Hillary Clinton Tells Common Sense Media She Would Support Video Game Legislation

Hillary Clinton Tells Common Sense Media She Would Support Video Game Legislation

December 21, 2007
Last week, GamePolitics reported on Common Sense Media's survey of the 2008 presidential candidates and where they stand on media issues, including those related to video games.

While the initial response from candidates was somewhat sparse (only John Edwards, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and Bill Richardson replied in time for CSM's release deadline), Sen. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has now weighed in.

Here is CSM's question on the topic of video game legislation, posed to Clinton and other responding candidates:
To date, nearly 10 states have considered legislation to keep violent video games out of kids' hands. Would you support this type of legislation at the federal level? What other strategies would you support to keep the video game industry and other media companies from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?

Here is Sen. Clinton's response:
When I introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act [FEPA] two years ago, I did so because I felt that video game content was getting increasingly violent and sexually explicit, yet young people were able to purchase these games with relative ease while their parents were struggling to keep up with being informed about the content.

Sen. Clinton describes what FEPA would have mandated, had it passed: 
On-site store managers would be subject to a fine of $1,000 or 100 hours of community service for the first offense and $5,000 or 500 hours of community service for each subsequent offense.

The bill would also require an annual, independent analysis of game ratings and require the FTC to conduct an investigation to determine whether hidden sexual content like what was in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a pervasive problem and to take appropriate action...

Finally, the bill would authorize the FTC to conduct an annual, random audit of retailers to monitor enforcement and report the findings to Congress.

FEPA was prompted by the Hot Coffee scandal, said Clinton:
I was motivated to take action when I found out that there was embedded illicit sexual content in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The [ESRB] was unaware of the embedded content. I called on the FTC to investigate the source of the content and, as a result, the company issued a recall of the game.

When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content.

Sen. Clinton described for CSM her biggest concern about media as a parent:
Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression.

Whenever I meet young parents... they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control...

Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life. And some experts say that time spent watching too much TV or surfing the Internet or playing video games may detract from the time children spend interacting with their parents, participating in physical activity, or using their imaginations. 

Comments

Not me right? Not me..
Wow, I wonder who these mysterious studies were done by? I bet by no one. Now I know why I do not want her to be president.
not surprising since Hillary is a close friend of Tipper Gore, who went on her own censorship crusade just a few decades ago.
Hillary and "Common Sense" Media can both go to hell.

Hillary has just guaranteed her defeat in '08.
This interview does not change my opinion. While my vote is always symbolic (thanks to the electoral college), I do plan on voting for president this November.
As a young parent myself I find it amusing that they blame TV, the internet, and video games for the problems of a child; Last time I checked it was the parents responsibility to raise their kids, its not that hard to turn off the t.v. and go outside and play with your kids, but in this day and age people don't have the "time" to spend with their kids, or in other words are too lazy to raise them.

The government needs to back off trying to regulate things that Parents are more than capable of doing, it is not any industries fault that a parent remains to be ignorant of the world around them, and chooses not to do research on what they should let their children consume.

Thats my rant :P.
@BlackIce: You DO realize that threatening a presidential candidate is almost as severe an offense as threatening the President, right?

As for Hillary's comments:
"Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression."

It has? Aggressive behavior's been hinted at, but early sexual experimentation? Depression? And, well, anything that isn't exercise or eating right can lead to obesity.

"When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content."

Remind me, how many children were injured and in need of protection from the Hot Coffee mod? It wasn't exactly child's play to figure out, so I doubt there's a large number of people who bought the game, were under 18, and who set the mod up.

"Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life."

Then it's a good thing your bill takes efforts to protect the children from the harmful effects of violent TV. OH, WAIT, IT DOESN'T.
The sad thing is that when asked about junk food advertising this is what she said (emphasis added):

In the United States, we are going in the right direction: In December 2006, 10 of the top food companies in the country announced a new Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative that includes a commitment to devote at least 50 percent of all advertising to healthier foods or to messages that encourage fitness or nutrition. I believe there is more work to be done. I would like to see the entire food industry come together to develop voluntary guidelines that take their responsibility to children seriously. I think that there are a lot of steps that the private sector and the public sector, working together, can take to curb marketing and availability of unhealthy products to our children.


She will elt the junk food industry regulate itself, yet force government regulation on the video game industry. Can you say Hypocrite?
you also need to keep in mind that she's FOR the All Children Left Behind policy, which has been one of the WORST things to happen to public education since allowing public funds pay for private/charter schools.
I love the idea that young parents are worried about losing control or raising their children to the media and marketplace, but they are totally fine with losing control to the federal government.
Hitlery has regained a bit of my respect, and before everyine gets all ho headed, i will explain why:

1) Unlike a certain attourney and senator we have all come to know and love/hate-with-an-undying-passion, she is actually taking an intelligent approach to this rather than suing everyone related to the issue.

