as that has been the subject of recent news. The fact is for all the hyperbole there has never been more than one and possibly two minor contextual lies. It's alleged that Joran lied to Natalee and perhaps others from Mountain Brook as to his identity as a student from Holland. Big deal. The fact is, even I can remember evenings down the shore with male friends when I was from 17 to 18 when we thought it was cool to present some phony name or identity when hitting on young women down the shore.

It's a laughable practice likely engaged in by many teenage boys looking to pick up girls and rises to the significance of a version of some old beach movie like, Where The Boys Are with Connie Francis. It isn't even worth addressing because there is no other pattern of deceit or lying to suggest it was anything sinister. Like it or not, it's 2005, fully 30 years since my days as a teenager and the practice went on then, just as it does today. Young boys somehow think they are accomplishing something by dressing up their personae somehow to pick up a girl, most likely for a short term or one night fling.

Now, I'll explain the one significant lie of Joran Van der Sloot in context and then discuss the actual illegal and unethical behavior with which the MSM was fully complicit as they sought to prop that portion of the story up through actions which can only be termed fraud.

In all probability, Joran Van Der Sloot left Natalee Holloway alone on the beach that night just as he has insisted for the better part of four months. The original lie as regards having dropped her off at the hotel came to be in the following, mostly innocent manner - innocent as regards any serious crime, anyway.

By the way, contrary to what many have been led to believe through bad reporting, after leaving Natalee at the beach Joran managed to get home, get some sleep and catch his school bus the next morning at approximately 6 AM and arrive at school on time and perform reasonably well on his exams. A far cry from what one might expect of some would be murderer.

Having completed his exams he went to the casino that evening with Deepak Kalpoe as there was a poker tournament going on he had been playing in. Also of note, Paulus did not attend casinos with his son regularly, as has been alleged, but basically attended once or possibly twice only to observe his son playing in the tournament. It was a fairly new activity for the boy and Paulus is said to have wanted to see what precisely was going on.

While at the casino Joran received a cell phone call from his Father that the authorities and the Twitty family were at the Van der Sloot home looking for a missing girl, the girl he had left alone on the beach - Natalee. If you recall early on when Steve Croes became involved he, at one point, mentioned over hearing a phone call: that is the phone call which Steve Croes over heard and subsequently became party to a conversation between Joran and Deepak on the matter.

In essence, Joran had left Natalee on the beach and Steven Croes, DJ extraordinaire and likely not too bright from all observations sought to play the wise counselor to the two younger boys. His advice was that whenever you score with an American girl, which Joran had not claimed, by the way, you always walk them all the way back to the hotel and into the lobby to avoid any future hassles or complaints.

Now, whether or not Americans like to believe it, some number of usually college age young American women having been weened on too much MTV, Real Life. The OC and any other number of mostly decadent teenage TV fare, do regularly vacation in Aruba, get to partying too much with someone, local or otherwise, and miss the plane for their trip home. It simply is not an unheard of happening on the island. And the boys all had assumed that is precisely what happened to Natalee at that time.

The ride to Joran's house gave Joran and Deepak the time needed to decide to go with the "we dropped her at the Hotel" story as they foolishly thought it was the best thing to say. As Joran hadn't done what Croes had suggested as the best thing, they simply re-created it, assuming Natalee would turn up in a day or so and the entire incident would be forgotten. Obviously, and unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way at all.

That is also why Steve Croes, in all his abject stupidity, walked into the police station in support of the story, interjecting himself into a criminal investigation and perhaps the largest media circus the world has likely ever known.

Eventually, as that lie was torn down through investigation, Joran reverted to the truth, that he had left Natalee at the beach and so far as I can ascertain, he has not changed that story one time. Which leads me to the most egregious conduct of the media, including Greta Van Sustern of Fox, a trained lawyer - and the rest of the ratings chasing media who decided to sacrifice truth for ratings and perpetuate a fraud on America the scope of which we likely have never seen before.

I have personally interviewed credible individuals who have known Joran Van Der Sloot for any number of years, including a stand out American college student originally from Aruba with no bias or axe to grind either way. What you find is an average seventeen year old boy, perhaps with the ego and an eye for girls just like any young accomplished high school athlete in America. If anything, his previous girl friends tend to characterize him as sweet as well as sensitive without an overly-aggressive bone in his body towards women he dates.

Keep in mind it was Geraldo Rivera who broke news of alleged pornographic video tapes featuring young girls made and sold by the boy. That was an out and out falsehood which should have never been reported and began the theme of Joran as evil perpetrator the media required to perpetuate its tremendous fraud on America.

I myself was brought on to Fox News and asked to characterize an image of Joran involved in horseplay with another boy including a leather belt. They inquired as to whether or not it reminded my of Abu Ghraib. Can journalism be anymore ridiculous considering the image was likely taken by Joran's Mother and involved harmless in home horseplay with another boy?

