Clinton planning federal tax on games?

[wraggster]

News from Gamespot

Source: The ever-popular gaming blog Kotaku.

The official story: Calls left with Clinton's press office had not been returned as of press time.

What we heard: It's no secret that Hilary Clinton is considering a presidential bid in 2008. It's also no secret that the junior Senator from New York has been trying to sc$#@! off the "liberal" label conservatives have slapped onto her by adopting a center-right stance on a variety of issues, including the war in Iraq.

Clinton also tried to up her family-values cred with a hard-line response to the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas "Hot Coffee" scandal. In the wake of the game being pulled from store shelves after sex minigames were discovered buried in its code, the senator called for federal legislation that would make selling M- or AO-rated games to minors a federal crime. Later, she joined fellow senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) in calling for the Centers for Disease Control to investigate the "impact of electronic media use" on minors.

But while the Federal Trade Commission has formally ended its investigation into San Andreas publisher Take-Two Interactive, rumor has it that Clinton isn't done taking potshots at gaming. Today, Kotaku editor Brian D. Crecente obtained an e-mail sent out by Clinton's office looking for "volunteers for a new anti-violence in video games initiative."

By "volunteers," Clinton apparently means individuals willing to be a "concerned parent" at a press conference. Naturally, the parents will be "concerned" about the hazards games present to their children. According to Kotaku, they should also be willing to voice their concerns to the press to help sway public opinion in favor of a new measure Clinton reportedly wants to introduce--a federal game tax akin to taxes states levy on cigarettes. Proceeds from the tax would fund a program for troubled minors.

So is the report legit? GameSpot spoke with Crecente, who, unlike o-so-many blog proprietors, is a professional, legitimate journalist working for the Rocky Mountain News. Though he would not share the e-mail for fear of revealing his source, he swore it was "very reliable."

But even without concrete proof, one thing is abundantly clear: Clinton is waging a public crusade against games. At a recent speech in front of the Kaiser Family Foundation, she accused modern society of performing a "massive experiment" on millions of children by exposing them to games, electronic media, and omnipresent advertising. "At the rate that technology is advancing, people will be implanting chips in our children to advertise directly into their brains and tell them what kind of products to buy," Clinton warned, according to the New York Daily News.

Bogus or not bogus?: Given Crecente's reputation, this rumor is more credible than most. Unfortunately, that means gamers can expect their favorite pastime to become a political punching bag when the 2008 presidential campaign heats up next year.

[tophead420]

why are they getting mad at game companies making games of such content they should get in trouble if a lil kid plays them becuz its the parents fault not game companied like gta being pulled of the self for the "sexual content" look on the case people and OPEN your eyes it clearly states the game is rated M for mature so dont be making stupid laws that are not needed if these people who get mad at comanies would look at the rating and moniter what there kids play and the people who sell them would take the time and ask may I see your ID and stop being lazy there would be no need in having this bill take affect

[R4mbo]

"At the rate that technology is advancing, people will be implanting chips in our children to advertise directly into their brains and tell them what kind of products to buy"

Clinton is hiding her incompetence by fearing the Parents. Typically way of the US Heads to intersperse their own mind.

To the Hot Coffee Mod:
The Modification is what enables Pornographic scenes ingame, so its not the Problem of Take-Two, The PATCH should be only availible on Adult Sites, Clintons hard reactions to the wrong target also shows her incompetence. She should think and concern with her Problems better before talking $#@!.

To Violence in Videogames:
Violence in Videogames is not causing the high youth criminality in the States. Violence in (often) broken Families are the things which make the Kids homeless and angry. Also stupid and lazy parents are unable to threat theyr kids right. It looks like mrs. Clinton is unable to see this, thats again a proof that she's incompetent and shouldnt be in such powerful positions in the Gouvernment.

Maybe I was a bit to offensive but I just wrote what I thought, even if I'm not from the States also Mrs. Clinton also makes hard Statements which harms some companies. I wish good luck to the People in America with their real Problems, rofl.