2) She is not bragging about T.V. apperances, and is actually supporting her claims rather than saying "This is how it is, and will be, because i said so *sticks tongue out*"

3) She is INVESTIGATING rather than making broad, generalized statements like all the others.

As a POLITICIAN, i can find a little respect for her. Her policies though am VERY against. She is leaving many gaps with her FEPA Act (i can see a few jokes those in the younger crowd will be making) by leaving out T.V. and other forms of violent/explicit media. However, since she is not making a total ass out of herself, i can find a slight bit of respect for her.
Im sorry about that, me am goood speeler! I meant "everyone" and "hot headed".
"What other strategies would you support to keep the video game industry and other media companies from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?"

Even the question is stupid, let alone the answers...
Games companies DO NOT MARKET ADULT GAMES TO CHILDREN
The videogame industry IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETAILERS
It really cannot be said enough times.

"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…"

Well perhaps they should try actually acting like parents instead of buying their children inappropriate media instead? nah, sounds like too much hard work...
Because she's a brain dead bitch.

Hitlery Clinton; worst candidate ever.
Not that I was going to vote for her anyway...but I may end up voting Republican on this one. Ugh.

-P
Of course, her problem with games would vaporize overnight if the game industry and high profile game developers threw themselves (and lots and lots of their money) wholeheartedly in support of her her campaign.

Hey, it worked for Hollywood.
@ Vaminion

The Republicans are worse. Vote Obama.
Every single American gamer of voting age, should not only vote against Mrs. Clinton (hey, whoever you want to pick is fine on any side, as long as it's not her), but should also write the Senator to let her know exactly why she lost your vote - even if she didn't have it in the first place.

Let her know you cannot vote for someone who does not support the first ammendment, and that anyone who lies, creates statistics and uses the fear du jour to get votes doesn't deserve a place in the countries political system. Enough of those letters, and, who knows? Maybe she'll realise games and gamers aren't the easy target she thinks they are.

I'd do it myself but, even though I live in the US, I'm not a citizen, so my voice doesn't really, well, count in politics.
HELL NO! That guy is liberal to the extreme! He will end up taxing us dry and pulling the troops so fast that it will be Vietnam all over again. Im going to vote for whoever is not a complete douche bag.
Well, she has never had my support, and if she's elected, I will probably move out of the country. At least she didn't call the research of video violence fact. I am voting Edwards, if he doesn't make it to the primaries, then I'm not voting. I would agree with Zachary Knight though, republicans are worse, but it looks like all the (R) candidates are just screwing up at every turn, ruining their chance to take the office.
And by that i mean its not going to be Obama or Clinton. Im indipendant. Extremism is going to lead us to WWIII, IHMO
its time . . .

aflred e neuman for president!!!
As a none-American, I obviously don't get a say in 2008, but as you're the world super power, every other person in the world really does have a view point on this... so...

Please not Clinton. Do you realise how terrible it looks on the US if your presidential roll call for 20 whole years is

Bush Clinton Clinton Bush Bush Clinton

I personally would like to see Barak Obama get the ticket, but unfortunately being black and having the middle name Hussein will not help him in any way.
@EZK

What if we never get the chance to vote for Obama?
Translator mode:

"When I am Head Dictator... er... president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content by dictating what is and what is not appropriate for other people's children because, after all, MY family is morally superior to all of you and if you don't live your life MY way, then you need me to do it for you."

"Improperly performed Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression, but don't worry, we didn't bother to compare or contrast it to other things that might affect your children because to do so would show that no one factor is to blame for anything any individual does. In fact, we take out the recognition of the complexity of the individual and merely create misinformation and stereotypes so that we have something to blame when something bad happens. After all, no one is responsible for our... er... their actions."

"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control… But don't worry, my morals and those of my family are superior to yours so I'll just take over raising yours kids how -I- think they should be raised instead of giving you an education in the resources availalbe to you so that you can make YOUR OWN decisions, even if they don't jibe with mine, for YOUR OWN children."

"Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life. And some experts say that time spent watching too much TV or surfing the Internet or playing video games may detract from the time children spend interacting with their parents, participating in physical activity, or using their imaginations. And don't worry, I'll keep pointing out the negatives and not telling you about ANY of the positives (such as the social benefits of communicating with others online in a variety of situations, the health benefits of the physical games such as DDR, the various Wii sports games, and other potential physical video games available, or the benefits of opening children's minds to the various fictional settings available in many games, the world building potential of games that allow one to create their own stories, games which challenge the mind, etc which all builds on the imagination process. Remember, everything I don't approve of is bad. And if you disagree, then you are a bad Parent."

