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Deconstructing the Patriot Act PR Campaign

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the hard-looks dept.

Aaron writes "The Center for Democracy and Technology offers up an interesting point for point rebuttal to the the claims made via the 'rah-rah-esque' DOJ's website, part of the PR campaign (including Ashcroft speaking tours) to convince the public the Act is good for them. I think this Broadband Reports article also brings up a good point: among the groups attacking the Act, why do so few of them bring up Echelon? It already gives the government much of the surveillance ability they claim they're lacking, and without congressional oversight. The UN this year even launched an investigation into the use of the system to spy on UN diplomats without much fanfare."

3 of 533 comments (clear)

  1. Ben Franklin quote by batura · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Last night on the West Wing, there was an inspiring quote from Benjamin Franklin:

    "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. "

    This came to mind earlier today when I walked past an ACLU table on campus. They were gathering signatures for a petition against the "Patriot" Act. I'm glad someone is fighting for my freedom.

  2. for all those in support of the unPatriot Act by d0ggi3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Constitutionally Institutionalized

    I am the unpatriot,
    for not standing behind
    the man blind.
    You are the patriot,
    for standing in line
    no questions in mind.

  3. Public Image And The Government by Valen0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Bush Administration seems to be having public relations trouble. Besides the creation of LifeAndLiberty.Gov, the administration has also created Freedom.Gov, a site dedicated to glorifying Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    I believe that the creation of these sites indicates that the Bush Administration is taking a new approach to their critics. Instead of answering their critics directly, the administration is using websites to bypass them and sell their propaganda to the American Public. By wrapping their issues in pseudo patriotism, they believe that the average American will overlook the opposition and support the administration because it is the "American thing to do".

    I also believe that the administration is starting to see opposition in Congress. On the LifeAndLiberty.Gov site, there are two sections dedicated to Congressional Opposition. I believe this indicates that the PATRIOT Act is starting to see more criticism from Congress.

    --
    -Valen