Gamerpick: Xbox Live Rock the Vote polled, Obama ahead
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 29th 2008 at 12:30PM }
As of press time, Democratic-nom Barack Obama had a commanding lead over Republican oppollnent John McCain, with 4,623 gamerpics in circulation versus just 2,076 – a nearly insurmountable lead of 2,547 gamerpics. That's fine, but what's the real story here? How the pundits and the pollsters – clouded by the corruption and cynicism of a two-party election system – have ignored the dark horse in this election: Gears of War skull face guy, who right now controls a most impressive 87,626 of The People's votes. Ignore the political machine and vote your conscience!
[Via Cheap Ass Gamer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
deaftly @ Aug 29th 2008 12:34PM
Im not even into politics at all really and his speech last night made me want to register and vote for Obama. Lets just hope its not all just talk.
Xoonaka @ Aug 29th 2008 12:39PM
Really, for all politicians, it is just talk. Even the president doesn't have absolute power, and unless the Senate and House are with him, there's very little he can do.
WRE @ Aug 29th 2008 12:40PM
Unfortunately, it is all talk. Just like Hillary's speech at the convention. Just like any speech that the Republicans will give. My vote is going to Gears of War skull face guy. Only he is running a practical, time-bound campaign that tackles the real issues like getting our troops out of Sera and chainsaw gun control.
please @ Aug 29th 2008 1:13PM
There needs to be a RPG where you are a poor baby abandoned by your communist father. Then you move to Indonesia and get a new Daddy for ten years then your grandparents help you get through high school. You go to law school then take some part time jobs become a small time politician make some good speeches become a big time politician and maybe become president. Maybe a GTA clone or something.
Tiptup300 @ Aug 29th 2008 1:45PM
This is the reason he's getting so many goo gobs of votes.
JS Beckerist @ Aug 29th 2008 2:33PM
There's a huge difference between being able to publicly speak / win elections and being president. Let's just hope he packs smart, benevolent people around him too to help him make smart decisions (this goes for McCain as well.)
Back on topic: I don't see this as anything statistical for Obama. The general XBOX population is most likely not of voting age, and just because you show an icon doesn't mean ANYTHING. It could just mean his supporters are more vocal, it could just mean more people liked the colors on the icon...there's no real way to tell.
JS Beckerist @ Aug 29th 2008 2:33PM
There's a huge difference between being able to publicly speak / win elections and being president. Let's just hope he packs smart, benevolent people around him too to help him make smart decisions (this goes for McCain as well.)
Back on topic: I don't see this as anything statistical for Obama. The general XBOX population is most likely not of voting age, and just because you show an icon doesn't mean ANYTHING. It could just mean his supporters are more vocal, it could just mean more people liked the colors on the icon...there's no real way to tell.
zuburi @ Aug 29th 2008 4:58PM
"Let's just hope he packs smart, benevolent people around him too to help him make smart decisions (this goes for McCain as well.)"
You better hope McCain has some smart people around him. Dude finished 894th out of 899 students in his naval academy.
NitroFrost @ Aug 29th 2008 12:34PM
Its funny looking at how many users pick Obama when the guy hates games. Pretty ironic don't you think
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 29th 2008 12:39PM
Meh, everyone for thier own. Just because he may not like cheesecake (which I adore) doesn't make me dislike him, lol
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 29th 2008 12:40PM
What?
He said that people should not blame videoagames. He said that it was responsability of the parents to watch their kids.
NitroFrost @ Aug 29th 2008 12:40PM
To better prove my point
Unlike rival Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama does not have a significant track record with regard to video game content issues.
His speeches, however, often contain a reference to parents making their children "put away the video games." For Obama, video games seem to serve as a sort of metaphor for underachievement.
The Illinois senator repeated the theme last night in a victory speech following his big win over Clinton in the Wisconsin primary. As reported by the Washington Post, which carried a transcript and video of the speech, Obama said:
I know how hard it will be to alleviate poverty that has built up over centuries, how hard it will be to fix schools, because changing our schools will require not just money, but a change in attitudes.
We're going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children, and that's going to take some time.
