How can liberal groups frame the issue of domestic wiretapping in a way that most Americans can appreciate? I propose that liberal groups fund the production of a 30-second ad along these lines:
Black Screen
Ringing Phone
Voice One (older female): "Hello?"
As words are said they are simultaneously run at the bottom of the screen.
Voice One: "Hello?"
In the top left-hand corner of the screen the words 'Begin Keyword Search' flash in red.
Voice Two (younger female): "Hi mom, how are you doing?"
Voice One: "Oh, hi dear, I'm ok. You're father is having fits though."
Voice Two: "I heard, what's wrong?"
Voice One: "Well, you know how he gets when he talks about the President, he gets so upset when people attack him."
When the mother character says the words 'President' and 'attack' they flash red and are listed under 'keyword search' in upper-left-hand corner of the screen.
Voice Two (laughter): "Did Dad explode at one of your dinner parties again?"
'Explode' is highlighted in red and added to the keyword search list.
Voice One: "Of course, I swear to God that he just goes nuts over people he thinks are protecting these Al-Qaeda people."
The phrase 'swear to God' and 'Al-Qaeda' are highlighted in red and added to the keyword search list.
Voice Two: "You guys should just stop talking about politics at these parties. You know how he gets. Whenever John and I talk to him he's going on about 9/11 and how there going to be another 9/11."
'9/11' and 'another 9/11' are highlighted in red and added to the list in the upper-left-hand corner.
Voice One: "I know dear, but what can you do? So when are you two flying home to Washington? It's been such a long time since we've seen you two and the children."
'Flying' and 'Washington' are highlighted in red and added to the screen.
Voice Two: "We'll be flying in on Friday. We're going to have to leave here real early to beat the lines at security. It's crazy, I've seen them search babies for knives. Like, where is a baby going to keep a knife?"
'Beat', 'Security', and 'knives' are highlighted in red and added to the list.
Voice One: "Well, you be sure to get there on time. (laughter) Just be sure not to tell them you have a bomb in your luggage."
'Bomb' is added to the list.
Voice Two: (Laughter) "Oh dear, that would be terrible! Well, I've got to go. Tell dad we love him."
Voice One: "I will dear. Take care."
Silence except for sound of phones being hung up. Keyword seach list expands to fill the screen. In red, we see the words:
President
Attack
Explode
Swear to God
Al-Qaeda
9/11
Another 9/11
Flying
Washington
Beat
Security
Knives
Bomb
Words shift from center screen to the left-hand side of the screen. In green we see the typed letters:
'Threat Code:
Yellow'
Suggested Course of Action:
Further Surveilence and Personal Record Investigation. Possible placement on No-Fly list.
Words Fade. Black screen.
Narrator: "A people who would give up a little liberty for a little security, deserve neither. Benjamin Franklin."