October 5, 2007 -
As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a darkhorse contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, has opened a campaign presence in Second Life. The Plain Dealer refers to a YouTube video (see below) of Kucinich's SL site as "trippy," adding:
Earlier this week, Comedy Central posted a video by comedian Stephen Colbert that satirizes Kucinich's habit of whipping items out of his pocket and waving them around onstage during campaign appearances. Citing a 1999 Plain Dealer article in which Kucinich slipped a used tea bag into his pocket, Colbert challenges Kucinich to empty out his pockets on television.
"Not even Mike Gravel is crazy enough to keep used tea bags in his pockets," Colbert raves. "He puts them in his hobo bindle."
Kucinich's hometown newspaper also pokes fun at the age difference between the 61-year-old former mayor and his 29-year-old wife, Elizabeth.
Virtual Worlds News was kinder to Kucinich's SL foray, writing:
When asked why [Kucinich] entered into Second Life when other candidates were staying away, Ely said it's pure social networking.
"We do them all," said [Kucinich aide Chad] Ely. "Any and all ways we can get out to the people and let them know about Dennis Kucinich. That's all we have to do. He's got all the other candidates beat on the issues, so his stand on the issues will do the job for us..."
"There's been a lot of things the other candidates have done that haven't worked out for them, like being able to comment on YouTube pages, and we just haven't had that problem," Ely said. "There's a few people, Ron Paul supporters or Obama supporters, that try to go in and goof us a little bit, but they pretty much leave us alone. They know Dennis is a good guy, and we don't play those games."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-WZamaM5Lw
Comments
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
It happens more than you think. So it is not that big of a surprise.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Do you mean as mayor of Cleveland in the '70s or as US Rep today? I thought all the problems stemmed from his time as mayor, but I could be wrong. Either way, his views are far too extreme for him to be considered a serious candidate. He's got nothing to lose in a Second Life gig.
Kucinick might have some good ideas, but I'm not sure this virtual space is going to help insert those into the public debates in any meaningful way.
@Lewis
Forgive me I won't simply take your word for it.
Clinton's HQ looks like a Barbie beach house (complete with dolphins!), and I've only ever seen a few goons there laughing at it. I don't think I've ever seen anyone at Obama's place, but admittedly I've only visited once or twice.
There are a few political sims where you can often find supporters hanging out, but in my experience, they're all French, and most of them are fascist (or close to it). The guys who run those sims are nice enough, though... I consider a few of them friends, and I like how they don't seem to mind me being an Anglo-Canadian liberal :)
because it's their time and their money to waste as they please.
@Baggie
That crap is easy to avoid as long as you don't go looking for it.
If you dislike America so much, go live somewhere better.
Oh wait, there isn't such a place?
Then shut the fuck up.
You know you have a lot of work to do when it is still conceptually valid for the ignorant to tell someone to "get out," under the pretense that this is a society of corporate worshipping wage-slaves entrenched in Sunday superstition.
Let me guess, you advocate church burning. -.-
Seriously, do you ever listen to yourself or read the stupid shit you write?
When that day comes, we can put those mega-church buildings to use! They'd make fantastic buildings for libraries and community centers.
Why, because science tells you so?
Science has also said: The world is flat, DDT won't hurt you, Mercury is safe, Agent Orange can safely clear undergrowth, Hydrogen is good for Blimps, Man can't fly.. etc, etc..
Even if you look at it from a pure logical standpoint... If no God exists - and you don't believe, then no big deal. but if God does exist and you don't seek him out, there may be issues. Really no harm in a logical approach. Even in other situations, it's always best to seek out the truth rather than make assumptions. I don't believe in blind faith in either mindset. Nor do I believe the universe just 'happened' at random... If you say 'well, there was order' - where did that concept of 'order' come from? Chaos? Just by chance... ok :)
Oddly enough - I can't argue completely that Kucinich is any worse than any other candidate. IMO, him and Ron Paul should run on an independent ticket and clean house - the rest just plain out suck bad. At least he's got a cute wife - beats playing footsie in the stall... lol