A day earlier, speaking to a college crowd in Youngstown, Ohio, Obama made similar remarks. The Youngstown Vindicator reports:
[Obama called for] investments in early childhood education to close the achievement gap, but with an added emphasis on poetry, music and art, not just academics. Obama admonished parents to do their part by turning off the television, putting away the video games, and instilling in their children a desire to get a good education.
Nor is this a new theme for Obama. GamePolitics reported on similar comments as far back as April, 2006.
source : http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/02/20/obama-campaign-theme-video-games-as-metaphor-for-underachievement
Zertoss @ Aug 29th 2008 12:43PM
Well you can't do your homework if you don't put away the videogames. Maybe his plan will reduce the troglodyte population on XBL.
Pip @ Aug 29th 2008 12:45PM
I don't see anything wrong with what he said. Good parenting means you take control of your kids. Get them off the TV, Internet, Video Games, and anything else that might distract them from actually learning.
It's true. Parents need to do one thing: Parent.
I do feel sorry about Palin, though. Being used like that is a pretty poor move. Women are going to be pretty ticked off over that.
waves @ Aug 29th 2008 12:45PM
That's a stretch. He never said he hated games.
He's said things like this:
"We’re going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children, and that’s going to take some time.”
He's not blaming games, he's asking parents to take responsibility for what their kids are doing. This sentiment has been echoed by many adult gamers on this and other sites. He's never written or promoted any legislation that would restrict the rights of gamers, like Hillary or Lieberman has.
Anni @ Aug 29th 2008 12:46PM
Okay, I'm sorry, where is what he said wrong?
GoldenS1104 @ Aug 29th 2008 12:49PM
"[Obama called for] investments in early childhood education to close the *achievement gap*..."
Wait, so that means he does support video games, right? Higher gamerscores for the children of America? :P
Freelance @ Aug 29th 2008 12:50PM
All though Joystiq poster are notorious for being know-it-alls the upside of that is they are too smart to fall for crap like that. The posters on here don't just take something someone said and run with it. They will research it and look it up and get back in your face if you are wrong. I hope you got something to back that up.
If remember correctly, Obama has denounced parents not controlling kids use of video games. Has he ever attacked video games directly?
Shagittarius @ Aug 29th 2008 1:11PM
While Obama himself hasn't really said anything inflamitory about Video games his choice of VP certainly is questionable.
Biden who doesn't say anything against games in particular is in fact a huge luddite. He doesn't believe in Net neutrality or net privacy and has worked in the past directly with the RIAA. For someone like Obama preaching change and progressive government to pick such an old luddite for his running mate kinda shows you were Obama himself places the importance on the things gamers and netizens really care about.
At least with republicans you know your hobby isn't going to get ganked as long as they can make money off it.
Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Aug 29th 2008 2:26PM
I give you props for stating your opinion. Yea it would be nice to get more specifics from Obama on where he stands with video games, but what good will that do if we won't have money to spend on games if gas gets to $8.00 a gallon because we decided to invade Iran?
Mr.ESC @ Aug 29th 2008 3:43PM
[Obama called for] investments in early childhood education to close the achievement gap, but with an added emphasis on poetry, music and art, not just academics. Obama admonished parents to do their part by turning off the television, putting away the video games, and instilling in their children a desire to get a good education.
THAT BASTARD! How he dares to wish children a better education.
Really games are hobbies and hobbies take time, If I had kids I wouldn’t allow them to play videogames except Saturdays and I would only buy them videogames if the report card said A or it was their Birthday, Christmas or any other festivity.
I’ve always been an A student but videogames take too much time and I would rather have my kids learning how to play the piano than swearing like drunken sailors in the xlive.
Playing more than 7 hours per week is the prize one gets when you finish School (With that I mean summer of course) or College (Why the spellcheck always change college to Colleague?) and you are a grown up with a job and can waste his or her time the way he or she wants.
Nevers @ Aug 29th 2008 6:51PM
Well thank you for his views on video games... and I whole-heartedly agree with him. Kids should be doing a lot more activities than playing video-games and talking on their iphones while they glide their chubby a$$e$ around on those dumb-a$$ roller-shoes.
Too much of anything is never a good thing. Even pot...
