MyDD :: Sen. Clinton gorgeously thrashed for her censorship campaign

Sen. Clinton gorgeously thrashed for her censorship campaign

by janfrel, Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 01:47:22 PM EST

"The disturbing material in 'Grand Theft Auto' and other games like it is stealing the innocence of our children." -- Hillary Clinton.

I loathe the reactionary moralizing on popular culture we've been submitted to over the past 20 years by the likes of Tipper, Joementum, and yes, Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's posturing on the Grand Theft Auto secret code feature -- which lets the player in on a fairly banal implied sex scene -- was to do this: "institute a financial penalty for retailers who fail to enforce the video manufacturers' voluntary ratings system rules. It would prohibit the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors and put in place a $5,000 penalty for those who violate the law."

Here's the FU back from the game industry exec, a piece of vicious, but civilized retort:

"Sen. Clinton is a fine lawyer and undoubtedly knows that her proposal is unconstitutional," he said in a statement. "The senator's proposal is politically savvy but will do nothing to help parents make informed choices about the video games their children play. In fact, by turning the voluntary video game ratings system into a cudgel of government censorship, Sen. Clinton's proposal ironically would likely lead to the abandonment of the ratings system."

I would say, even more disturbing than the images from a video game are the gruesome photographs of people who have been fried and burned and shot to pieces in Iraq. Seeing that steals the innocence of children, hell, even what's left of mine. And if I remember correctly, Hillary was all for it, is all for it.

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Permalink :: 10 Comments :: Post a Comment

"GTA" Is Not Sister Souljah (none / 0)

As someone who admires Sen. Clinton a great deal, I am VERY disappointed by this shameless ploy for the "values voters" crowd.

You are quite correct that the video games rating system has been working very well.

Sen. Clinton's proposal is just another unnecessary intrusion of Big Brother government into people's private lives. Let's leave those positions to the Republicans, shall we?

If Clinton was looking for a "Sister Souljah" (sp?) issue to make herself appear more moderate, this was a very poor choice. It also runs the risk of turning off the youth vote--the one demographic the Democrats carried quite well in 2004.

She should heed a paraphrase of her husband's 1992 campaign:

"It's STILL the economy...AND Iraq, STUPID!"

by RealRick on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 02:34:17 PM EST

Mel Gibson's violence was also very fine (none / 0)

I still don't understand the moral distinction, but apparently redemptive violence is good. Of course, not everybody agrees.

Of course, the reason Sen. Clinton is such a big supporter of the Iraqi war is that the deaths are not televised. I'm sure that Sen. Clinton and Jerry Falwell would both condemn an Abu Ghraib video game, but the real thing wasn't that big a deal, because the kids didn't see it on television.

That's why the most shocking photographs from Abu Ghraib were kept secret from the American people. Sen. Clinton and the Democratic party have helped Bush keep them classified, because Sen. Clinton wants to be the great historical warmonger Democrat who brings about world peace.

by Gary Boatwright on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 03:24:08 PM EST

Never Trust the Clintons (2.00 / 1)

Yes, it was bound to happen, Hillary, in her continuiing change of persona from liberal Democrat to moderate pragmatist, was bound to do some cheap stunt to try to get her some traction in the Bible Belt.

While I am not a big fan of these sordid video games either, I am more afraid of Big Brother getting involved in policing our private choices. This is just a shameless ploy to position Hillary in the "center."

This has been on-going now for some time. Bill Clinton, knowing he would be back in the limelight big-time if Hillary would win the presidency, has been playing along too with his cozying up to Papa Bush and the rest of the Bush family. Every now and then they throw a bone to the liberal base by attacking the Repubicans. Don't be fooled by their con game.

Hillary and Bill would both sell out their own mother if it helped them gain some votes in redneck land. They are amoral opportunists, and we should know, after NAFTA and the killing of FDR's guarantee for child welfare, that this power-hungry couple cannot be trusted. They are out for themselves, and during their tenure the Democratic Party has sunk to minority status for the past 11 years.

I will not vote for Hillary in 2008. I will vote Green if she is the nominee. I am tired of Republican-lite.

by MichiganDemocrat on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 03:41:35 PM EST

What wonderful logic! Not. (3.00 / 1)

Ah yes, support 3rd party candidates instead so you can have genuine Republican vs your supposed "Republican-lite".

Well that would make you Bush-lite. Congratulations, Nader would be proud!

http://operationyellowelephant.blogspot.com/

by Vote Hillary 2008 on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 05:52:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What wonderful logic! Not. (2.00 / 1)

Grow up and look at the reality.

This kind of pandering to the right behavoir only makes Democrats lose... or haven't you notice we have lost EVERYTHING since Clinton...

Besides telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and, die, the GOP has done a fine job of getting gov't out of our lives.

by Parker on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 06:28:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What wonderful logic! Not. (3.00 / 1)

Ah, the often-plied "grow up" line. Used so generously by those who lack any line of reasoning nor ability to effectively debate a point. Kudos!

Well at least you got one thing right: we have been losing everything since Clinton. Hm, why is that I wonder? Why was Bill Clinton so popular and the only dem since FDR to win two terms? Couldn't possibly be anything to do with his moderate/centrist policies that was so strong with enough of the base and much of the middle of America! Nahhh.

I dare you to run a candidate in 2008 that only appeals strongly to the base. Let's see if you can break even 40 mil votes nationally. Go ahead, cede the middle and the south to the republicans once again like your friend wants to do. Thats a recipe for disaster. I guess you want to continue the losing streak?

Thanks for making my point for me. Hillary will win in 2008.

http://operationyellowelephant.blogspot.com/

by Vote Hillary 2008 on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 09:16:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I love GTA: San Andreas! Got the mod too! (none / 0)

This is one area I vehemently disagree with Hillary and other politicians pooh-poohing mature content in video games.

This whole argument is stupid because:

The game is already rated Mature for 17+ years of age.
The mod is classified as a "hack" which means a user must willfully seek out and download 3rd party code in order to enable these features. Rockstar is not responsible for the modification of its game from its original format. You would not be able to access this sexual content without modifying the original code.
This game allows the player to shoot cops, sleep with hookers, kill hookers to steal money back, loot, murder, and generally cause violent mayhem...yet now that players may partake in virtual simulation of an act that most Americans participate in throughout their adult lives, ie SEX, now the game is especially destrucive??
More controversy will only further drive sales of the game.

But then again, I know that no one can stop the sales of great games like GTA. Can't wait for the next one!

http://operationyellowelephant.blogspot.com/

by Vote Hillary 2008 on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 05:50:19 PM EST

ok, but... (none / 0)

are you still gonna vote for hillary in 2008?

"blogtopia - yes, i coined that phrase!"

by skippy on Sat Jul 16, 2005 at 06:10:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Question (none / 0)

For anyone out there who is up on gaming.

I frankly know nothing about this world, but was under the impression that GTA was rated "M" for Mature.

Are these ratings enforced by stores? Or are they more or less meaningless?

by bellarose on Fri Jul 15, 2005 at 05:58:13 PM EST

Re: Question (none / 0)

I've seen Walmart and Gamestop stores be pretty good about asking for ID. However, even when some stores illegally sell these games to underage kids, who's fault is that? The stores. So go after them, not the game manufacturers or people like me who are legally allowed to buy these games.

Personal responsibility...wow, what a concept!