Report: U.K. Video Game Critic Keith Vaz Caught Up in Sleazy Scandal
Report: U.K. Video Game Critic Keith Vaz Caught Up in Sleazy Scandal
September 22, 2008
Labor MP Keith Vaz, a frequent critic of violent video games, is currently under the glare of an ethical inquiry in the U.K.
As reported by a lengthy expose in the Daily Mail:
[Vaz] is facing demands for a sleaze inquiry after intervening in a court case on behalf of a party donor... Vaz, chairman of the influential home affairs select committee, urged the High Court to delay proceedings involving a friend from whom he and his family had received lavish hospitality...
At a critical point in the case, 51-year-old Mr Vaz wrote to the High Court asking the presiding judge to adjourn proceedings pending the outcome of complaints by [Vaz's friend] about how the case had been previously handled, involving hotly contested allegations of racism and bias.
Legal sources said the judge was furious at what he perceived to be 'political interference'.
Nor is this the first time that Vaz has come under fire for allegations of an ethical lapse, as this BBC report indicates. On that score, in April of this year GamePolitics readers voted Vaz the fourth biggest political hypocrite in regard to video game issues. Vaz was beaten out for that dubious honor by disgraced New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
GP: Thanks to GP reader GusTavToo for the tip!
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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Comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3043139/Keith-Vaz-wi...
There's some more info here.
Good,
That little chipmunk cheeked lard ass lay about needs to have his high and mighty moral ass kicked every now and then to remind him that he's a hypocrite.
To no ones surprise, video game critics can't practice what they preach.
The "morally superior" always write their own rules. That way, they can never be wrong.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
... That does sound like someone we all know and loathe, actually. :P
-- "Jack and listen are two words that don't go together...just like Jack and sanity, Jack and truth, Jack and proof, Jack and win..." -- sortableturnip | http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
You must be Joking Tremendously
Oh, I c wht u did thar, but yeah, that does sound like him, very much like him.
The "morally superior" always write their own rules. That way, they can never be wrong.
Yeah, that always happens when I beat someone fair and square in Soul Calibur IV online by mixing up my tactics, and I still get called "cheap".
Isn't it ironic that those who shout loudest for rules for other people are the ones who have the hardest time obeying the rules that already exist?
I feel sorry for this people whom were born without opposable thumbs
Dude, if you're gonna write a comment about people being under-evolved, at least employ proper grammar - otherwise you make us *all* look bad.
x x x
I humbly beg your pardon
YES!!
In your fucking face, Vaz! In your fucking face! Let's see you go cry to your beloved Daily Mail readership now, you arrogant prick!
Thanks for this Dennis - today is now an officially good day :)
Don't hold back, tell us how you really fell about it
There is a saying that goes "sinners pray loudest". However, I imagine Keith Vaz is more interested in drumming up a moral panic for political gain than actually solving problems.
Not quite as good as the former NY gov. using tax-payer money to buy hookers, but still pretty entertaining nonetheless.
tax-payer money? Do you mean he was using city funds?
LOL.
I am reminded of my HARD-ON Collider joke, especially as this proves that Keith Vaz is, in fact, a complete dick.
Ha ha . . . I love it when people pick on the media abour morales, and yet, they do not have theirs in check!
Let me guest, Vza was attacking video games just to cover up his own flith!
To be honest, I genuinely think he believed himself to be 'superior' to his voters, and that he had a right to interfere with things when they inconvenienced his friends. I think a lot of MP's in the UK have forgotten what the phrase 'public servant' actually means.
I'll also admit that I'm a bit concerned about this lawyer buying meals etc for ethnic minority MP's only, I'm concerned about a double-standard rising in the UK that could cause problems later.
Though, on consideration, this IS the Daily Mail, who are a pretty iffy paper anyway, so I'll hold my opinions purely as a 'concern' until more information is available.
People in glass houses...
What really, really irks me about these moral crusaders is that practically all of them think they have some sort of mandate (from God or wherever it may be) to tell everyone else what we should do, how we should behave and what we can't do or say. And yet practically all of them, behind closed doors, act as if the morality rules they're trying to force on others don't apply to them. What's good for the goose should be good for the gander, my dear hypocrite across the pond.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
You can trust a good Tory to get caught up in something like this. I’m just surprised it wasn’t a sex act.
Involving suspenders and oranges, iirc
Though, I should point out that Vaz is Labour, not that it's easy to tell the difference these days.
He's Labour :)
Hmmm...it's from the Daily Mail though...they lied about games, so what makes everyone think they're telling the truth now...?
-Remember kids, personal responsibility is for losers! For information on games and psychology, look up: Jonathan Freedman(2002)Block & Crain(2007) Just to name a few...
Hmm...I one corner, I have my willingness to believe that an idiotic, anti-gaming asshole has done something bad. In the other, I have my unwillingess to believe things written in the Daily Mail.
I suppose waiting until a reputable news source picks this up is best in this case.
According to the Telegraph, the actual investigation was launched at Vaz's request, after the accusation was made, though, that means nothing in and of itself, it does prove that the Mail is sensationalising again.
Now it needs to happen to a certain someone stateside
Oh, wait....
Hehe, karma's a bitch.
I must have missed the expose here on ECA's hypocrisy. When did that run? Jack Thompson
Oh Jack, you're so amusing...
What are you going to do next, pur custard down your trousers?
But then, I suppose birds of feather flock together, you've got no more idea of what professional conduct is than Vaz has.
You moron. Vaz was, in no way, associated with the ECA (I think). He was a game critic. Remember: game critic, not ECA 'stooge'. Now go play by yourself and wait for your disbarment's final verdict to pass.
------------------------------------
Modified Sarge quote: "My favorite part is the part where you failed. Encore! Bravo."
Please don't feed the troll. I don't think that is Jack.
Well gee they were going to fax over a copy of it but it appears it broke in the sea of court filings from one Jack Thompson.
I´m still waiting for "Jack Thompson Sexual Scandal: caught on tape soliciting minors in a bathroom. He lured them with copies of GTA4 and other games ".
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Bear in mind this is ANOTHER sleaze investigation. This isn't the first time. The other time he was suspended from the House of Commons. Whilst certain charges weren't proven, he was suspended for hindering investigation I believe.
Nice to see that those who try to find moral agendas are merely deflecting. "Simple sword of truth" anyone? (UK people only will probably get that reference)
Hypocrisy seems to be quite trendy amongst those that condemn this industry.
Ah,I love hypocrisy when it happens to people who tell you how to live your life.It's simply................hilarious.
Do any of you lot think Fox News will have this guy along with Jackie boy as a "First Amendment expert"?
PWNED, thats all i have to say