Film lets N.Y.ers drop a dollar on President
by Tamer El-Ghobashy

A dollar for your thoughts?

That was the offer a documentary film crew made New Yorkers yesterday as they filmed passersby leaving phone messages for President Bush from a Washington Square Park pay phone.

"Do you have something to say to the President?" producer Haskell King asked strollers in the Greenwich Village park.

Those who did were given the number for the White House's comment line and four quarters, then directed to a bank of phones at LaGuardia Place and Washington Square Park South.

Nicolas Michael, 41, was on hold for about 10 minutes before he left Bush a message.

"This is the worst administration I've ever known," said Michael, a software developer who lives in the Village. "You're leading the country in the wrong direction."

The idea for the documentary was conceived by sisters Emily and Sarah Kunstler, daughters of the late civil rights lawyer William Kunstler. It is sponsored by the Documentary Campaign - a nonprofit group that distributes films promoting social causes and human rights.

Emily Kunstler, 25, said the 15-minute film will premiere on the group's Web site during the Republican National Convention.

Though most of the comments were critical of the Bush administration, some people stopped to congratulate the President.

"He's doing a great job," said Tim, who would give only his first name.

The thrust of the short film will be to highlight critics' frustrations with Bush, but every phone call will be taped for the next two days, Kunstler said.

"We're hoping it continues to influence people to ask questions," she said. "We want people to see the difference between the two parties and get out and vote."