Yet, on and on it went, the media characterizing a young man of seventeen still not proved to have ever committed any crime, as the sinister perp they needed for their ratings driving coverage through out the course of an entire summer. Were it an American boy that was done to I have no doubt there would be law suits flying everywhere - as there should be. The level of irresponsibility to which the media coverage sunk cannot be over stated. It was vile, cruel and destruction, whatever its target, let alone a minor from a small island which couldn't hope to counter the disinformation being gleefully conveyed to the public by the American media.

Enter Jossy Mansur in the next installment and we'll see that even the claims being made right this minute on Fox News with Geraldo have no basis in fact and are only a part of the on going media fraud.

There are no statements from Joran to support any of the allegations being hurled at him from ace reporters like Geraldo, O'Reiily and Van Sustern - and anyone who knows the inside story knows that is completely accurate from a journalist's point of view. Even this week O'Reilly was talking about the Father of the boy Paulus as a Judge, which has never been true and is only intended to foster the notion of some grand cover up which never existed as it has been alleged. Apparently no one in the Cable News business cares a bit for truth and accuracy, their being willing to say anything and perpetuate any falsehood for the sake of a ratings driving story. Frankly, it's pathetic.

And no one cares because it's just another missing pretty white girl story to media watchdogs. But the principles being violated daily by our media in the Natalee Holloway coverage are the same ones they violated when they put forth fraudulent documents to skew a Presidential election and exaggerated stories of looting, rape and murder in New Orleans to smear an administration. If we don't pay attention to every poor performance of the many we have seen lately from a media which is in essence willing to lie to perpetuate ratings, we will never again have a MSM in this country we can trust in the slightest regard.

Ultimately, it is only because more established news outlets like ABC, NBC and CBS would not play ball with what was a rigged story from the start and chose to ignore the story altogether, that the cable news outlets have been allowed to get away with the most unethical farce in journalism we've seen in our lifetimes.

In future installments over the next week or two I will address the so-called statements of Joran Van der Sloot which never were, the witholding of pertinent and telling information by the MSM media to ensure their ratings stayed and continue to stay up as long as possible - in short, the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so far as it can be ascertained by any one journalist.

Update: Edited Correction. Connie Francis was in Where The Boys Are, not Sandra Dee.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[Bigfish]

Way to go Dan! Big Hat Tip! :)
Good Job.
BF

[TexasGal]

Interesting read Dan. I have gone back and forth on my opinion of what happened to Natalie and after seeing the Current Affair interview I honestly feel that Joran is telling the truth.

[frank]

Dan,

Any chance you can get somone, one of the reporters from the cable channels to this site or in some debate type format?

Will Fox let you on the show to talk about this.

[Jan]

Bravo Bravo Bravo -- Dan you are most impressive - you said you were going to post the truth - I am so proud of you - way to go - I am so tired of our media - they have taken this story for ratings alone and made a mockery of journalism. And in the end tried to ruin the lives of 3 young men. And you are right if this had taken place in the states law suites would be flying. Thank you - I will continue to enjoy further installments!

[JW]

And you were there or are you just relating more lies from Joran?

[frank]

"In all probability, Joran Van Der Sloot left Natalee Holloway alone on the beach that night just as he has insisted for the better part of four months. The original lie as regards having dropped her off at the hotel came to be in the following, mostly innocent manner - innocent as regards any serious crime, anyway."

Talk about an opinion, Dan, while you may know about teenage boys wanting to lie for sex, you're credibility is how you were as a teenage boy. In all probabability? His story cannot be corroborated. Or can you corroborate it with some facts other than to use the word innocent in regards to the effect this lie had on this case?

Why no mention of the security guards? Have you interviewed them, asked about they're innocent experience?

[BMT]

Wow. thanks Dan for clearing the air.

[JW]

How are you going to post the truth, we don't know the truth, even JOran says someday he can tell the truth. What has he been telling up to now?

[JW]

If these boys had nothing to do with crimes against Natalee then Natalee would be in college today

[Dan]

Talk about an opinion, Dan

Yes, Frank, clearly that is an opinion, as stated. I am not allowe4d to have them after all of my research. That has nothing to do with the on going media fraud. If there were any evidence, which there is not, perhaps I would have another opinion. Are you prepared to defend some other basis besides factual evidence for convicting anyone of murder? Who should we simply start executing anyone we "think" did something wrong? Your arguments have absolutely no weight at all in the context of my post, which is directed at the news media.

[JW]

something bad happened.

Innocent!

[angela]

Thanks Dan!!! I cant wait to see the rest.

[chance]

I've been waiting for this for a long time. Thanks Dan.