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
@Glen Essex

Edwards won't even get the nomination, and he shouldn't, because he, like hitlery, is an idiot.
The concept of autonomy is dieing in this nation because the citizens are content to deliver their decision making rights to what they believe to be authoritative figures. At what point did people forget that we place officials in governmental positions, thus we are the true authority. If true, the young parents Clinton spoke to have forgotten the foundation of our nation.

". . .the supreme authority of the just state extends only to those matters which it is proper for a state to control."

What may be proper for a small group of inexperienced, confused people does not extend to those of us who would rather make the mistakes, so long as they are our mistakes to be made.
instend of keeping kids safe from tv,and vg.
keep the others safe from war,drugs, and guns.
As I said,the first female president won't be alone if it's HER in the seat, however she will likely win it on that alone
I'd like to once again remind everyone that the forums are Open and taking new members. I'd also like to point out that it IS a JT free area.
Hitlery won't be our first female president. She has a penis.

Also, she won't win, God willing.
Wow. This next presidential election is really turning into a 'no good options' race.
Just vote for Obama.
@BlackIce
Obama won't win the primary because he's too green. He has no experience and has done essentially nothing with his career so far.
Folks, I just IP-banned a longtime user.

Please keep your comments within GP's comments policy.
@Austin Lewis

That doesn't usually stop people.

And he is closing the gap on Hitlery.
it wasn't me was it?
Just to check he didn't ban this IP..
I think it was Pandralisk..
@BlackIce
Well, here's the thing.

The one thing that the populace, for the most part, knows about Obama is that he went to a maddrassa, where many Islamic ZEALOTS go too.

Now, with the wealth of information that the internet places at our fingertips, you would think that the people would look into him more.

But they won't.

Besides, the young crowd that would vote for Obama doesn't actually turn out to vote ever anyway.
@BlackIce
I concur my good man.
Some people have theorized - and I really hope that this is true - that because the 2008 campaign has been raging for so long, people will start to get weary of campaign news by the time the election rolls around. Hillary may be the frontrunner now in some polls, but she may have trouble maintaining that much momentum for long, especially when people start getting tired of hearing her.
I'm also willing to wager that if the Dems nominate Hillary (who a lot of people despise) and the Republicans nominate someone equally unlikeable (Romney's pissed a lot of people off) then we'll see a very strong showing from a third party candidate. Even if it's not a strong enough showing to win, it might shatter the myth that a third party candidate can't be a serious contender.
@Austin Lewis

I'd be suprised if anyone under the age of 50 votes. They all hate the Republicans, and the Democrats don't have anyone apart from Obama who, as you said, won't actually have anyone turn out to vote for him.
@BlackIce
A lot of people don't. Less than 1/6th of the country voted in the last election, and less than 1/4th of the registered voters actually showed up to vote.
i like a lot of the positions that ron paul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_paul#Political_positions) takes. i think he'll have my vote unless someone can find a better candidate.
@Austin Lewis

Which then leaves you with the problem of a President elected by a minority. Worst case scenario would have Romney elected.
Nah, Blackice, looks like you are safe.

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Oh, pandering bells, pandering bells,
Pandering all the way
Oh, what fun it is to pander
In a one horse open race
Pandering bells, pandering bells,
Pandering all the way
Oh, what fun it is to pander
In a one horse open race

I get inspired this time of the year.
If Clinton gets the Democratic nomination and someone horrible like Romney gets the Republicans nomination, then vote Libertarian, or Green or Independent. Anyone but the douche or turd running for president.
The best way to handle this problem a couple of weeks before the primaries is full-blast protesting. Let the politicans know that these idea's are seriously messed up. The gaming public HAS to raise a big stink about this.
@BlackIce

Not true. A ton of people my age are waiting to vote. We're tired of the war, crappy health care, and diminishing social liberities. I'm 23. I'll probably be one of the first people voting in my state's democratic primary (undecided at the moment, waiting on further results to decide. Will vote for Biden, Kucinich, Edwards. Refuse to vote for Clinton or Obama). So there's one person, =P. Surprised yet?

@GP

I hope I was not IP banned for posting on this thread... especially since I have net yet posted on it, =P.


@OP

Video Games: The Sacrifical Lamb for 2008.

