Which is a very interesting asymmetry, if we're stipulating that these are merely excuses. It implies that "think of the gays" will lose you more votes than it gains, compared to "think of the children". Terrorists and children are apparently the optimally intersectional bogeymen and helpless wards respectively.
But it won't benefit if they say it's to fight the terror or protect the children?
If you really think that spying is OK, if they have "good enough" excuse, no wonder we get all this shit enacted.