[Bigfish]

Thank you again Dan. I never waivered in my faith in you in spite of the overwhelming odds that how could all these famous "journalists" be wrong and you be right? Shame on all of them.
Don't cut anyone any slack. Hang em all with the same rope like they wanted to the Kalpoe and Van der Sloot!

Bigfish

[td]

Great post Dan.

[mona]

Holy Cows Batman! Robin aint gonna retire after all...you know what Dan, I think your venture into journalism has gone to your head. I think Paulus Van der Sloot got to you pretty damn quickly to take down the above mentioned photo that his MAMA!!took!!! Whos's the spin miester now? You honestly think I'm going to choose you over MSM? LOL

[katy]

I don't know if Joran Vandersloot is telling the truth or not, but I have realized for quite some time that the media has been knowingly spreading rumor and lies in search of ratings. They have also egged Beth Twitty on, encouraging her to tilt at windmills, ie the coverup that never was. To exploit a grieving family in this way is truly unethical.

[k.jeanne]

Dan, in the last part of Joran's Current Affair interview he said "some day I will tell what really happened, but I am not ready to face it just now." Not a direct quote, but something approximate. So...If he will someday tell what really happened, how are we to believe what he is telling us now: That he left Natalee on the beach????

[frank]

Posted by: Dan | Oct 2, 2005 8:33:51 PM

Of course not. I agree with you regarding the media. I thought that was a given. What must be frustrating is that on this board there is absolutely no information that hasn't been gotten on this case other than from the media.

That's what I find weird about your post. It is a battle, but to me the media is everyone's tool (no pun intended) and even an interview where someone is speaking is questioned. I applaud you're wanting to take them on and hope you can but alot of us are used to getting information and have to try to sift through the BS. It's not easy I know.

What I don't understand is why the Aruban Government which uses the media has done such a horrible job of losing control of this story?

I just don't believe in blaming the media, without them we would be in the dark, we need more media not less.

I wish we could have more facts for every decision in life but it isn't that way, it's a combination of elements. You've staked a position, as Beth has and hopefully we'll see about these documents. But I guess we'll hear about it from the media.

[festicles]

Thanks Dan, for being committed to assessing this situation based on facts - not rumor, innuendo, and gut feel. I am so glad to see you post this information, and I look forward to your next installment.

[PerryPeabody]

It's nice when someone separates fact from fiction. Thank you.

[truthbetold]

thank goodness you have the sense to see the real truth here what a big bunch of garbage this has been and yet and still it more more more of beth twitty on tv...yawn

[frank]

Can anyone tell me what facts Dan has sited in his post other than the media are scum which may be the only thing we all agree on?

Any facts related to this case?

[gagal_05]

Dan,

Excellent post - can't wait to see the rest!!! I am so glad that you are finally pointing out that all the media care about is ratings, not the news, as has been brought to our attention especially with the Natalee Holloway fiasco, the Terri Schiavo media circus, Katrina, etc.

Keep up the great work. Thank you for allowing us to have a place to post.

[sensible]

Well done.

[Loesje]

To exploit a grieving family in this way is truly unethical.

Posted by: katy | Oct 2, 2005 8:42:05 PM

Exactly my thoughts. Thanks Dan.

[Gator]

Dan, I remember you posting headings such as "Deepak Kalpoe raped and murdered Natalee." You were reporting the same information as the MSM. It's October 2nd, way to wait forever and a day before "clearing the air." Why didn't post this a month or more ago?

[Alee]

I still have my opinions about what happened in Aruba. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. But I for one totally agree with Dan about the cable news shows. Being very close to the Katrina disaster I know for a FACT that many of the things they reported were simply false.

The story of Natalee's disappearance got me hooked on cable news. Their lies about Katrina cured me of my addicton.

[newswatcher]

Great job, Dan. It's time that somebody speaks out about this travesty.

What sickens me is that not one of the talking heads that have jumped on the "Joran and the Kalpoes are guilty" bandwagon have ever confronted Beth Twitty about the statements she has been citing over the last few weeks. We have to ask why. We also have to ask why Beth and company are so determined to end the case by convicting the three young men. Are they protecting someone in Mountain Brook?

[blink]

The next day at school when Joran was bragging about having sex with Natalee, I belive he lied about having sex with her to look good to his friends and to keep up his image as a playboy.

[katy]

We also have to ask why Beth and company are so determined to end the case by convicting the three young men. Are they protecting someone in Mountain Brook?

Posted by: newswatcher | Oct 2, 2005 9:00:25 PM

Beth, imo, beleives they are guilty and always has. She may be right, that is not the issue. The problem is that she has lived on this diet of MSM reporting. She has been encouraged to believe that unsigned "confessions" would convict someone in USA, that Jossy's witnesses proved something that the Aruban government is ignoring, that the FBI wants to help but is being thwarted, etc.

[iwabwu]

It all goes back to the first lie.