Gamers refuse to stand up and mobolize for gaming rights, and statements like these represent the consequences we face. It doesn't matter which party you support. The party of Corporatized Christian Facism, the GOP [this term may sound strong, but please study GOP stances of the issues], will strike down gaming laws for the sheer moral delight. Democrats see game legislation as an acceptable means of reaching out to socially conservative democratic voters and independents.

Republicans despise them on a religiously biggoted fundamental level [Romney's/Huckabee's "culture of filth, enforce obsenity laws"]. Democrats exploit them to reach out to the baby booming moralistic crowd [Clinton's absurd national protectionist laws].

A parent should probably not have had a child if they are so ignorant and unskilled at childrearing that they no longer can help their child develop positive values.

@Austin

I wouldn't call her the worst canidate in the field. She is most definately the worst Democratic canidate, but at least she stands behind socially liberal values and mildly progressive foriegn and domestic policies [to SOME extent, but most wise people do not trust her -- she is THE establishment canidate]. I think Huckabee and Romney represent a FAR graver threat for the following reasons: anti-enviroment, anti-peace, anti-diplomacy, anti-health care, anti-education, pro-torture, anti-gay rights,, anti-woman, goverment services, anti-freedom, anti-secular government, anti-politicat tact, anti-unifying (to name only a few reasons). Should we really trust the executive branch to people who support an illegal war, oppose nationalizing health care, have *ZERO* foriegn policy experience, behave cravenly superstitious, and serve as a bridge back to McCarthian 1950's-esque "family" values?

At least democrats have enough sense to stand up for important social issues and oppose our insane, destructive, "cowboy" style foriegn policy. But, as I've said in previous posts, they support game lesiglation only because it is politically convenient. Gamers have yet to molbilize and demand protection for this industry. Until we can make protecting games a political neccessity that will ensure votes, liberal canidates will continue to exploit them to reach out to social conservatives. I do not think there is much hope for games in the realm of GOP politics. The right has become excessively dependent on their religiously fanatic evangelical base over the last two decades. These people want to see games regulated on a content level and justify just about anything as a means to the end of "protecting the children."
This is pretty low on my list of priorities when it comes to voting on a Presidential candidate, and I'm guessing that is actually pretty low on her priority list of causes should she get elected into the office.

Iraq, the economy and other issues most likely rank a bit higher on the agenda. While I'm sure she would support such legislation if it came up in Congress, I'm not really sure they will have time to get to this for a few more years at least.

Anyway, I'd rather vote for an Edwards/Obama ticket.
"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…"

I see, so instead of say... vetting the media they give to their children or switching the TV/PC/Games console off these "young parents", powerless as they are, want to cede control to the state. Oh the irony!

I wonder... Perhaps we wouldn't get anecdotal nonsense and over interpretation of statistics like this if public surveys actually asked parents which they think would empower them more: the off button or a raft of censorial government legislation?

In any case I must laugh at the "young parent" line, I'm detecting an attempt to deflect criticism. Hillary seems to be suggesting that it's not just older reactionaries getting their knickers in a twist (over a recent phenomenon they neither know or understand). In that regard and although I'm only a single data point, I feel obliged to say I'm not too far off of becoming a young parent (sic) myself. However, as I grew up gaming and never felt a serious compulsion to kill while doing so, I don't see video games as the boogie man under my (or my children's) bed.
I'm Canadian, but like Paul said, the next president will affect the world, frankly I'm pro-rebuplican.


Anyway, Hiliray and her "Common Sense" group are idiots. That is all.
Hillary* sorry
they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…

And yet they would have no qualms about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviours to Congress? Are these people on drugs?
Ok Pandralisk. Not EVERY Conservative policy relates back to religion, and not EVERY Liberal policy relates back to their own ends! By constantly searching for links between their policies and who they are (wether religous/selfish/whatever), you're lowering yourself to THEIR LEVEL, and as a result, YOU ARE MAKING A COMPLETE ARSE OUT OF YOURSELF! Take a step back and real what you type before you hit the Submit button! Your comment there turned into a rant by the end, and that is not what political debate is about. Sure, you have your point of view and I have mine, but not everyone who is religious is a biggot, and not every Liberal is a smiling puppet with their eyes on their prize!

Can i get an AMEN from those who believe that extremism in todays politics will be the death of us all!?
Oh yeah, and if being religous makes one a biggot, then ive got a HUGE ASSED sticker that says just that right on my forehead.
This begs the question - Has Hillary ever answered the question "What will you do to protect Video Games as an expression of free speech?" If not, why have we not sent her letters that ask this?

I myself would like to know what is her stance to support the voting-age gamers, not just the parents. We've only heard one side of this issue, so far.

