Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama Campaign Experience

July 21, 2009

Here's hoping that Erik Huey lasts longer with the Entertainment Software Association than did his predecessor.

Huey was announced today as the new head of government relations for the video game publishers' trade group. In plain English, that means Huey is the ESA's chief lobbyist. The post has been vacant since Jennifer Manner departed just a month after coming aboard in February.

According to the ESA's press release, Huey is a veteran attorney who has specialized in lobbying for the entertainment, communications and media sectors. His official title will be Senior Vice President for Government Affairs. ESA boss Mike Gallagher offered praise for the new guy:

Erik’s demonstrated advocacy abilities on behalf of numerous entertainment and telecommunications clients will serve him well as he navigates the specific challenges and opportunities that the ESA and our member companies face. As game technologies and gamer demographics continue to evolve, the entertainment software industry will rely on Erik and his team to help foster a beneficial environment for our industry’s innovation and creativity.

Huey, who starts his new gig in August, also has substantial political experience on the Democratic side, according to the ESA's press release:

Huey helped coordinate voter protection and mobilization efforts in Western Pennsylvania for the Obama Campaign for Change during the 2008 primary and general elections. Huey had a similar role during the 2006 mid-term elections, and served as the Kerry/Edwards Campaign’s “Get Out the Vote” Director for Western Pennsylvania in 2004. Huey also served as an advance coordinator for the 1992 Clinton/Gore Presidential Campaign...

As for Jennifer Manner, her story seems to have a happy ending as well. Coincidentally, we also learned today that she has accepted a post with the Federal Communications Commission.

Comments

Time to move out of this

Submitted by achet on Sun, 11/08/2009 - 06:33.
Time to move out of this country during Obama's term the way this is looking. This appointment it sounds like a direction for disaster in privacy. What's NeXT on the agenda, one with nazi views at the NSA? ejaculare

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by FLAWL3ss on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 01:01.

 GP observed: "Huey is a veteran attorney who has specialized in lobbying for the entertainment, communications and media sectors."

Oh, no... not again... the ESA needs to pull its head out of its ass.

 

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by gamepolitics on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 14:10.

Hmmm... Not sure I get your point. Wouldn't that kind of experience be extremely helpful in this position?

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 14:20.

I'm not sure, but I think he's referring to using somebody with a particular percieved bias (since all of the people he's worked for are arguably extreme left) is a bad idea for the long run.  If so, I wholeheartedly agree.  A big reason to avoid someone with such a percieved bias right now is that I doubt the people he has worked for will be in power in America for much longer (say, 2010 midterms?).

---

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by Neo_DrKefka on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 20:23.

Yes this is great, let us let this man who has an obvious bias for Obama and if he wanted to push anti video game legislation we all know he would cave in quickly. This is suck a good thing we have an Obama worshipper in key positions even though his own party the honorable Blue Dog Democrats have finally risen up and decided to go against the wave. 

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by Wormdundee on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 15:15.

Yeah...he's worked on 5 presidential campaigns, but of course he only has a bias for Obama. I'd like to meet you at some point in real life. See if you're as wacky in person, or if this just another example of the Greater Internet Fuckwad theory. 

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 21:15.

Dude.  Not necessary.  Look at my posts and you'll know I don't agree with Obama any more than anyone else, but this wasn't necessary at all.

---

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by Arcanagos on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 21:38.

It's Kefka, 'nuff said >.>

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, Jack Thompson'll justify it in the end." - nightwng2000

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, Jack Thompson'll justify it in the end." - nightwng2000

Re: Video Game Industry's New Top Lobbyist Has Obama ...

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 19:20.

I want wish good luck for his fax machine (everybody should know what I´m talking about)... anyways, good luck to Huey. I hope he keeps in the post a little longer.

The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/

 
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E. Zachary Knight: Some reading material for Microsoft on its used games blocks. That will hurt the console more than helping. http://ezknight.net/?page_id=20505/21/2013 - 2:18pm
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