Will Obama's Video Game Ads Be Mentioned in Debate?
Will Obama's Video Game Ads Be Mentioned in Debate?
October 15, 2008
Last week GamePolitics broke the news that campaign ads for Barack Obama were showing up in EA's Burnout: Paradise on Xbox Live.
Since that time the story has gone national, with coverage by among others, the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. ABC News and CBS News have mentioned the Obama ads on their websites, although not on the air - so far.
With tonight's final Presidential Debate taking place at Hofstra Unoversity in New York, will the XBL ads come in for a mention? If they do, it will almost certainly come from McCain. There is speculation that McCain's debate strategy this evening will seek to raise questions about Obama's readiness for the White House.
Could McCain use the XBL ads in an effort to paint Obama as geeky or frivolous? If he does, will such charges resonate with voters? Or will McCain come off as out of touch and, well, old?
It's all speculative, of course. We'll find out tonight.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
Doubt it will even come up... We'll see... Everyone I know that has researched into politics alot this year has decided that the entire government needs to be gutted and restaffed because they are all greedy old men that are out of touch with society... I can not agree more with that statement...
why would it come up? what's the relevance? mccain doesn't even know what a video game is. why would mccain bring up anything technology related when he's admitted he doesn't know how to send email? chances of a mention approach zero.
The only approach I could see along these lines would be to address the potential contradiction in Obama's statements pertaining to telling parents to get their kids off the couch then advertising in the games their kids play.
Whether or not the connection is accurate is open to debate, I suppose, because you can bet that if we're aware of the way this story has spread, Obama is equally aware and has a response already prepped that would trounce McCain.
My guess is that McCain will avoid it and Obama won't see the need to bring it up, but who knows? Both parties have been bringing up irrelevent points in debates for decades. Don't see any reason they would stop now...
It actually did make it on the air this morning on CNN Headline news. Robin Mead covererd it about 7:50 eastern.
I think Fox had it on it's website.
It could come up. McCain's strategy is partially to paint Obama as being not ready for the Presidency.
"Can we really trust a man who spends is time advertising in a VIDEO GAME? Will a President Obama be too busy playing his Playstation 360 or WiiBox [you KNOW he'd say something like that] to deal with a national crisis. Can he be trusted to turn off the Halo Theft Auto [again you know he'd say it] when his country needs him."
That's an exaggeration of what I think McCain might say, but I can see it coming up. Though I think it work likely Palin would go this route, she's definitely the attack dog in this campaign.
He has to call them "videos".
E. Zachary Knight
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Hahahaha!!!
That reminds me of the 90's, when many people called cartridges "tapes".
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Yeah... but that could backfire very easily. First of all, Obama's not the one playing the games - his voters are. Just as Obama gained a lot of ground-level support by targetting smaller states, so he could win a lot of voters by advertising on unusual media.
Then, there's the question of what the real difference is between advertising on video games now and, say, TV 60 years ago. Back then, TV was regarded as a niche pursuit, but those who were first to advertise there gained massive leads against those who didn't.
Finally, it's a risk to criticise people who play games. For every potential McCain voter who might be swayed by an attack on games, there's a gamer who might be persuaded to vote Democrat in retaliation...
I say it probably won't come up...
Here is the whole thing. Since only adults can vote, the ads in games are targeted towards adult gamers. Aknowledging that such a thing exists is a step in the right direction.
If they do try and bring it up in the debate, it might bite them back like that awesome projector. When the McCain group was trying to use it as an example of outrageous spending, most people saw it as providing for the community. This wasn't a home projector he was using to watch HD movies, this was an Astronomy projector for a planetarium. You know what, I support that.
At least this artical has a legitimate point, unlike the other coverage GP has been passing off as "news". I am quite dissapointed with GP's election coverage, and yes you do have a choice on what you want to report, and yes you are showing an extream bias in what you decided to report.
~Weatherlight~
Oh please... McCain probably doesn't even know about Obama ads in games... Muchless its neither a negative or positive for him covering all bases. After all the one game ad we know about is in Burnout... So what is McCain going to say? "Obama supports reckless driving!"
~The main problem isn't really video games but media. Movies show you how to do it, books go into details about doing it and video games have you simulate the experience... Spread the blame around rather than focusing on us
I think the biggest question is whether McCain even cares
Oddly enough, when speaking about education, he said "put down video games"...
I weep at my tool-ality as the clown for the carnival that was pseudo-conservative values. My other personality will probably come in and decry Obama's embrace of what he delusionally thinks is evil. but let me in on a secret.
My other personality used to have wet dreams about a frankensteinish fusion of Nancy Reagan and the princess from Dragon's Lair.
I weep at the repression this has caused. I wholehearetedly renounce the Republican party for aiding in my sickness and embrace Obama. Except when he's with Hillary. She was another enabler.
Hah, put down the video games.
I invited my friends to a game of Halo when I heard that.