Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms

by benmasel, Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:43:17 PM EST

The demise of the Clinton campaign was sewn just after the 2004 election, when pollster Mark Penn sought to explain the Bush victory among so-called "values voters."

He found that uptight parents were less concerned with abortion than the idea of their kids watching "Sex in  the City," "pumped into their homes" which they'd never seen, and was then only on cable, and playing "violent videogames."

The next year, Senator Clinton held a press conference with Joe Lieberman and Republican Senators Santorum and Brownback, threatening the game industry with legal restrictiopns if they didn't "clean up their act."

Clinton allies introduced State Laws, with press releases claiming "86% of 16 year old boys play 'these' games."

What Penn and Clinton overlooked was that by 2008, these 16 year olds would be voting age. The sponsor of the Wisconsin censorship bill, a Clinton ally, told me she was not concerned, "They don't vote anyway."

Obama tapped this vein of resentment brilliantly in Wisconsin, running a heavy spread of ads on Fox Entertainment's Sunday Night Adult Cartoons, where Clinton had no presence.

The big story of the night, besides the Obama victory, will be record-shattering turnout of rural and smalltown 18-20 year olds.




Tags: Wisconsin, Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton, censorship, videogame censorship (all tags)

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Bonus Points? Penalties? (none / 0)




The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.
by benmasel on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:43:59 PM EST

Re: Bonus Points? Penalties? (2.00 / 1)

Just a little side-bar, as much as I agree with the broad strokes of your 'values voters' thesis and how it fails among Democrats.  My 12-year old son, who owns a mind-boggling number of games, brought a copy of 'Grand Theft Auto' into the house and when I saw what the themes were regarding women and bystanders in a realistic contemporary setting I destroyed it and forbade him from playing it elsewhere.

But that's the point, parents must be the arbiters of this 'values' issue, not the state.  We vote with our credit cards at the check-out.


by Shaun Appleby on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:57:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bonus Points? Penalties? (2.00 / 1)

My husband (age 40 so mostly just young at heart) loves PS2 (and is making noises about wanting a PS3).  GTA games are pretty amazing games.  Like me, he's been playing computer games since he was 10 and the games have grown up with us.

But games like GTA and Rule of Rose aren't for 12 year olds and I'd seriously question the judgement of adults that bought them for their kids.  I think that's as it should be.  

We don't question that films and books can have a separate adult and child market.  I think some people forget that there are adults now for whom video games have always been a form of entertainment.  Now that we're adults, those games have adult themes.

As you say, parents making choices for their own kids.  And giving those of us without kids freedom to live in an adult world.
Me? I'd like to see adult movies, books and games kept safe from the daycare crowd.


the third eye does not weep. it knows.
by mijita on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:34:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bonus Points? Penalties? (2.00 / 2)

There's a time and a place for everything and the more responsibility we take for our own actions the more we free time and resources for the issues we actually need to confront collectively.


by Shaun Appleby on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:46:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm reccing this diary for exactly one reason (2.00 / 1)

Best. Title. Ever.

And since I've been patiently waiting for GTA IV to come out ever since I beat San Andreas, even more props to you, my good sir.


UNITY!
by The Great Gatsby on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:18:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms (none / 0)

The demise of the Clinton campaign was sewn just after the 2004 election,

- counting your chickens.


When I speak I have a southern drawl.. When you come down here Stop and say hello I'm an American from south of the Mason Dixon line
by lori on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:45:21 PM EST

9 minutes. (none / 0)




The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.
by benmasel on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:51:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: 9 minutes. (none / 0)

He should win wisconsin , but it is a little to early to dig her grave.

The demise of the clinton campaign.......


When I speak I have a southern drawl.. When you come down here Stop and say hello I'm an American from south of the Mason Dixon line
by lori on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:54:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Granted, not every State (none / 0)

has registration rules as friendly to newly eligible voters as Wisconsin.

Does this make Wisconsin "irrelevent?"




The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.
by benmasel on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:57:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: 9 minutes. (none / 0)

...is beginning to look like a protracted and painful Greek tragedy which by the time it ends will have her inner circle begging her to end it for her own sake.  The Clinton 'legacy' will never be the same, I fear.


by Shaun Appleby on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:59:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree with you (none / 0)

She should end this now.  She doesn't need to keep getting kicked like this.


by lombard on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:34:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I agree with you (none / 0)

I have actively blogged against her candidacy for president but have voted twice for her in the Senate.  I think she would be a terrific Senate Majority Leader and a credit to her constituency and the party.


by Shaun Appleby on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:44:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

18-24s 11% of electorate. (none / 0)




The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.
by benmasel on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 10:15:15 PM EST

Re: Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms (none / 0)

as a 21 year old i can assure you, she lost massive amounts of support from my age group with that stunt, because it was clearly oppurtunistic and ridiculous.


by Lazeriath on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 10:35:38 PM EST

Re: Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms (none / 0)

Wow, I would hate to think that this group can't see past their video games to more important issues outside themselves.


by cameoanne on Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 02:00:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sad, you don't see the 1st Amendment as important. (none / 0)




The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.
by benmasel on Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 01:12:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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