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This Wednesday article in the Naperville Sun appears to be the source of the Tribune’s contention that Governor Blagojevich postponed his Wednesday announcement of his video game criminalization proposal in order to get as much media exposure as possible. The governor’s office continues to deny that it postponed the event so it could get more coverage.

It was a typical day at the office for Nina Menis on Tuesday.

But then the director of community relations for Naperville School District 203 got a phone call from Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office. The governor wanted to meet with some Naperville mothers and middle-schoolers on Wednesday to talk about the mental and spiritual health of children including their opinions on violent video games.

“We just got the call (Tuesday) afternoon and we told the governor’s staff that we didn’t know what the turnout would be with the holidays, but we were sure we would have people there,” Menis said.

Menis then e-mailed parents alerting them to the impromptu visit from the governor. She also managed to secure a meeting room at the 95th Street Library.

When the stage appeared set, Menis received another call from the governor’s office, saying he had to cancel Wednesday’s visit. Apparently the governor wanted more media coverage.

“He’s now planning on coming Thursday because he wanted to give additional media the opportunity to attend the event,” Menis said.

“He wanted to delay a day so that the New York Times could be here to cover it,” read the District 203 e-mail announcing the postponement.

A representative from the governor’s office told the Sun on Tuesday that the governor had no public appearances planned for today. The representative from the governor’s office would not say why Blagojevich canceled today’s visit to Naperville.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 1:38 pm

Comments

The cost of video games is sky rocketing. Does Blago realize that no six year old kid buys these things. $49.99 for most games.

And what about places that sell used games? Does this apply there? This is like worrying that a six year old might stumble across a copy of Lady Chatterly’s Lover or Ulysses and start reading.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 2:26 pm
Ok, just as a tiny insight for those mindless fools located in the Gov’s office.

The kids aren’t buying the great majority of these games, they are getting access to them in one of several different ways:

First, renting them. Go to your local video store, it’s not just videos/DVD’s you can rent in most places. It’s also games.

Secondly, have ANY (even one?) of those brainless amateurs ever heard of software like BitTorrent or edonkey? Ever heard of P2P downloads? They’re not paying for it - somebody buys a copy, cracks security, & it’s up for downloading.

I can see it now - the “Video Game Criminal Bureau”, a new division of the Illinois State Police. Staffed by the former bodyguards/hair brush security specialists…..

Who needs comedy clubs with Blagojevich in office….

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 3:53 pm
You’re missing the point.

This isn’t about stopping kids from getting video games. It’s about getting publicity for pretending to stop kids from getting video games.

I really, really am trying to like Blago, but he sure doesn’t make it easy.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 5:32 pm
There’s a website set up now, too:

http://www.safegamesillinois.org/

But what’s disturbing isn’t the slick website (although that, too, makes me wonder all this is about) — it’s the ‘Report a Retailer’ link:

http://www.safegamesillinois.org/report.php

Report a retailer for doing *what?* Selling merchandise that’s perfectly legal to sell? I’ve never quite seen anything like that — I mean, someone oughta explain to Blago’s stormtroopers that, um, there’s no *law* about this stuff yet. It’s just an *announcement*.

This has a vague totalitarian whiff to it — “reporting” people for doing something “indecent.”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 6:22 pm
“This isn’t about stopping kids from getting video games. It’s about getting publicity for pretending to stop kids from getting video games.”

Point taken - However, his press release has been picked up & posted in a whole lot of places (apparently nationwide) and he’s fast getting ripped a new one (actually, multiple new ones) by the friendly, neighborhood “Pajamahadeen”.

A number of the bloggers are already asking the follow-up questions you would expect out of your average 5th grader - what about movies, or music, or even television - or even the Internet. Where’s Blagojevich at on all those issues?

I guess it’s the old rule of “Any press is good press” - even when it’s not.

But, his approach is sort of understandable when you see today’s Rockford Register Star running an article about how “The IL Department of Human Services wants to merge Boone County’s public aid facility and its seven employees with the Winnebago County office by Jan. 31, 2004.”

And to make things better….

“The state is closing 25 offices to save $3 million annually beginning next fiscal year. Closing the Boone (County) office is expected to save about $39,000 annually.”

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041216/NEWS0101/412160325&category=NEWS0101

Of course, that’s a Republican area, so “Oh Well”.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 6:42 pm
Of course it’s about the press coverage and publicity. And by the way, there is nothing about Blago to like, unless you are a fellow narcissist. I have had too many up close and personal “experiences” with him and his hand picked stooges. The Gov doesn’t care about anything unless it makes him look like he cares. But, hand it to him, it did work. He made a big splash and even made the nightly national news. He can’t fix the budget or change business as usual, but give him credit, he gets his face on television for saying what the public wants to hear. So he is a good guy after all.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 16, 04 @ 7:14 pm