September 21, 2007
GamePolitics readers may recall the Mitt Romney campaign ad that lumped violent video games into a "cesspool of violence, sex, drugs, indolence and perversions."Apparently, candidate Romney is willing to dip his toe into that cesspool a bit in search of a few extra votes. As reported by Joystiq's Alexander Sliwinski, a Romney banner ad (left) has popped up on the GameTrailers site:
It is interesting that this ad pops up on a site that proudly displays clips of those violent video games and has a viewership that likes them too.
We have no idea how the advertising process works at GameTrailers, for all we know we could have that ad pop up soon on our own pages, but how times have changed to see political ads on video game sites.
GP: Romney's flip-flops on a variety of issues are pretty well documented as the former governor of a liberal state (Massachusetts) tries to re-invent himself to appeal to the Republican base.
Comments
Then I realized this is Romney we're talking about, so it's okay.
Regarding Mike Huckabee...
Mike gave a speech today to the NRA (National Rifle Association). I thought this was interesting:
It wasn't all jokes and one-liners, of course. He almost got the crowd misty-eyed when he talked about his late father's gun, and how fathers like to pass down memories to their children, and how he hopes to pass on his guns to his children. He concluded, "I can't imagine any father saying to his child, 'when I die, I'm going to leave you my PlayStation."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900273/posts (I can confirm this is accurate as I watched his speech on CSPAN...I know...I'm a dork)
Mike Huckabee.
This is probably due to the fact that several people, myself included, brought to his attention the fact that video games are not just for children, that adults play them, and that gamers gete upset when politicians ignore that. From what I've seen and heard from him since is that video games are not lumped together with the traditional "for the children" tirades which all politicians use.
Interesting that a politician has done exactly what everyone here wants, look at the problem and alter his position when the facts are made clear to him. Yet he is still called a flip-flopper and oportunist. Which way do you want it?
Oh yeah, I also think that it is very bad taste for Dennis to link to articles not having to do with video games and politics which do nothing but further a private political agenda outside the realm of videogame politics, I mean Richard Cohen? please
I hated him before this, but now I think he might second worst candidate running out of the lot (first being 9/11 man).
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
The ad server probably linked Romney to games through keywords, and had no method to determine he was actually *against* games. :)
Romney is the same jackass who claimed the VTech shooter was inspired by video games to commit the shooting, even though no one saw him play video games during his time at VTech. When the report came out a few weeks ago that also showed the shooter didn't play violent games, Romney didn't apologize or say that he was mistaken for falsely claiming video games were involved. Yet you seem rather sympathetic towards him. Romney is, and always will be, a heartless jackass for using a tragedy that caused more than 30 innocent people to lose their lives just for political gain, and anyone dumb enough to vote for him is a bigger jackass.
Romney blames games for VTech - source:
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/05/06/prez-candidate-romney-video-games-in-...
Just a quick correction to your point. Romney blamed all violence and pornography in media, not just video games. So in actuality, he is not pointing the finger directly at video games, but at media as a whole. So your statement is not 100% accurate.
Actual Quote:
Pornography and violence poison our music and movies and TV and video games. The Virginia Tech shooter, like the Columbine shooters before him, had drunk from this cesspool.
I never said he didn't blame other mediums previously. Besides, in that particular quote, he did include other mediums, but soon after that, he dumped that viewpoint and focused on video games, solely.
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/07/20/prez-hopeful-romney-continues-to-push...
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/07/23/romney-continues-video-game-theme-in-...
Vote based on video games? Are you kidding? It's worth paying attention to which politicians (from both parties) are doing this kind of pandering, but c'mon. You don't think the war, or the environment, or education, or the economy, or the war, or foreign relations, or disaster preparedness, or health care, or the war are bigger concerns?
None of us want the government mucking with our favorite artistic medium, but I think anyone for whom this is the sole factor (or even a major factor) in who they support politically needs a reality check.
Consider the position that someone takes regarding video games as a "tell".
This communicates how much intrusion they want the government to have into you and your private life, your health, your education, your kids' education, etc.
Take Ron Paul, the obscure Republican from Texas. He voted against the War in Iraq....a war that's not reduced the WMD count, and has increased the total number of terrorists. He's voted against more socialized medicine (what's wrong with our medical system is a combination of government intervention combined with the most powerful union in the country -- the AMA). Paul was given the best scorecard for "technology voter guide" in the house. Paul is one of the few candidates that would rather have you in control of your life, and not big government.
I don't know what his specific position on video games would be, but based upon his other concepts, I would guess that he would say that parents should be involved in what video games kids should play, not the government. I think that concept should resonate well with most people on this forum, eh? He has consistently opposed media censorship, i.e. government tinkering with free expression.
I am for Ron paul all the way but sadly he dosent have a chance in hell hes not reptile enough....and hitlery is a queen snake *shudders*
So, Romney would like to use the power of the government to limit the sale of a product to minors. Is that not the root issue here? Do we not do this all the time in every other industry?
"But we limit guns and alcohol to kids because that stuff is really dangerous!" "Video games aren't!"
Perhaps you're right. Perhaps your hobby has no influencial effect on children. Is that why Pokemon is a billion dollar franchise? Is that why kids and adults alike will be lined up outside retailers for Halo 3 tonight?
When it's positive, we accept it. When it's negative, we resist it. When music influences other artists, we champion the "respect" an artist has for another. When music influences Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, we turn away, and blame something else.
If we want to raise the intellectual bar, we have to be willing to avoid the "quick attacks" we are used to using. Yes, Mitt is wrong on his narrow minded view of video gaming. Yes, Resident Evil is for kids just like every stupid R rated movie is for kids. (Don't pretend you don't remember being in school drawing gross pictures thinking "Splatterhouse is the coolest game ever!")
In the end, kids are influenced by everything. Music, movies, church, friends, family...everything. Some things we legislate, others we don't. Should it be left to the states? Counties? Neither? You'll never convince anyone if you prattle on like an internet stereotype. Raise the bar.
PS: Don't really care for Mitt myself, but voting or not voting for someone based on one issue is as uninformed as condemming a hobby based on GTA.