Does playing Warcraft make you unfit for Senate

[mthrnite]

Colleen Lachowicz is a Democratic candidate running for State Senate in Maine. Trouble is, she's a World of Warcraft player, a level 85 bloodthirsty orc. Her state's Republican Party has set up a website and sent out a mailer attacking her for leading a bizarre double life of crudity and viciousness. Ms. Lachowicz has never hidden the fact that she's a gamer, and responded to the attacks, saying “I think it’s weird that I’m being targeted for playing online games. Apparently I’m in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games. What’s next? Will I be ostracized for playing Angry Birds or Words with Friends? If so, guilty as charged!”

Source

 

[AlanJohn]

I smell some BS.
This is probably forged so that she gets more attention.

 

[emigre]

It beats being involved in sordid cocaine-induced S&M ganbangs with underage rentboys.

 

[Rydian]

What's that, politics trying to ostracize humans based on any info they can to segregate them into groups?

That never happens! I mean it's not like it's the entire concept and goal of the whole democrat/republican bullshit or anything...

But yeah this is just extra-pathetic, even for politics.

 

[gamefan5]

Fucking BS. Like the guy that sent a letter to a news woman telling she was obese. WTF is wrong with humanity?
Who gives a shit about what she does in her pastime as long she does well her job.

 

[Veho]

My response to that would be "Unlike some people, I can distinguish real life from video games."

 

[mthrnite]

I know nothing about Warcraft, but I do know a few people who play it. They're all women, and all generally soft-spoken, meek, and mild. I guess everybody needs an outlet.

Now if you'll excuse me, this meth ain't gonna cook itself.

 

[qlum]

It's called political games and using gaming as an excuse to get rid of some politician you don't agree with or can be a pain in the ass for someone or some company.

 

[Ergo]

And then you actually went to the site in question where they're taking issues with comments like this:

And:

Yeah, um, talking about *drowning* your political opponents in a bathtub *does* make you unfit for the Senate--so does shouting **** like it's a new chew toy.

(There is also. literally, nothing negative said about WoW or gamers in general because WoW isn't the point--her statements are.)

The site is here.

I do realize that when people are hyper-partisans--left or right--it's going to make absolutely *no* difference what is said because, like Colleen, they want to deflect from the issue at hand and what better way than claiming your opponent is maligning millions of people, right?

(I'm also certain, given the day and age, that 99% of the people bemoaning this didn't actually check the original source for the story because it's just too good to fact check.)

 

[FAST6191]

It beats being involved in sordid cocaine-induced S&M ganbangs with underage rentboys.

But if you do not go to those you will never fit in with your peers.

 

[Issac]

And then you actually went to the site in question where they're taking issues with comments like this:

And:

Yeah, um, talking about *drowning* your political opponents in a bathtub *does* make you unfit for the Senate--so does shouting **** like it's a new chew toy.

(There is also. literally, nothing negative said about WoW or gamers in general because WoW isn't the point--her statements are.)

The site is here.

I do realize that when people are hyper-partisans--left or right--it's going to make absolutely *no* difference what is said because, like Colleen, they want to deflect from the issue at hand and what better way than claiming your opponent is maligning millions of people, right?

(I'm also certain, given the day and age, that 99% of the people bemoaning this didn't actually check the original source for the story because it's just too good to fact check.)

The site clearly says that she (as a WoW player) has no ability to distinguish the real world from the online gaming world.
Also, I really think that this following statement she made, is REALLY outrageous, violent and crude!!!

How dare she miss playing with her friends?!?!? >: (

 

[Wizerzak]

Wow.

(Beat ya to it Gahars )

 

[The Catboy]

I facepalmed in real life.

 

[mthrnite]

And then you actually went to the site in question where they're taking issues with comments like this:

And:

Yeah, um, talking about *drowning* your political opponents in a bathtub *does* make you unfit for the Senate--so does shouting **** like it's a new chew toy.

(There is also. literally, nothing negative said about WoW or gamers in general because WoW isn't the point--her statements are.)

The site is here.

I do realize that when people are hyper-partisans--left or right--it's going to make absolutely *no* difference what is said because, like Colleen, they want to deflect from the issue at hand and what better way than claiming your opponent is maligning millions of people, right?

(I'm also certain, given the day and age, that 99% of the people bemoaning this didn't actually check the original source for the story because it's just too good to fact check.)

I agree this is a little more nuanced than it looks like on the surface. I don't have a problem with her having a gaming life but the bathtub quote alone is distressing coming from someone running for public office. That being said, I'm sure Republicans (and Democrats) go out on hunting parties, kill animals, drink beers, and talk shit, and I'm not sure there's much difference, but it does give one pause.

I do hope people read the source. The Daily Mail also has a good article on it.

 

[DiscostewSM]

A politician that plays video games on occasion have a little higher respect from me than those that argue that video games are the devil without researching.

 

[Originality]

Not that anyone cares what a Brit thinks, but I think there should be more gamers in politics.

 

[FAST6191]

For the record mthr the daily mail is the UK equivalent of Fox News.

 

[yuyuyup]

And then you actually went to the site in question where they're taking issues with comments like this:

And:

Yeah, um, talking about *drowning* your political opponents in a bathtub *does* make you unfit for the Senate--so does shouting **** like it's a new chew toy.

(There is also. literally, nothing negative said about WoW or gamers in general because WoW isn't the point--her statements are.)

The site is here.

I do realize that when people are hyper-partisans--left or right--it's going to make absolutely *no* difference what is said because, like Colleen, they want to deflect from the issue at hand and what better way than claiming your opponent is maligning millions of people, right?

(I'm also certain, given the day and age, that 99% of the people bemoaning this didn't actually check the original source for the story because it's just too good to fact check.)

That is a very unfortunate quote, I'm not sure why she is being targeted for her enthusiasm for WoW instead of that; I chalk it up to piss poor mainstream journalism. Obviously Repubs would ballyhoo about a Liberal bent in the press, and this is unfortunately legitimate ammunition.

To put her violent quote in context (but certainly not to justify it,) here is the Grover Norquist quote she is obviously refering to:

"I'm not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."

She should apologize.

As a staunch LIBERAL, I am being accountable for my party.

 

[mthrnite]

For the record mthr the daily mail is the UK equivalent of Fox News.

Noted. Thank you, sir.

 

[Rydian]

So wait, what's the actual verdict?