The question arises: Could video games become a campaign issue?

Presidential hopeful Al Gore has picked Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn) to assist him on the Democratic ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Lieberman is one of the harshest critics of the video and computer game industry, and is known to the games community for his tireless, tireless, tireless, tireless, tireless, tireless, tireless, tireless (did I mention 'tireless') campaigning against videogames & his work in prodding, prodding, prodding, prodding.... the industry into voluntarily establishing the ESRB game rating system to avoid government regulation. Organized by Interactive Digital Software Association, the industry's trade organization, publishers now rate their games for both age and content.

Together w/ Senator Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin, Lieberman publishes an annual report card, where he and other non-gameplayers rate our favorite games and software companies. You may review this collaborative garbage at the National Institute on Media and the Family website.

Lieberman was elected to the Senate in 1988 and wasted no time in making the censorship of videogames one of his top priorities. In a Senate press conference in 1993, Lieberman described his feelings on games like Night Trap and Mortal Kombat by saying he was "outraged," and followed up by saying, "I really wish that we could ban them constitutionally." The ultimate outcome of the conference was the establishment of the existing game rating system.

Um, he also stated that the plot of Night Trap was to rape unsuspecting woman at a sorority party -- obviously never taking the time to actually play, view, or even review the game.

Later, in 1997, Lieberman told Next Generation Magazine that, "people who play violent videogames, probably will have a tendency to be more violent, or at least less struck by violence, in real life."

In December of 1998, Lieberman said that companies marketing mature-rated games to teenagers suggested that "Joe Camel has gone digital," an allusion to cigarette manufacturers targeting teens.

Want to hear more wacky repitoire? A list of Lieberman's transcripts and statements on this subject can be found on his official Senate Web site.

While the outcome of the coming election is unknown, the fact that Lieberman is running for reelection in the Senate at the same time that he campaigns for the Democratic vice presidency indicates that the end of videogaming's woes aren't likely to appear anytime soon. Those of you who wish to let Vice President Gore know how you feel about his latest endeavor of shame should email our 'pal' Al.

For those of our more paranoid readers -- if your a videogame player, you can now expect to be placed on some FBI list deep within the pentagon!

And remember, if you want unqualified people in power to think that you are not a group of whacked-out, malevolent savages led into violence by playing videogames, the best way to approach them is with kindness... Gauging from his past, Gore seems to respond particularly well to the 60's flower power, "It's not my fault, videogames made me do it" mindset.