Of course, if she ignores our questions--that in itself is telling.
You know, when people ask me "don't you think it's about time there is a woman president", my response typically has been "Sure, I'd support a woman president. I just won't support that woman as president." Hillary Clinton would be, in my opinion, a step backwards for this country. Get a woman who has at least some degree of integrity in her. Hillary has shown exactly zero integrity in what she does.
Face the facts, Hillary Clinton has a pro-old media, anti-new media agenda.
Just look at her early major contributer Haim Saban.Haim Saban made his early millions on bringing the "Power Rangers" over to the US from Japan. That show for years was treated the same way that video games are treated today (the show was constantly blamed for youth violence, even banned in a canadian province for a little while after some insident in witch a young child died). And rapper Timbaland raised $800,000 for the Clinton campaign in a ritsy party at the rappers mansion. Hearing her critic the game biz makes me want to barf.
x1 Agree On that my good man
AMEN
We as gamers need to do one thing REGARDLESS of what party we might side with. Write the Democratic Party's national office via email or snail mail and let them know that Hilary Clinton, if nominated as their candidate for the 2008 Presidency, will not receive your vote.

Better yet type up a boiler plate form letter and pass it along to all who are appauled to this kind of crap that Senator Clinton is pushing.

Here's the link: http://www.democrats.org/contact.html

The only way we get this changed is to make our voices heard as a group of voters who aren't going to stand for anymore political grandstanding on non-issues.
She slams the game biz, calling them monsters. Then turns around, opening her arms for all Hollywood donors and turns the Lincoln bedroom into a "Best Western" for them.
@Mark Lucherini

don't worry, none of our votes count anyway, as was proven in the 2000 elections.

down with the Electoral College!
Theres hyppocrates on both sides of the political spectrum, theres no doubt about that. INDIPENDENT FOR THE WIN!
It is rare that the Electoral votes differ from popular votes, and Gore BARELY won that.
The more I see, the more I hope that Obama chap wins the democratic candidacy. Recall that he's for letting the industry regulate itself.

Video games aren't the biggest issue, the biggest issues would be things like re-entering the nuclear non-proliferation agreements the USA pulled out of a couple years ago in order to develop the first new nuclear weapons in almost 50 years, thus giving Russia cart blanche to hand uranium and nuclear technology to Iran.
As a UK citizen, the more often I see that woman, the more often I think 'Thatcher Mk2'.
What do you guys think of starting a community letter--with Dennis (Representing Game Politics) as the primary correspondant (and stamp licker)?

I'm thinking of having us build a letter together, using our community as well as the Penny Arcade community, add our real names, signatures, city and state we live in (another reason I choose Dennis--I trust him with such info). This letter should be sent to each presidential candidate, for each to respond in their own way.

Yes, we gamers recognize the need to keep violent/offensive video games away from Minors. The vast majority of us do not support legislation as it is implemented now (that's not to say we do not support legislation at all-just their current strategy). The REAL question of the letter is "How will you protect the consumers of video games, and video games themselves as an expression of free speech?"

I figure in this way--if nothing else, we can point these candidates towards GamePolitics.com, and make them realize that they are watched very closely by their own voters.
Come to think of it, if she wants to make herself look stupid during her first term as President by signing in a law that she's been told from all angles is not constitutional, and waste a load of taxpayer money defending it from its inevitable defeat of First Amendment grounds, then I suppose it's her presidency, it's only the reputation of the entire Democratic Party that will suffer for it, you can be sure the Repubs will see to that....

'Hilary Clinton, ignores famine and poverty, cares about Mario...'
Altair Says:
"It is rare that the Electoral votes differ from popular votes, and Gore BARELY won that."

so the whole while they were saying "every vote counts" and watching Florida like a hawk three other whole states hadn't tallied any votes. THREE ENTIRE STATES did not count in the election.
"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…"

Really? Young parents tell her that? All the young parents I know tend to be more technologically savvy and understand that media is going to play a role in their kid's childhood. I would consider myself more prepared to raise a child in a digital age than my parents did when they raised me.
anti-enviroment, anti-peace, anti-diplomacy, anti-health care, anti-education, pro-torture, anti-gay rights,, anti-woman, goverment services, anti-freedom, anti-secular government, anti-politicat tact, anti-unifying (to name only a few reasons).

The kyoto accords are crap, no matter how you look at it.
As for peace and diplomacy, I don't think anyone is anti-peace.

As for torture and freedom, there is nothing in the constitution that says you have the right to privacy, nor in the bill of rights.


