24 & the Patriot Act Debate
The Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law has put together an advertisement that advocates passage of the Patriot Act but now liberals are attacking it for blurring the line between reality and entertainment. (Like Commander-in-Chief wasn’t an hourlong primetime Hillary infomercial. Right.)
Jack Bauer, the fictional counterterrorism agent on the Fox Network’s popular “24” show, hasn’t actually waded into the debate on civil liberties versus terrorism surveillance as Congress considers making changes in the USA Patriot Act. But during the most recent episode of the white-knuckle TV drama, viewers in the nation’s capital saw a message drawing on the show’s themes that was intended to influence real-life political debate in a highly unusual way. During a commercial break while the fictional Bauer was desperately searching for canisters of deadly nerve gas that had fallen into the hands of terrorists, viewers saw an advertisement questioning the wisdom of senators who would “weaken” the Patriot Act. “What if they are wrong?” the commercial asked.
What’s the big deal? If you’re buying ad time, don’t you want it on the show that talks to your subject? It isn’t like advertisers don’t do this all the time. How many decades ago did manufacturers of feminine products start placing ads on the soaps? Or how many car manufacturers start putting their ads on crime dramas and ‘guy shows’?
Frankly, I hope this advertisement gets politicians’ attentions and that it influences their votes on the Patriot Act. Congress, especially liberals, have fiddled with this issue too long, with Harry Reid creating an RNC commercial when he blurted out “Think of what just happened 20 minutes ago. We killed the Patriot Act.”
The group includes among its public supporters former Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft; former Solicitor General Ted Olson, whose wife died in the Sept. 11 attacks; and former Deputy Assistant Atty. Gen. John Yoo.
It sounds to me like these men are heavily invested in protecting the country and they’re certain that the Patriot Act is an integral part of that protection. I couldn’t agree more. It’s time to get it passed. In fact, it’s long past time.
Publisher’s Note: See Rick Moran’s excellent essay, “Jack Bauer: A Perfect Post 9/11 Hero”
Cross-post at LetFreedomRing
February 2nd, 2006 at 10:03 pm
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[...] And feel free to let him know when Commander goes back on the air. In the meantime, maybe he’s watching 24. [...]