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July 16, 2005

Think of the children!!


From It Takes a Village Clinton:

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - Two high-profile U.S. senators, Joseph Lieberman and Hillary Rodham Clinton, are incensed over pornographic content "hidden" in the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," and are demanding action from either the government or the game's maker.
Why the scare quotes?
Clinton (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, said she will introduce legislation to help keep inappropriate video games out of the hands of children, and has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the "Grand Theft Auto" game.
Uh oh. Is this like Durbin's cronies trying to get the IRS to "investigate" an organization that publically criticizes Durbin? Or just plain old-fashioned grandstanding for fawning media coverage?
Her legislative proposal would 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.
Let's see, the industry provides a rating system to inform parents of game content and Hillary wants it now codified into Law.
"The disturbing material in 'Grand Theft Auto' and other games like it is stealing the innocence of our children, and it's making the difficult job of being a parent even harder," Clinton said.

In calling for the FTC to launch an investigation, Clinton urged the commission to determine whether an AO rating (adults only) is more appropriate than the current M rating (mature) for the video game given this new sexually explicit content. She also requested that the FTC examine the adequacy of retailers' rating-enforcement policies.

Looks like stumping for the '08 nomination is in full bloviation and Hillary is taking a page from Tipper.

Gag me.

Posted by Darleen at July 16, 2005 12:37 PM

Comments

Gag indeed. Tipper Gore has to be one of the main things that kept me from voting for her husband in 2000 (I was still a democrat by default back then). I just can't get with the idea of censorship and I didn't like the idea of Tipper having the president's ear.

That being said, I find it interesting that Senator Clinton would pick up on the "hidden pornographic" essence of San Andreas when the sexual explicitness is anything but hidden. You think she'd be more worried about the detailed instructions it gives out to inner city youth on how to steal, treat their women like shit, become a pimp, drug dealer and cop killer.

It's one thing when my 32-year-old white brother-in-law plays it in Iowa and it's a game. It's a different thing when "minority" teenagers in gang-run Watts play the game as it's practice for real life.

Now I'm not saying video games (or bad song lyrics or anything else) makes murderers. But I'm saying, I don't think we need to be encouraging anyone to learn how.

I'm just not quite sure there exists a rating for this game, but I can assure you, it's anything but mature.

Posted by: tallglassofmilk at July 16, 2005 10:54 PM