[gagal_05]

What sickens me is that not one of the talking heads that have jumped on the "Joran and the Kalpoes are guilty" bandwagon have ever confronted Beth Twitty about the statements she has been citing over the last few weeks. We have to ask why. We also have to ask why Beth and company are so determined to end the case by convicting the three young men. Are they protecting someone in Mountain Brook?

Posted by: newswatcher | Oct 2, 2005 9:00:25 PM

This is what gets me too is why no one in the media questions anything BHT says? I have noticed the parents of other missing kids and they seem to questions them but never one time do they push BHT when she is not forthcoming and with the obvious vendetta that she has had against Joran, it does make you wonder who is she protecting? Only details that BHT wants to get out are brought forward - just very strange to me and the more it goes on the more obvious it appears.

[Splat]

It all goes back to the first lie.

Posted by: iwabwu | Oct 2, 2005 9:10:01 PM

Yes it does. "My daugher has been kidnapped, give me a police escort and contact the FBI"

Set the whole chain of events into motion.

[imnottellingyou]

Right on Dan! I have always had my doubts as to his involvement in this, although at times it seems as if no one agrees with me.

[gagal_05]

It all goes back to the first lie.

Posted by: iwabwu | Oct 2, 2005 9:10:01 PM

This is what Joran said from the very beginning

Anita van der Sloot, however, did speak, saying at that time that she believed her son was innocent and that he was receiving unfavorable treatment in jail.

"My son didn't do anything," she said. "I don't understand what is happening" with the case.

"He says, 'Mom, I dropped the girl at the beach. I walked with her. I left her there because she wanted to stay there. I left and I don't know what happened,"' she related, without specifying which beach.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/23/world/main703632_page2.shtml

[a..incanada]

Bravo Dan, for bringing all this forth. It is a victory for those of us who support the innocent, and regard the circus with disdain.
I was a regular poster on another site, but it has become ugly there due to the people who left from here; some being quite venomous.
Looking forward to more truths.

[frank]

The first lie was not innocent. We can all agree that if he told his second story first the police would have gone to the exact spot where natalee was last seen. Isn't that reasonable.

Why didn't they? Wouldn't they have had a better chance of finding evidence then?

To call Joran's lie innocent is wrong. This is not the fault of the media.

[frank]

Posted by: gagal_05 | Oct 2, 2005 9:12:54 PM

Your source is what?

[snoopdog]

I find your versions to be plausible and more likely than the hysterical BHT snipets. Some people just should not be given a microphone.
In fact, given the dysfunctionality of her god-fearing household, one has to wonder just how anxious she was to return home.
The cable media, you are right, are ratings whores. It took a Category 5 hurricane to blow some sense into this lemming like collective group think.

[gagal_05]

Posted by: gagal_05 | Oct 2, 2005 9:12:54 PM

Your source is what?

Posted by: frank | Oct 2, 2005 9:16:55 PM

What is your source for calling them rapists and murderers???

[frank]

gagal,

You posted something you want to stand behind, it came from CBS news right?

[frank]

Posted by: gagal_05 | Oct 2, 2005 9:21:15 PM

I didn't source it, it's my opinion.

[Captain Joe]

I guess when he finally comes around to telling what "something bad" happened to Natalee that he will tell us that space aliens abducted her.

[mona]

Dan you booking your trip for the "free" scuba lessons?

[Jennifer Cannon]

This post is a masterpiece, Dan. Very well said and I hope everyone reads this.

[George]

Dan,

I admire that you have finally come to very those terms (large-scale fraud on America) for which I was three months outcast at every popular Internet site including yours and http://www.rjames.com/forums/member.php?u=42.

Good luck in your endeavor!

P.S. I too have followed this case very much and collected wealth of information. Feel free to e-mail if you like to exchange some, Dan.

[Markd]

Dan,

Wait a minute!
Aren't you the one who posted that Natalee Holloway was dead in the early part of June...and now you are attacking the MSM for the same thing you did back then? Also, what are your sources as to the number of lies Joran Told? He even said on the current affair that someday he would tell his story..after already telling his story as to what happened. How you can actually buy into what this kid is selling is beyond me

[soupysales]

Posted by: gagal_05 | Oct 2, 2005 9:12:54 PM

Your source is what?

Posted by: frank | Oct 2, 2005 9:16:55 PM

lolololol frink...The Mother's mouth in an interview videotaped...difficult to comprehend is it now...I thought you frunked off the other day or were you lying....howabout our trip to aruba fink. Same videotaped interviews we have of Betty flink, the ones with all the lies we laff about flonk.

[NW]

Dan, I've thought what you've been brave enough to publicly state. On some forums it's been nearly impossible to entertain the thought that BHT is off-base in her accusations. Just a few words against her is interpreted as a smear campaign, yet it's fair game to say anything against the young men. It's been an amazing ride for those of us who have thought as you are now stating. Thank you.