'Halo player' used as political smear

by Justin McElroy { Oct 7th 2008 at 2:30PM }

If you're anything like us, you've been racking your brain and your heart deciding which way to vote in the hotly contested Maricopa County District 1 Supervisor race. Now, thanks to a flyer sent in to us by reader Matt M., we think we finally have our man: Ed Hermes, who, according to the literature, is "a skilled player of popular video game Halo," telling the Arizona State University newspaper "I am addicted to Halo and play almost every night."

If opponent Fulton Brock meant that to somehow belittle Hermes in our eyes, he's doing a crummy job of it: Any man who can drive a Warthog is more than capable of driving Phoenix and the surrounding area to a bright economic future.

Tags: halo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Shagittarius @ Oct 7th 2008 2:33PM

I guess they didnt hear or don't believe the studies that show games help with mind acumen and critical thinking.

I know who I'd vote for, and I hope he tea-bags the other guy when he wins.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Oct 7th 2008 4:45PM

Maybe Mr. Brock was simply trying to point out that, instead of playing a good FPS, Hermes chooses to play HALO. (ie, poor decision making)

BTW - Fulton Brock is one of the coolest eighties-teen-movie-villain names of all time.

Po Panda @ Oct 7th 2008 6:56PM

+1 to the Shagster!

Grey Acumen @ Oct 7th 2008 2:36PM

The video game thing is secondary to everything else on that list. It kinda makes you realize just what shape politics has turned our government into that this guy actually is being considered as a viable candidate.

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Oct 7th 2008 2:43PM

I hope when Fulton Brock beats this know-nothing, he raises the flag and he has someone yell out, "Fulton Brock HAS TAKEN THE LEAD."

Seriously, it's funny to consider voting for the Halo guy, until you read that he's already had run-ins with the law, and appeared on an MTV reality show.

Candidates should wait until after they get into office to begin committing career ending mistakes.

edgore @ Oct 7th 2008 2:59PM

Of course, you are jusding Ed's experience by the flyer his opponent put out. If you check Ed's own website - http://www.edhermes.com/Meet_Ed.html - you might get a very different story.

Which is correct? I could not say, but I am guessing that the flyer might have teh bias.

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Oct 7th 2008 3:06PM

I'm going to guess that getting information about the guy from his own website might just be slightly "teh bias!" as well.

However, having an arrest record, and appearing on an MTV reality show are pretty hard to deny, no?

edgore @ Oct 7th 2008 3:16PM

Also the "run-ins with the law" appear to all be traffic tickets.

Silly politicians.

Cornelius @ Oct 7th 2008 3:29PM

He doesn't have an arrest record. "Run-ins with the law" is intentionally misleading.

Hell, I've had more "run-ins" with the law, and I've never been arrested either. I also missed a court appearance before. It isn't hard to do when you switch housing/apartments (happens a lot in college) every semester and notices get sent to the wrong address (address forwarding doesn't work worth a damn btw). I also missed jury duty once because of this.

Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrected on a... thursday?!) @ Oct 7th 2008 3:32PM

Because as we all know, appearing on an MTV reality show immediately makes the individual unable to perform political duties.

Vcize @ Oct 7th 2008 3:41PM

LOL OhJustSomeRandomGuy,

Way to get pwned by misleading political re-wording even though everyone is telling you to watch out for misleading political re-wording.

Grey Acumen @ Oct 7th 2008 9:09PM

Wow... I love these comments:

"Obviously Fulton's smear is biased, but certainly Ed's personal website isn't biased at all! I know it's true, cause it's on teh internets!"

"The legal issues are just traffic tickets, he didn't really get arrested, you all got punked! How does showing up at a government building when you're supposed to have anything to do with doing your job as a County Supervisor?"

"What does showing up on MTV have to do with not being qualified for political office? What can shows like "Room Raiders" and "Panty Raid Realty Show" and website profiles of "Dirty" tell you about a person?"