[slayer2psp]

when did video games become the root of all evil.i just dont understand this crap at all games dont hurt people.now they want to tax games like gas and booze thats just crazy. all i have to say is this **** will never be president. why are the ratings for movies okay but not on games. im embrassed to be a american because of all the idiots in power in this country no wonder the world hates us. the usa goverment doesnt do anything its people want. the damn president didnt even win the popular vote. another flaw in our system how cab you become president twice and not have the most votes what the! so i guess all of the worlds problems are from gta so if gta never came out there would be peace in the middle east and we all would love each other.right thats what the world would be like without gta right. oh thats right the middle east is about oil and trying to push beliefs on to other people no video games gee how could i be so wrong i thought all are problems were game related

[Ichijoe]

Hay how eles can a Tax & Spend (Read: Smash & Grab), Liberal like Clinton hope to turn a Buck? After all One more hike in the Gas Tax, and you whole County might revolt into another Civil War with the 50 States against Washington D.C. (Well most of 'em anyways),.

I'll be happy to see Georgie and his Aweedas wearing Secretary of State go with him. God Ronald Regon must be spinning in his Grave right now!! have these People no respect for there own People, muchless the rest of the World?

As to Mrs. Clinton. While her hubby might have been a lier and a Sexfiend. He was certainly a far better Statesman. But, I'm sorry I just don't see Mrs. Clinton winning anything for the Whitehouse in '08. No matter how shes trying to pollish herself off as. She'll allways be marked as a Smash and Grab Liberal

[Kloe]

I think it's outrageous that they would even consider taxing video games. Sounds to me like they just want to get more money from the people, which they haven't already done enough...(sarcasm) The not selling M rated games to minors I can tollerate, but the game tax? WTH!!!!! I hate my governement, it's just a bunch of idiots in power making up retarded laws just so they can get more votes. And do they really think video games aren't already expensive enough? 50-60 dollars per game is way too expensive and they want to increase it with adding a tax onto it? That's just plain bull$#@!. I am definatly not going to vote for her in anything she runs in and I hope no one else does either.

[SSaxdude]

This tax idea seems really stupid, but I'd still like to see Clinton as president (or Obama.)

[dOOmy]

Of course the Biaatch doesnt like sex in video games or even real life which made her poor husband look for his "relief" elsewhere. She is just a dried up old mummy who has no relevance to anything. I would not vote for her to sweep down the sidewalk in front of my apartment or anyting else.

[SkankinMonkey]

Don't care for clinton, but rather would see her (or any Democrat) as president than a Bush lackey republican (and bet your butt they all suck up to him except when he's down in the gutter like he is now).

[vettacossx]

im so pist of as a new yorker right now ( not that alot of us arent just a buch of pissed off folk in genral anyway ...lol...but i AM GOING TO CALL THAT BITCHHHHHH Im a upstate new york resedent and I FOR 1 am not taking this crap laying down first thing is first EVERONE PLEASE!!! IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE COLLECT ALL THE POSSITIVE THREADS ABOUT VIDEO GAMES YOU CAN IM LOOKING AT YOU!!!! and post links HERE in this thread i will save all these links and call her FOR THE THIRD TIME ON THE THIRD ISSUE IVE HAD WITH HER SO FAR this is NOT a JOKE i am very much for my video games ....it was only two weeks ago that i saw VIDEO GAMES allow a PARALYZED PERSON actually use his eyes to controll a mouse for his pc....and another thread i have read HERE was a thread about a college who had found after extensive studdy VIDEO GAMES ARE THEROPUTIC IN MANY CASES!!! whats more is

WHEN DOES PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BECOME AN ISSUE?? i meajn parents have PLENTY of options AND HAVE THEMSELFS TO BLAME THAT IS WHY THERE ARE RATINGS ON GAMES FOR PARENTS TO DECIDE IF THE GAME IS " ok" FOR THERE CHILD...now lets just be realistic......IF YOU BLAME ANYONE BLAME YOURSELF A CHILD IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU RAISE HIM OR HER...YOU DECIDE WEATHER OR NOT YOUR CHILD PLAYS BOOGERMAN ON THE SNES GTA ON THE PLAYSTATION AND WHEATHER OR NOT THEY WATCH BEVIS AND BUTTHEAD....THAT IS WHY PARENTS ARE THE PEOPLE TO BE HELD RESPOSIBLE EVEN YOU GOOD CHRISTIAN UPPER 3% MUST RELIZE......THE BIBLE SAYS CHILDREN ARE UNACCOUNTABLE EVEN IN A HIPOCRACY WE CALL OUR DEMOCRACY SO......send those links guys im dedicating a month to teaching my local senitor a thing or to but i need to be prepared with some material to defend our cause !!!

thanx to all vettacossx