Politics Who's Gonna Win?

Judging by the number of seemingly prepubescent voices that I heard over my headphones the last time I played, I think that most Halo players are too young to vote.

 

I'm not a gamer, but isnt Halo basically a shoot-em up game?

For the post-teen crowd, killing aliens (and pretending they are terrorists or Mexicans) would seem to be more for the NRA crowd and the border vigilantes rather than laid back leftist peace-nicks.

 

The average Halo player today is different than the Halo players from when the original series peaked. I realize it is possible Halo may not make a come back, but it is ranking among the most highly anticipated games in 2012 on various rankings. When Halo was peaking, I did not know any Xbox owner who had not played the original game series regardless of age - and I remember guys in their 20's having all-nighters linking multiple systems and playing that way regularly. Not hardly fascists.

The original Halo, they release an Anniversary edition in November, sold close to 2 million copies.
--- merged: Apr 18, 2012 at 3:29 PM ---

Definitely a young adult male demographic - upper middle class/people into technology/fantasy - sci-fi stuff.

 

Perhaps I should have stated this way - upper/middle class. That is the gamer demographic. Lower income people tend not to have the disposable income for game level PC's or consoles (until prices drop) and certainly are not spending $60 per game in the first few days of a release. High income people will, for example, buy a real Lamborghini as opposed to one they get in Forza.

On the average age issue, I don't disagree - I thought I said young adult. Although I put emphasis on college age because that is a positive demographic for Obama. Given a 26 year-old is considered a child under Obama care...O.K. I got your point - I apologize for being oh, so misleading I obviously don't know what I am talking about.

 

I think people who own an Xbox 360 and will buy Halo 4 have the identification needed to vote.
I think in circumstances where there is a dispute regarding residency for students - the Halo 4 release would have a bigger impact.
In the low income demographic any potential obstacle to voting will have a bigger impact. I actually think simply the talk (pro/con) regardless of the reality will discourage some from voting. If you talk to some young people now, they already think the political game is rigged and that there is no point and now "they won't even let me vote ".

The Halo 4 release may not matter, I don't know, but it may if the winning voting margins are small in some swing states. If the election is anticipated to be close, and if I am on Obama's re-election team - I would have a strategy to address the issue. In fact I would develop a strategy to work it to my advantage. It can be done. It is a small thing, but small things may mean the difference between winning and losing. Perhaps Obama can dress up as Master Chief in an ad, now that would be pretty cool.

 

I read the source from the link you provided. Halo 4 or not, the young vote is important. When people say "making it more difficult to vote" they tend not to explain how showing ID is difficult. The only legitimate issue in my mind are the laws/rules/regulations regarding students away form home voting. I do believe that a student be allowed to vote on a college campus as their residence as opposed to them traveling home - either way the impact of this is small.

Obama is going to need young voters to vote in the numbers they did in 2008 at least , an an increase would be better for Obama - Halo 4 won't help and potentially hurt.

Newsroom: Voting: Voter Turnout Increases by 5 Million in 2008 Presidential Election, U.S. Census Bureau Reports

 

I suspect many young voters are more concerned about things like Pell Grants (Obama expands and Republicans drastically cut) than Halo 4.

And I suspect young women voters (18-29) are more concerned about access to affordable contraceptive services than Halo 4, which might explain why they are polling overwhelmingly for Obama, by as much as 45 points.

 

How do you explain a 49% voter turnout in 2008 in this demographic?
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I do not support measures making it more difficult for college students to vote, namely the residency issues. Otherwise I think the other issues are reasonable depending on community standards. When some equate these measures to poll taxes and literacy tests, I think they are off the mark. Voting requires some effort.

 

I generally believe showing ID is not only reasonable but should be expected. Other standards put in place on a local (or state) level based on community (or state) standards and needs, is a local decision. If a community can handle same day registration and want to do that, I have no objection. I do not see these measures applicable to everyone as discriminatory.

If you read or listen to civil rights leaders on this issue, they do make these comparisons. Ironically, I think they are overdoing it and actually scaring people who may not vote in November because of an unrealistic perception of how difficult (actually easy) it is to register and vote, even vote early or absentee.

 

After nearly 100 years and three constitutional amendments expanding voting rights -- 19th granting voting rights to women, 24th prohibiting poll taxes that disproportionately hurt Blacks (mostly in southern states), and 26th lowering the voting age to 18 -- we are now seeing attempts by Republican legislatures not to protect voting rights, but to add a new barrier to voting in the form of photo IDs, based on claims of preventing voter fraud, when there is no such evidence that fraud exists, and compelling evidence that it disproportionally impacts minorities and seniors.

And the cry is "STATES RIGHTS!"

 

Voter fraud would be an impossible outcome.

Scenario:
Man: “Do you have an Eric Holder, [address censored]?
Poll worker: “Let me see here.”
Man: [address censored] Northwest.
Poll Worker: Let’s see, Holder; H-o-l-t-e-r, or d-e-r?
Man: H-o-l-d-e-r. That’s the name
Poll Worker: D-e-r. Okay.
Poll Worker: I do. [recites address]
Man: [address censored] Northwest. That’s the address
Poll Worker: Okay. [Appears to check off name] Will you sign there . . .
Man: I actually forgot my ID.
Poll Worker: You don’t need it; it’s all right.
Man: I left it in the car.
Poll Worker: As long as you’re in here, and you’re on our list and that’s who you say you are, we’re okay.
Man: I would feel more comfortable if I go get my ID, is it all right if I go get it?
Poll Worker: Sure, go ahead.
Man: I’ll be back faster than you can say furious!
Poll Worker: We’re not going anywhere.

See the actual video

 

Because it's totally implausible that there's more than one Eric Holder in the United States?

Voter ID efforts are totally going to prevent more legitimate votes than they are going to prevent illegal votes, with the result being a net decrease in voting effectiveness (among certain Democrat-leaning demographics). Which is the point.

 

Otto, like Ace, you are missing the point.

The issue is not voter IDs which are currently required in most states, but expanding the requirement to photo IDs.

The current voter ID laws have been working successfully for 50+ years, with virtually evidence of fraud. Expanding it to mandate a state-issued photo does nothing more than make it more difficult for some voters (minorites and elderly - who happen to lean Democratic) who dont drive, dont have a passport, etc. to participate in their constitutional right to vote.
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Is this video really your evidence of voter fraud?

You and Ace are going to have to do better than that, but the fact is, you cant.