The Political Arena
3/12/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 3
She also teamed up with noted videogame critic Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and a few other Democrats to announce the Family Entertainment Protection Act (FEPA) -- which would criminalize the sale of violent videogames to minors. She backed this despite it being unconstitutional. Even more recently she stopped criticizing the ESRB and backed them in advertisements -- but then she turned on them again during the
Manhunt 2 scandal last fall.
In the past, she's also participated in photo ops with Lieberman and former Republican Presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KY).
Sen. Clinton typically doesn't miss an opportunity to bash the entertainment industries to help score points with voters, and according to her CSM survey, her goals are to pass laws to keep ultra-violent games from children despite the unconstitutionality of these laws. She's also called for a unified rating system for movies, television, and videogames.
Let's let her sum it up: "When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content." -- Hillary from her CSM response.
Barack Obama! Your turn!
"I would call upon the video game industry to give parents better information about programs and video games by improving the voluntary rating system we currently have, but if the industry fails to act, then my administration would." -- Obama, from his CSM survey answer.
That's a mixed answer at best. He thinks the ESRB should do the job, but threatens action if they don't. Hmmm... at least the hyperbole and demagoguery are kept to a minimum here.
Sen. Obama (D-IL) is a newcomer to the political scene, so he doesn't have much of a voting record to scrutinize, but it is notable that he's never been attached to any anti-videogame legislation, and he typically doesn't use the issue on the stump.
"We're going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children, and that's going to take some time." -- Obama, from various stump speeches.
GamePolitics' Dennis McCauley (note: GamePolitics is owned by the ECA, a lobbying group representing gamers) believes that statement indicates that Obama believes videogames are a "metaphor for underachievement" -- which would be ironic, considering Obama is the youngest and hippest person in the race. I think that's a little hyperbolic, because, well, as GamerDad I believe that TV and videogames are entertainment and that life and real-world achievement should take precedence. Also, Obama has said before that his kids watch Nickelodeon, which indicates that he's not anti-television at the very least.
Obama did publically turn down a donation from Doug Lowenstein, the former head of the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) without giving any reason why -- but that might reflect how Obama's opponents view the industry, rather than his own view. I can see the commercials now: "Barack Obama takes money from people who used to represent people who make ultra-violent videogames!"
He has called for Federal studies into the cognitive effect media has on children, but appears undecided about what, if anything, should be done about it. The bottom line is that Obama appears to be on the fence and is more concerned with getting the facts straight than scoring political points.
So What's The Difference?
Hillary Clinton wants to protect children at all costs and doesn't seem to understand that videogames are sometimes violent and sexual (actually, sexuality is rare in videogames) because adults buy them for themselves. She appears to be trying to appeal to the fearful non-gamer constituency.