Obie @ Aug 29th 2008 8:28PM
Fernando is correct, Obama stressed parental responsibility. I am sure in NitroFrost's case his parents failed him....badly.
kastonie @ Sep 4th 2008 4:47PM
@ Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force)
Gas is going to be 8 dollars a gallon if obama wins because his plan to help us get off foreign oil dependence is to put air in our tires, instead of drilling offshore in other places than the gulf of mexico.....
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 29th 2008 12:34PM
Go Obama!
Obie @ Aug 29th 2008 8:26PM
Yeah booooy! :D
Duke @ Aug 29th 2008 12:34PM
Congrats Obama, you are the president of XBL!
ObiBen @ Aug 29th 2008 12:38PM
Gears of War skull face guy FTW!
freelancepimp @ Aug 29th 2008 12:39PM
This poll is probably more accurate than those made for hype polls CNN is always quoting
ObiBen @ Aug 29th 2008 12:39PM
Hopefully his first act as XBL president will be to do away will those silly points!
Mr Khan @ Aug 29th 2008 12:39PM
Youth are traditionally more liberal, but you also figure the kind of people with the money and leisure time to buy and play a 360 online might err on the more conservative side
Farseer (GDI) @ Aug 29th 2008 12:49PM
lol, did you mean to use the word "err"? If not, that's hilarious, if so, that's brilliant. :)
Mr.ESC @ Aug 29th 2008 3:59PM
the kind of people with the money and leisure time to buy and play a 360 online might err on the more conservative side
Making reference to a Chris Rock sketch most of the people are conservative for some things and liberal for others.At end is all about money.
Bert @ Aug 29th 2008 12:41PM
Obama sucks!
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 29th 2008 12:44PM
You suck.
WRE @ Aug 29th 2008 12:48PM
Your mom sucks!
Farseer (GDI) @ Aug 29th 2008 12:51PM
I enjoyed reading your well thought-out and highly articulate criticism of Mr. Obama. You may have just convinced me to rethink my vote...
Farseer (GDI) @ Aug 29th 2008 12:54PM
I enjoyed reading your well thought-out and highly articulate criticism of Mr. Obama. You may have just convinced me to rethink my vote...
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 29th 2008 12:54PM
" You guys are all crazy, X-men 3 was an awesome movie."
I think you really suck.
http://www.joystiq.com/profile/304467/
Mr.ESC @ Aug 29th 2008 4:34PM
You liked xmen 3? Woah you seriously suck.
Zertoss @ Aug 29th 2008 12:41PM
Looks like the combined total of Stewie Griffin Gamerpics puts him way ahead of both of them. He doesn't come close to Gears of War skull face guy though.
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 29th 2008 12:41PM
There needs to be a game where you are a poor boy (customized character) and you grow up and become president, the aim of the game is it beat out opponents, make great speeches and become president :D
whiplashchick @ Aug 29th 2008 12:42PM
it's not Obama you have to worry about, it's Biden. mofo is in the pocket of Hollywood execs.
Mr Khan @ Aug 29th 2008 12:45PM
If politics was more substantial, it would be Biden-Obama 08, not Obama-Biden 08
sigh
Dirty @ Aug 29th 2008 1:12PM
I'd take Hollywood over big energy any day.
J @ Aug 29th 2008 3:48PM
Biden's not in the pocket of anyone... as illustrated by him being one of the poorest members of the Senate. I actually consider that a good thing and a potential sign of character with all of the temptation so readily available to someone in that position. While I don't agree with every stance he's taken, I think he was a pretty solid VP pick.
Ordeith @ Aug 29th 2008 12:44PM
Low average IQ of XBL users confirmed!
Didn't really need a poll for that, just need to listen in on a Halo match.
Exo @ Aug 29th 2008 12:57PM
if you actually like mccain more then you have just proved how dumb YOU are
Madeira @ Aug 29th 2008 1:12PM
Yeah... I'm not too sure I would classify supporting a Republican after the Bush Admin as a sign of intelligence. Fiscal conservatives that sink the country into unprecedented debt? Unnecessary wars? The suspension of Habeus Corpus? It's probably a good time to try the other guys.
Ordeith @ Aug 29th 2008 12:46PM
@NitroFrost:
All you prove is that Obambi doesn't have a clue.