But as I said before, no one votes between 18-25. You may, Pandralisk, but you're one of the very few.
@Jack P.

most of my friends and coworkers have kids (wife and i are working on that) and they're ALL far more aware and prepared to deal with new media. hell, most of them play games with their kids, from Leapfrogs to Guitar Hero.
"As for torture and freedom, there is nothing in the constitution that says you have the right to privacy, nor in the bill of rights."

incorrect. the Ninth and Tenth amendments see to this.

9th
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

10th
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people
Don't worry, when she goes to address the ECA she will be opposed to restrictions of free speech by video game legislation. She never says anything that the crowd she is trying to gain support from will take offense.

On the plus side, once federal legislation gets struck down in such public forum the debate should end much more quickly.
To those of you talking about the non-voting thing, the SINGLE most important thing you can do is talk with your vote, it is the only form of expression you have that cannot be ignored.

I know there are rumours of 'vote fixing' etc in the last couple of elections, but if the under 30's turned out to make their feelings felt in force, then no amount of 'tweaking' (if it happened) could change the result.

If there is one thing you are going to do in your life in order to make your opinions are truly felt, vote. Sometimes it's hard to find a candidate who supports everything you do, in that case, pick the one that is headed in the closest direction and VOTE. It may not be perfect, but it's a note to the party, when they realise that their more moderate candidates are the ones getting elected, then their policies will change to mirror yours. That is what politics is all about, you aren't voting on their policies, they are picking their policies on what they think you would vote for.
Closing bold tags
"interacting with their parents,"
I spend time and chat with my mom whenever she's not busy FYI.

"or using their imaginations."
That's BS, I have a good imagination.
@ GoodRobotUs:

Amen to our message
@Austin

I vote.
Can you buy Penthouse/Hustler if you are under 18?
@Silphion: Dennis generally doesn't like to take part in movements undertaken by GP readers - for understandable reasons, since he's trying to be a journalist, not an activist.
@ Benji:

Fair enough. What would you recommend?
i aint votin for her to save my life
go ahead and put a gun to my head i wont let her in there to put up stupid bills just to make us miserable

i vote to make a bill: The Video Games Rights Act of 2008
games cant be censored they are art and the last time i checked your house can be a open, semi open, or closed forum if you want it to be (regards to 1st amendment) the US is a public forum you Jack Arse

i like it how cocky she is:When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content.

note the part wher she sais "When I am President"

i hate her
As for the mentions of the electoral college: It's a crap system for a couple of reasons, but the main one that irks me is that someone can win the presidency with a minority of the popular vote. Never mind that it's unlikely to happen or that it only can happen by a slim margin - a democracy shouldn't run in such a way that the majority voice is ignored.
@Silphion: If YOU want to orchestrate the letter-writing campaign, you could advertise it and recruit for it on GP and Dennis will generally not hinder you in any way. He's generally quite okay with us congregating and organizing any (legal) activity using the GP site, he just doesn't want to be the ringleader or otherwise do something that might jeopardize the perception of his journalistic objectivity.
@Benji

We're a constitutional republic, not a 'democracy'.
@Silphion: Or have some one else head it up - I'm not calling you out and saying you have to do this. Just someone who's not Dennis.
"...I did so because I felt that video game content was getting increasingly violent and sexually explicit..."

Ya, well, legislations shouldn't be proposed on feelings... EVER. I feel that you shouldn't be running for president, I be a lot of people don, and yet, here you are, in bold defiance to our feelings. Maybe what an individual FEELS shouldn't have anything to do with politics and law in general? Maybe these sort of decisions should be left up to logical people with common sense, not a group of retards who want to ride the bandwagon all the way to the White House.

Regardless of what Mrs. Clinton feels, games aren't getting more sexually explicit, and last I checked, 'Niptuck' was still on the air with all of it's rape, and sex and adult content, and the series 24 was still critically acclaimed. Videogames, on the other hand, are a selective media that only get exposed to the people who have chosen to play them. You'll never accidentally flip past pornography while playing just about any Videogame out them.

"Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression."

Cite some facts of shut up with this same old B.S. I'm so tired of these generic 'research' and 'studies' claims because every one of them either didn't actually happen, or is a study about something completely different taken out of context.
"When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content."

I will seriously vote for Romney if she gets the D ticket and he gets the R.

I am dead serious. At least with the D's in Congress he will be held from Religious excess. If Hitlery gets the White House sweeping D reforms will be swept through, and this will be worse than another 4 - 8 years of bitter in-fighting.

