thedrifter
02-02-06, 12:07 PM
A `truthy' time to debate the Patriot Act?
By Mike Dorning
Washington Bureau
Published February 2, 2006
WASHINGTON -- 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.
It marked a blurring of Hollywood fantasy with political reality that represented a sharp departure even in the no-holds-barred world of political campaign advertising.
Moments before on the TV show, Bauer had just gained a crucial lead about the nerve gas after threatening to cut out the eyes of a turncoat White House aide who was in league with the terrorists.
The ad, which may air again during future "24" episodes, is an unusual example of an interest group so closely meshing political persuasion and fictional entertainment.
"The producers of this ad are playing off fictional fears to create pressure for their point of view on legislative reality," said Peter Hart, a Democratic-leaning pollster. "I think it's unique."
Blurring fact, fiction
The maneuver comes at a time when American culture increasingly confuses the boundaries between fact and fiction and between politics and entertainment. Author James Frey made up significant parts of his popular drug-addiction memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," and Oprah Winfrey, the nation's most popular talk show host, initially defended him for it. Comedy shows masquerade as newscasts. And comedian Stephen Colbert has popularized the word "truthiness," concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than actual facts.
Political consultants and campaign analysts contacted on Wednesday said the placement of the Patriot Act commercial on "24" could well be a sign of things to come.
Some political consultants see the thematic tie-in of the ad as a logical extension of the concept of product placement, an increasingly common practice in which manufacturers pay to insert their products into movies or television shows.
"What you're seeing is a bit of the future. I think you'll see more blending of messages," said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG, a media research firm specializing in politics.
The Patriot Act commercial was paid for by an ad hoc conservative group whose public supporters include many prominent former Bush administration officials. It is housed at a hawkish Washington think tank, the Center for Security Policy.
The group, the Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law, 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, who wrote a since-repudiated legal memo arguing that President Bush was not obliged to follow international conventions against torture.
Just last week, Bush met at the White House with a 17-member group sponsored by the coalition to discuss efforts to extend the Patriot Act. On Wednesday, the House agreed to extend the law until March 10 so negotiators have more time to come up with a deal on civil rights protections.
Frank Gaffney, a former Reagan administration official who helped organize the coalition, said it hopes to raise $100,000 to air more commercials.
Gaffney, a former deputy to prominent neoconservative Richard Perle, plans to target the home states of Republican senators who are pressing for more civil liberties protections in the Patriot Act and who represent sparsely populated areas where television ad rates are less expensive. Alaska, Nebraska and New Hampshire are likely targets, he said.
May air with other shows
He said the coalition would like to air the commercials during episodes of "24" or other shows that touch on terrorist themes, such as "E-Ring" or "Commander In Chief." But he said the coalition also would consider local news and Sunday talk shows that advocacy groups have traditionally targeted for political advertising.
"`24' is the best and most obvious place to put this. My hope is that we'll be able to put it there in other markets," Gaffney said. "We thought you could hardly find an audience that was more appreciative of the threat posed by people who are trying to kill us than the devotees of `24.'"
The ads feature Debra Burlingame, sister of one of the pilots of American Airlines Flight 77, which was flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the commercial, Burlingame says that the Patriot Act "gives our government the tools" to stop terrorists, but some senators believe they can "safely weaken" the law. She urges viewers to press for extension of the law as the words "What if they're wrong?" and "Our lives depend on it" flash on the screen.
mdorning@tribune.com
Ellie
By Mike Dorning
Washington Bureau
Published February 2, 2006
WASHINGTON -- 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.
It marked a blurring of Hollywood fantasy with political reality that represented a sharp departure even in the no-holds-barred world of political campaign advertising.
Moments before on the TV show, Bauer had just gained a crucial lead about the nerve gas after threatening to cut out the eyes of a turncoat White House aide who was in league with the terrorists.
The ad, which may air again during future "24" episodes, is an unusual example of an interest group so closely meshing political persuasion and fictional entertainment.
"The producers of this ad are playing off fictional fears to create pressure for their point of view on legislative reality," said Peter Hart, a Democratic-leaning pollster. "I think it's unique."
Blurring fact, fiction
The maneuver comes at a time when American culture increasingly confuses the boundaries between fact and fiction and between politics and entertainment. Author James Frey made up significant parts of his popular drug-addiction memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," and Oprah Winfrey, the nation's most popular talk show host, initially defended him for it. Comedy shows masquerade as newscasts. And comedian Stephen Colbert has popularized the word "truthiness," concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than actual facts.
Political consultants and campaign analysts contacted on Wednesday said the placement of the Patriot Act commercial on "24" could well be a sign of things to come.
Some political consultants see the thematic tie-in of the ad as a logical extension of the concept of product placement, an increasingly common practice in which manufacturers pay to insert their products into movies or television shows.
"What you're seeing is a bit of the future. I think you'll see more blending of messages," said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG, a media research firm specializing in politics.
The Patriot Act commercial was paid for by an ad hoc conservative group whose public supporters include many prominent former Bush administration officials. It is housed at a hawkish Washington think tank, the Center for Security Policy.
The group, the Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law, 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, who wrote a since-repudiated legal memo arguing that President Bush was not obliged to follow international conventions against torture.
Just last week, Bush met at the White House with a 17-member group sponsored by the coalition to discuss efforts to extend the Patriot Act. On Wednesday, the House agreed to extend the law until March 10 so negotiators have more time to come up with a deal on civil rights protections.
Frank Gaffney, a former Reagan administration official who helped organize the coalition, said it hopes to raise $100,000 to air more commercials.
Gaffney, a former deputy to prominent neoconservative Richard Perle, plans to target the home states of Republican senators who are pressing for more civil liberties protections in the Patriot Act and who represent sparsely populated areas where television ad rates are less expensive. Alaska, Nebraska and New Hampshire are likely targets, he said.
May air with other shows
He said the coalition would like to air the commercials during episodes of "24" or other shows that touch on terrorist themes, such as "E-Ring" or "Commander In Chief." But he said the coalition also would consider local news and Sunday talk shows that advocacy groups have traditionally targeted for political advertising.
"`24' is the best and most obvious place to put this. My hope is that we'll be able to put it there in other markets," Gaffney said. "We thought you could hardly find an audience that was more appreciative of the threat posed by people who are trying to kill us than the devotees of `24.'"
The ads feature Debra Burlingame, sister of one of the pilots of American Airlines Flight 77, which was flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the commercial, Burlingame says that the Patriot Act "gives our government the tools" to stop terrorists, but some senators believe they can "safely weaken" the law. She urges viewers to press for extension of the law as the words "What if they're wrong?" and "Our lives depend on it" flash on the screen.
mdorning@tribune.com
Ellie