Presidential candidates discuss videogame issues

Common Sense Media reached out to a dozen presidential candidates (Republicans and Democrats) to ask each about policies they may implement should they be elected.

Senator John Edwards (D-NC), former Governor Barack Obama (D-IL), Bill Richardson (D-NM) and Mitt Romney (R-MA) were a few who responded to Common Sense’s inquiry. An inquiry was also sent to Senator’s Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee and John McCain but they did not respond by the deadline given, and Rudy Giuliani completely refused to participate.

According to Jacques Steinberg of the New York Times, Giuliani’s refusal could be that his children are older and a messy divorce. However, according to GamePolitics, Common Sense Media founder James P. Steyer is planning to invite the presidential nominees for a national forum on media issues Fall 2008.

Hmmmm. That’s kind of cutting it close isn’t it? Anyways, here are the responses given by the candidates to Common Sense Media:

Violent Video Game Legislation—To date, nearly 10 states have considered legislation to keep violent video games out of kids’ hands. Would you support this type of legislation at the federal level? What other strategies would you support to keep the video game industry and other media companies from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?

• John Edwards (D-NC)—“While parents must ultimately decide what video games their children play, a lot of the responsibility for restricting marketing should be placed on software manufacturers. The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a good example of industry responsibility, and I support its ratings program, guidelines for responsible advertising practices, and outreach to game manufacturers and retailers. I also support leading video console manufacturers’ use of parental controls. But we have more work to do. An investigation by the Federal Trade Commission found that, since 2000, the likelihood of a child under age 17 being able to purchase an M-rated game (intended for people 17 or older) has been cut in half, falling from 85 percent to 42 percent. That number is much too high, and the FTC has also reported continued problems with the marketing of these games, especially on the Internet. If the industry does not continue to make progress in keeping video games with intense violence and adult content away from children, we will need to consider further steps to ensure that parents’ decisions about their children’s exposure to these games are not being undermined by retailers, advertisers and manufacturers.”
• Barack Obama (D-IL)—“We need to give parents the tools and information they need to make choices about what programs their children are watching or what video games they are playing. As we move towards a digital environment, there is a golden opportunity for the industry to do this on their own—to use the latest in technology to give parents more information and more choice. For example, this technology could make it possible for parents to create their own family tier just by programming their television to block certain channels, block certain genres of programming like dramas, or block television at certain times of the day. The same can be said of video games, especially as we’re moving into an era when they can be downloaded as easily as today’s movies and television shows. I would call upon the video game industry to give parents better information about programs and video games by improving the voluntary rating system we currently have. Broadcasters and video game producers should take it upon themselves to improve this system to include easier to find and easier to understand descriptions of exactly what kind of content is included. But if the industry fails to act, then my administration would. And even if the industry does do some responsible self-policing, there’s still a role for the federal government to play. We need to understand the impact of these new media better. That’s why I supported federal funding to study the impact of video games on children’s cognitive development.”
• Bill Richardson (D-NM)—I would consider this legislation, but I truly believe that we should make sure parents are educated about the inappropriate content of many video games. We have to get parents—all parents—more involved in the education of our nation’s students. Legislation and teachers cannot do it alone, no matter how good they are. Parental involvement is more important to a child’s success than any test or book. As president, I will issue an executive order that provides all federal employees with eight hours per year of paid, one-to-one time with their children. And I will encourage businesses and the rest of the public sector to do the same.
• Mitt Romney (R-MA)—I want to restore values so children are protected from a societal cesspool of filth, pornography, violence, sex, and perversion. I’ve proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence and that we go after those retailers.

“In today’s 24/7 media environment, it is becoming more and more difficult for parents to remain the number one influence in their kids’ lives,” said Steyer. “American parents want to know that the candidates understand the media challenges they face, and how the candidates propose dealing with these issues.”

Sounds fair until Steyer refers to a “virtually irrefutable library” of studies proving the evils of media which, I personally think, are most likely inconclusive, outdated and used to death by local media outlets as a excuse crutch.

“Social scientists have built up a virtually irrefutable library of studies demonstrating that the amount of sex, violence and materialism that kids are exposed to in the media impacts their fundamental health and well-being,” Steyer continued. “As the election approaches, parents are going to want to know where the candidates stand on these important issues.”

Though I’m confused as to what Steyer’s plan may be, I do find that this list gives you an insight to where the candidates stand on the issue so that when it’s time for election. I’m not just checking off another pretty face or the least agonizing candidate with the most sound policy and agenda. I’ll be making an informed decision for myself.

Read [GamePolitics] Read [The New York Times Caucus Blogs] Read [Common Sense Media] Site [Presidential Candidate’s Response to Videogame Issue]