And you know how I feel about Romney and his religion.
Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression.

what fucking research bitch
Hillary can suck my conservative republican balls, she doesn't know the first thing about community service anyway! yes there should be age limits on SOME games but come on I'm sure all of you will agree with me "the crime doesn't fit the punishment".
@John Kanders,

No, but I can buy Marvel Comics.
@Pandralisk

Yes. I'm suprised.

@Austin Lewis

I agree with Pandralisk, in that Hillary is the worst Democrat. Romney and Huckabee however, are a far graver threat.
I think BearDogg-X said it best. Both Hillary and Not so Common Sense Media can both go to hell.

If she's the front runner, I hope whoever's running against her wins, or we'd all be in trouble.
@ danman and bob

F yeah
Is any one really surprised by this? Its more of the same from the Clinton camp.

Gamer's don't stand united on things like this because I think most if us are old enough to realize that voting on a singular issue, like video games, won't get anything solved. We can't change people's perceptions via legislation or litigation. If we want to change the public perception of gaming we have to start at the level of the individual.

There are always going to be pandering politicians, and people who want to sue everything they don't like out of existence. Things aren't going to change overnight.
@jkdjr25

Indeed, but as long as there is no 'whip', there is no way to make the politicians move on anything, waiting for them to see the light on something that is proving to be a very handy, safe platform for preaching misinformation from will not affect change, it will simply make them more comfortable believing the things they do. Tactical voting is an incredibly effective technique, and often the only way to shift governmental policy.
Altair Says:
“It is rare that the Electoral votes differ from popular votes, and Gore BARELY won that.”

Conejo says:
so the whole while they were saying “every vote counts” and watching Florida like a hawk three other whole states hadn’t tallied any votes. THREE ENTIRE STATES did not count in the election.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was just going off of what i read about the popular vote in that election. the margin was 47.9% of popular votes to 48.4% in favor of Gore, with the rest going to the Green Party and other minor parties. I was 10 at the time, so cut me a little slack there. The Electoral college serves as a "Safety net" for the public. Ill spare you all the Government lesson and just say that pretty much everyone f***** up, and at this point, it is irrelivent.

Back on topic, I still stand by my belief that middle ground needs to be
re-established in politics, instead of this pigheadedness and bickering we see today. They want to restrict violent media, when THEY THEMSELVES act like nothing more than little kids bickering on a playground. Does anybody else see a problem with that?
[...] Full response here [...]
As I said before I'll say again: Another reason for me not to vote for her and another to vote for Barack.
Altair: I see what you did there! Discrediting those building 7 independent voters.

Hillary is not fit to run for president. She is way too friendly with Big Oil and wants to keep our troops in Iraq for over 9,000 years! She's always wanted to censor games and the internet, lets not forget she was pro tiered internet.
@BlackIce

Which can be fixed easier, Hillary's or the republicans.

Certain social policies once put into effect can't be removed. Atleast not without a full governmental collapse and/or a complete disappearance of the groups that cannot survive without them.

Bad fiscal policy while damaging in the short and the long term, can be removed and later repaired.

Im not willing to vote for Hillary over any of the republican candidates, she scares me that much.
I think i already said im anti-Hillary, but if i find a candidates views either hyppocritical or if they have barely even been thought out, as seems to be the case with her, ill discredit them until they straighten themselves out. Thats how im going to vote. But how am i discrediting "those building 7 independent voters."?
If she tries to bring the Family Protection Act back she will have to fight so many organizations. Shall we list off those organizations she will have to fight off, oh lets see, the VGVN, (Video Game Voter's Network) the ESA, the ESRB and not to mention possibly the ECA. Bring it on Hilary, these guys shot down the FEPA bill once we can sure as heck do it again. You will not be able to try and force government regulation down our throats. There has been no studies that show direct causation of video games making minors more violent. Good luck Hilary, your sure as heck going to need it.
i like how she says

"Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression."

sexualy explicit material? i don't think that has to deal with games. giving a ten year old fetish porn maybe.

she did a little bait and switch with that study. very deceitful tactic in my opinion.
@GoodRobot

The thing to keep in mind is that we are the whip when it comes to politicians and its long past time that we reminded them of that fact.
That wasn't a question that was a statement.

If given the the choice between Hillary and any of the republicans, ill take the republican.

Their idiotic policies can be corrected eventually, Hillary's policy could not be removed without collapse of government and/or the disappearance of the groups that rely on them.
A while back I really thought Hillary would be able to help support the country as Prez. However, if she's willing to blame video games for problems that adults should be handling, I think my vote will go to Obama.
Not to mention that if the game industry goes under as a result of their tomfoolery, the entire Entertainment industry is likely to go down as well. Either that, or they will start bitching about movies again.
Quote "Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…" End quote

Now replace "ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media markeplace over which they have no control..." with the following.

"ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a big brother style government over which they have no control..."
I think the real question is: if the choice came down to Giuliani or Hillary, how would you kill yourself? Me, I'd shoot myself with a shotgun to in face.
@jonwanker...

Certain people would say that proved you were a gamer....
@Jeffery Garrido

Well said.
jonwanker,

I'd vote Guiliani and not look back. He's got a sordid personal life, so does she - that's a non-factor. He's wishy-washy on immigration, but really thats not a big issue, because I think a secure border and time will straighten that issue out. His anti/pro abrotion stance means that issue isn't important enough for him to lean havily on once elected, and really this issue is less important - not matter your stance, abortion rates are way down. I'm sure many folks don't like his foreign policy tack, but I do.

So I'm not seeing how he's nearly as bad a choice as Hitlery. Do tell.
Not me. Killing yourself like that would make one a martyr. I think the question iss "If it were between Hillary or Gulliani, how would you fight back?" i think that would proove you were a gamer more than a martyr.
I took the liberty of going to Hitlery's website and posting the following comment. Not that it would do any good, but I needed to vent...at least in the direction of the source.

"Any candidate that seeks to trample the first amendment has lost my vote. You, Mrs. Clinton have lost my vote.

Your recent comments about seeking to regulate the videogame industry based on "assumed" or non-existant research is troubling. I, for one, do not want the government to regulate content that is appropriate to my child. You said it takes a village to raise a child, but what you are proposing is a Gestapo.

If you allow yourself to follow misleading or fabricated research, you'll wind up in a war with Iraq. I thought that recent history what have told you that.

It's also foolish to try and regulate pop culture just because you do not understand it. I would have thought that the 50's and Rock and Roll would have taught you that. Or do you still believe that Elvis is the root of all evil?

A large portion of the american populace are video gamers, and we are watching. In a presidential race as close as this one, you might reconsider your intentions to violate our civil rights."
She would probably support an outright ban, if she had her way. Other than Ron Paul, I think all the candidates pretty much suck.

Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression.

Can we start with sexual promiscuity by presidents? Perhaps we could address that first. Maybe she should try fixin' up things in her own family before trying to fix the countries problems. Same goes for ol' Rudy.
Ok having never posted here before I feel the need as one of ours has just commited the same offense that we bashed the NY Gov for earlier this week.

-To Austin Lewis:
I took your advice and looked up the things you mentioned about Sen. Obama as I had not heard about this. Guess what I found...

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/22/cnn-obama-debunk/

Yes, that's right. People reporting information without checking their facts. I understand that we all feel strongly about Hilary and the upcoming election, but lets please try to not fall into the same traps and pitfalls that we critcize others for.

-Azzedar
She sponsored the FEPA bill 2 years ago and it failed. Now she thinks she has the right to make a law out of a thing that was shown not to be wanted? Can someone show me the logic or the door out of the crazy ward?
If Ron Paul were elected federal government would have no say in the video game industry. That mean Congress can NOT set video game legislation and most of this B.S. would be dealt with.
Hey everyone, just wanted to share with you the contact information for all the Presidential candidates, if you’d like to contact them. An email is provided where it was available or, if they use an online contact form, that url is provided.

We'll also be setting up a post in the GamePolitics forums where you can post any responses you receive. I'll follow up with a link when that is up.

One of the best ways to make your voice heard is in the voting booth. If you are not registered to vote yet, there is a handy widget on the right side bar of GamePolitics, or on the left side bar of the ECA website where you can register to vote.


Democratic Candidates:

Joe Biden: info@JoeBiden.com

Hillary Clinton: http://hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/

Chris Dodd: http://chrisdodd.com/contact

John Edwards: http://johnedwards.com/about/contact/form/

Mike Gravel: http://www.gravel2008.us/contact

Dennis Kucinich: info@kucinich.us

Barack Obama: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

Bill Richardson: research@richardsonforpresident.com


Republican Candidates:

Rudy Giuliani: webteam@joinrudy2008.com

Mike Huckabee: information@explorehuckabee.com

Duncan Hunter: margaret@gohunter08.com

Alan Keyes: contact@alankeyes.com

John McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/

Ron Paul: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/contact/form

Mitt Romney: http://www.mittromney.com/CommentForm

Fred Thompson: http://www.fred08.com/Contact/Contact.aspx



Brett Schenker
Online Advocacy Manager
the ECA - www.theeca.com
Grats Hillary. You just made Obama my choice for the Dems. Go Ron Paul for republicans!