"Wow, way to be a sheep and not use your brain. If you had realized how misleading this smear campaign was, you'd realize that an unmarried guy who doesn't even handle his own living finances, is barely out of college, has missed 4 times that he was supposed to appear in court, and may not even have a steady job, is OBVIOUSLY more qualified that a married guy who has started 3 companies and has 12 years of experience in the job already"

Yeah, sorry, I may not trust politicians, and I'm totally willing to go for some guy out of left field over some guy who's been in the system for 20 years, but that's provided that the new guy has SOME sort of REAL qualifications. College don't hack it.
My problem with politicians right now is that too many of them are more interested in getting REelected than doing their job, they handle money badly and then don't take responsibility for their actions. Even if I think that Fulton is petty for running this smear thing, I still agree that he's more qualified.

netlatnu @ Oct 7th 2008 2:38PM

Oh, so he's got the experience of Sarah Palin, plus he's a gamer. He's got my vote!

McBrick @ Oct 7th 2008 3:30PM

So he's run a company, served as mayor, AND served as governor? Dude's a political prodigy! He should list that stuff on his qualifications.

That or you're just full of crap. I vote for "B".

netlatnu @ Oct 7th 2008 3:56PM

Oh darn, I got called on my feeble attempt at political humor. And I thought I could get away with it on a video game website. Well, in the spirit of fairness, I'll just say:

Oh, so he's got the experience of Barack Obama, plus he's a gamer. He's got my vote!

McBrick @ Oct 7th 2008 4:05PM

Oh, so he's a Community Organizer and has a law degree from Harvard? He should say so on his qualifications!

Oh, right. Political humor. Nevermind.

DWells55 @ Oct 7th 2008 4:41PM

If it makes you feel better, I laughed at the jab at Sarah Palin. But I laughed at your Obama comment even more.

Bass Masterson @ Oct 7th 2008 5:23PM

Bush has a degree from Harvard. So, you're saying Obama is as smart as George Bush?

offday @ Oct 7th 2008 6:27PM

Sorry, but the Palin comment deserves a big FAIL. The slam against Obama was funnier.

Also, governor > community organizer

MC Double Def DP @ Oct 7th 2008 2:40PM

I wouldn't trust a 56 year old who uses a 20 year old photo of himself. Also, he refers to his kids as 'successful companies' what an old geezer jerk!

Lawya @ Oct 7th 2008 3:05PM

You beat me to it. My first thought was: "56? What, he hasn't had his picture taken since college?" However, a quick Googleing makes me think that Brock may just look 15 years younger than his actual age.

I'm 26 and I don't look much younger than this guy. Makes me wonder if I should reconsider a career as a County Supervisor.

Cornelius @ Oct 7th 2008 3:06PM

Yeah, no kidding. He sounds like a real douche. And he used an out-of-date picture of his challenger as well.

And like I said before, anyone incumbent who feels the only why to win an election is to smear an up-and-coming challenger must really suck at his job.

Why else would he be so desperate to take the low road? I can't imagine that his seat would be threatened if that 12 years as county supervisor were as perfect as he made it out to be...

I absolutely abhor "career" politicians.

Bass Masterson @ Oct 7th 2008 5:25PM

You're right! In the same vein, why would someone trust a 36-year veteran of the Senate running on a 'change' ticket and getting botox injections before his only debate to look younger?

Vegnagun bwf @ Oct 7th 2008 2:43PM

The other guy actually does have more experience though. >.>

343 Guilty Fart @ Oct 7th 2008 2:45PM

You're wrong, Ed Hermes has over 1200 XP, the other guy doesn't have any, he's not even a recruit!

BigD145 @ Oct 7th 2008 2:51PM

"The other guy" has experience in spending more money than the county has available on political billboards and pay raises for himself.

Dirty @ Oct 7th 2008 2:44PM

damn Im in district 4. I wont get to vote this guy in. I can help mobilize some of my Alma Mater to help him out though, Because ASU is in his district. A lot of my friends still live there or nearby (and are likely registered there.)

Teh Haloz is a very important issue for me.

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 7th 2008 3:41PM

If we don't do something about the Halos now, we might all get exploded!

Someone think of the children!

J.Goodwin @ Oct 7th 2008 2:46PM

Certainly better than the chance of the guys who have presided over the ghost towns created by the out of control housing bubble.

Cornelius @ Oct 7th 2008 2:47PM

You'd think that the guy who's been the county supervisor for the last 12 years would have no problem defending his seat against a young fresh-out-of-college kid. Yet, he still feels threatened enough to resort to a smear campaign against his challenger.

