Yes - the "defending victims" line. Once they appeal to this kind of sympathy, they can get the most indefensible laws and policies, as no one wants to appear to be "soft on crime" and "against crimie victims." They also start with worst cases, like child molesters and work down to lessor offenses.

This spells also the rejection of criminal rehabilitation, as if one will be punished for crimes not yet committed, how can they be rehabilitated? Once the notion that criminals cannot be "rehabilitated," becomes acceptable by the public, then it becomes easier to undermine programs and policies, like job training and schooling. It them is palatable to discriminate against people with criminal records in employment, housing, schooling, and reject the offenders' efforts at rehabilitation.

The problem is that Sarkozy ran on the idea of doing something about immigration and the rioting young people. Presenting a "galvanizing issue" diverts attention from the ideology of the candidate and the real agenda once in office. This is the tactic that Republicans mainly use - and Bush used it in 2004 with "gay marriage" and "terrorism."