Jack Thompson Likes Sarah Palin
Soon-to-be-former attorney Jack Thompson has written a letter to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin [http://www.johnmccain.com/palin.htm], offering his services to her campaign by way of his latest and greatest Constitutional amendment against videogames.
Thompson has decided to spend his remaining few days as a game-hating attorney throwing his support behind the McCain-Palin campaign, which he says is "missing the boat" on the issue of children being turned into homicidal zombie maniacs by the videogame industry. Thompson claims, according to "a number of reliable polls," that fully 70 percent of Americans want a federal law prohibiting the sales of "adult" videogames to minors; fortunately, Thompson is ready to ride to the rescue and provide just such legislation.
"I have this crucial, constitutional legislation drafted and ready to go," he wrote in his letter. "You will see voters flock to your proposal. The American entertainment industry's assault upon our children and our values must stop, and you are the person to stop it."
Of course, numerous state-level attempts to impose such laws, some authored or inspired by Thompson, have been declared unconstitutional in each and every case, but that hasn't stopped Thompson's grandstanding against the game industry, nor has his pending disbarment [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86463] for "irrational and self-aggrandizing antics," "cumulative misconduct" and numerous other ethical and legal violations. Thompson's permanent disbarment takes effect on October 25.
The full text of Thompson's letter to Sarah Palin follows:
October 10, 2008
The Honorable Sarah Palin
Governor, State of Alaska
Vice-Presidential Candidate
McCain-Palin Campaign Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia Via Fax and e-mail
Re: Federal Law Needed to Stop Sale of Mature-Rated Video Games to Minors
Dear Governor Palin:
Over the last decade I have appeared on more than 200 national television programs (Today eight times, 60 Minutes twice, Nightline, Oprah) alerting Americans to the public safety and health hazards posed by the video game industry's marketing and sale of violent and pornographic Mature-rated video games to minors. Innumerable school shootings have been caused by these murder simulators, including those at Paducah, Columbine, Red Lake, and Virginia Tech. We are teaching our kids how to murder.
A number of reliable polls prove that 70% of the American people want a federal law prohibiting the sale of adult video games to minors. We are the only nation in the world that does not have such a law. The United States Federal Trade Commission has proven that major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart are violating the video game industry's age rating system. These brazen sales by these huge retailers are occurring in stores and via the Internet. I have sat in jail cells with these game-trained killers. I have sat in the living rooms of the families of their victims. Both sides in this carnage are bathed in tears. The video game industry is sowing the wind, and the rest of us are reaping their whirlwind. It is going to get worse. Columbine times ten is on the way
The McCain-Palin campaign, with all respect, is missing the boat on this issue. I strongly urge your campaign to tell American parents that if elected you will present to Congress a bill that prevents the sale of adult games to kids while fully protecting the First Amendment. I have this crucial, constitutional legislation drafted and ready to go. You will see voters flock to your proposal. The American entertainment industry's assault upon our children and our values must stop, and you are the person to stop it.
Regards, Jack Thompson
Representatives from the McCain-Palin campaign have not yet responded to the letter.
Source: GamePolitics [http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/10/10/jack-thompson-offers-his-expertise-sarah-palin]
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Soon-to-be-former attorney Jack Thompson has written a letter to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin [http://www.johnmccain.com/palin.htm], offering his services to her campaign by way of his latest and greatest Constitutional amendment against videogames.
Thompson has decided to spend his remaining few days as a game-hating attorney throwing his support behind the McCain-Palin campaign, which he says is "missing the boat" on the issue of children being turned into homicidal zombie maniacs by the videogame industry. Thompson claims, according to "a number of reliable polls," that fully 70 percent of Americans want a federal law prohibiting the sales of "adult" videogames to minors; fortunately, Thompson is ready to ride to the rescue and provide just such legislation.
"I have this crucial, constitutional legislation drafted and ready to go," he wrote in his letter. "You will see voters flock to your proposal. The American entertainment industry's assault upon our children and our values must stop, and you are the person to stop it."
Of course, numerous state-level attempts to impose such laws, some authored or inspired by Thompson, have been declared unconstitutional in each and every case, but that hasn't stopped Thompson's grandstanding against the game industry, nor has his pending disbarment [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86463] for "irrational and self-aggrandizing antics," "cumulative misconduct" and numerous other ethical and legal violations. Thompson's permanent disbarment takes effect on October 25.
The full text of Thompson's letter to Sarah Palin follows:
October 10, 2008
The Honorable Sarah Palin
Governor, State of Alaska
Vice-Presidential Candidate
McCain-Palin Campaign Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia Via Fax and e-mail
Re: Federal Law Needed to Stop Sale of Mature-Rated Video Games to Minors
Dear Governor Palin:
Over the last decade I have appeared on more than 200 national television programs (Today eight times, 60 Minutes twice, Nightline, Oprah) alerting Americans to the public safety and health hazards posed by the video game industry's marketing and sale of violent and pornographic Mature-rated video games to minors. Innumerable school shootings have been caused by these murder simulators, including those at Paducah, Columbine, Red Lake, and Virginia Tech. We are teaching our kids how to murder.
A number of reliable polls prove that 70% of the American people want a federal law prohibiting the sale of adult video games to minors. We are the only nation in the world that does not have such a law. The United States Federal Trade Commission has proven that major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart are violating the video game industry's age rating system. These brazen sales by these huge retailers are occurring in stores and via the Internet. I have sat in jail cells with these game-trained killers. I have sat in the living rooms of the families of their victims. Both sides in this carnage are bathed in tears. The video game industry is sowing the wind, and the rest of us are reaping their whirlwind. It is going to get worse. Columbine times ten is on the way
The McCain-Palin campaign, with all respect, is missing the boat on this issue. I strongly urge your campaign to tell American parents that if elected you will present to Congress a bill that prevents the sale of adult games to kids while fully protecting the First Amendment. I have this crucial, constitutional legislation drafted and ready to go. You will see voters flock to your proposal. The American entertainment industry's assault upon our children and our values must stop, and you are the person to stop it.
Regards, Jack Thompson
Representatives from the McCain-Palin campaign have not yet responded to the letter.
Source: GamePolitics [http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/10/10/jack-thompson-offers-his-expertise-sarah-palin]
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