Makes me wonder how badly he must suck at his job to feel that threatened by a n00b.

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Oct 7th 2008 3:00PM

It's not really a "smear" campaign when all that stuff is actually true.

Cornelius @ Oct 7th 2008 3:16PM

It's still a negative campaign.

If his 12 years as county supervisor were squeaky clean and as perfect as he made it out to be, he wouldn't feel the least bit challenged by an unknown quantity. He could've at least acknowledged him, and debated him. Pointing out some stupid stuff he did as a kid (I matured quite a bit between years 20-24, much moreso than 25-30) is sidestepping the issue.

And we all did stupid stuff in college. I'm willing to be my life worth that Fulton did some pretty embarrassing stuff in college that he wouldn't disclose publicly. Only difference is, the younger generation has to contend with internet and reality TV to avoid embarrassment.

Btw, I'm tired of negative campaigns. True or not, they have no place when they're being used to sidestep debating the real problems and issues. Unfortunately, that's not how it works, and we typically get the best ass-kissing douches with the least embarrassing pasts (or proof) instead of the right guy or girl for the job. That's why Washington is so fucked up right now.

Dirty @ Oct 7th 2008 3:31PM

is OhJustSomeRandomGuy actualy Fulton Brock?

DUN DUN DUN.

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Oct 7th 2008 2:48PM

Jesus, all I get from the older dude is that he's offended by youth. Granted, politicians lie and sling mud, but that mud is loosely attached to a position the candidate has taken. Swiftboating tactics are never used by the candidates themselves.

I don't think Obama has ever uttered "Soccer Mom" himself, nor McCain any innuendo about Islam.

van @ Oct 7th 2008 2:50PM

DOOM > Halo

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 7th 2008 7:13PM

Ha Ha.

No. Not even close. Especially if you're talking about Doom 3.

van @ Oct 7th 2008 8:17PM

did I say doom 3? no. DOOM

Skyflur @ Oct 7th 2008 11:07PM

How the hell is Doom better than halo 3? Just because you might feel nostalgic towards it because you used to ejaculate to it when it came out, it doesn't make it a better game.

Red Leader @ Oct 7th 2008 2:50PM

Damn politics.

Jakka @ Oct 7th 2008 3:36PM

I'd say that in that case Fulton is more of a turd.

Mauricio @ Oct 7th 2008 2:53PM

So, Fulton seems like a Dick and Ed is a Douche.
Fulton forgot to mention that Ed also pops his fucking collars.

MC Double Def DP is right, why doesnt Fulton use a current picture of himself? and what kind of a name is Fulton anyway?

MC Double Def DP @ Oct 7th 2008 3:20PM

He pops his collar too? then my vote is a write-in for Satan.

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 7th 2008 2:54PM

Well...after playing with the halo community would YOU want any of them in office? Didn't think so.

ExMcCloud @ Oct 7th 2008 3:02PM

wat u tryin to say Tmac? I'm part of the Halo community......Are u sayin my love for oh teh politicsorz can't be realized because.......

Yeah your right I wouldn't vote for me either.....sigh

ScottG13 @ Oct 7th 2008 2:55PM

I give credit to a guy trying to change gov't as a young kid. Few political positions benefit from "career politicians." Gov't needs more turnover and fewer favors owed. Get this "56 year old" guy back into the private sector.

Mauricio @ Oct 7th 2008 2:58PM

anyone notice how fulton has Sources for every one of this smears against Ed Hermes But has not one source to back up any of his "Accomplishments" or "Ethics" slugs.

Cornelius has a point too. Why does this Fulton clown feel the need to smear a 26 yr old when he obviously has more experience...fucking fulton, politics as usual for him.

Muu @ Oct 7th 2008 3:02PM

If I were to be voting for these guys, I'd question the validity of Fulton Brock after seeing this. Everything he lists seems so superior in comparison, that IMHO it seems like there's no point in bashing his opponent -- which would lead me to believe that Fulton Brock himself may think he is in the same level as his rival.

Muu @ Oct 7th 2008 3:08PM

OK, maybe he really does feel threatened by Ed Hermes. Looks like residents are going to have to choose between two douchebags, just that one is an avid Halo player that lives with his parents.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2008/08/fultons_follies_excerpts_from.php