What is it with McCain's staff bashing D&D players?

[obryn]

http://www.johnmccain.com/McCainReport/Read.aspx?guid=181471d0-5456-4434-9f78-2f30ffc39459

It may be typical of the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd to disparage a fellow countryman's memory of war from the comfort of mom's basement, but most Americans have the humility and gratitude to respect and learn from the memories of men who suffered on behalf of others

Really, this is like the second or third time in the past week or so that I've seen McCain's staff link...

Obama Supporter = D&D Player = Basement-Dwelling Nerd

-O

[Sojourner Judas]

Real Americans are jocks, not nerds!

[BOZ]

Obama plays D&D? Damn, brotha, you got my vote!

[SpikeyFreak]

Real Americans are jocks, not nerds!
Oh how I delight in the fact that this perception is changing.

--Jord Spikey

[Dr. Paragon]

My money is on a cocktail of self loathing and the "Projection"
psychological defense mechanism.

[Radu]

I do not live in my mother's basement!

(Admittedly, we don't have a basement for me to be living in, but if we did... well, shit. I guess I really DO fit the profile.)

[Singularity]

MCain to D&D players - Go vote for Obama.

[Alpha Ralpha]

It is part and parcel of the tactics of modern elections. The selling of a candidate as an "image" instead of a person.

Sometimes it is really subtle in its workings such as the noted linking of D&D player=basement dwelling nerd=Obama supporter. This is as much about painting a negative image in the minds of the public towards an opponent as anything else.

Republicans are using the media to establish an image in the minds of the public. The Democrats are doing it also, to be sure.

I am not trying to be all conspiritorial here and suggest all sorts of way-out-there-conspiracy-theories with black helicopters, mind-control, subliminal messages, etc. etc. I am just talking about marketing a "product" instead of a person. The way you brand that product for the consumption of the public, that sort of thing.

Look at the way that Obama's campaign shifted as soon as he clinched the Dems nomination. Before he was all about "hope and change", "different way of doing business in Washington", etc. Now he jets around like every other candidate while waving at the TV cameras and making canned appearances while a PR group, ooops i mean a Campaign Office writes dueling press releases all day long.

[Ergeheilalt]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080828

D&D fans,

Many players have written us about recent disparaging D&D references by a John McCain staffer, Michael Goldfarb. I want you to know that everyone at Wizards is offended and baffled by the ignorance. Obviously, this person harbors some retro prejudices and has no idea what D&D is about or who the fans really are. I thought you should know that my colleagues at Hasbro also take offense and sent a letter to Michael Goldfarb (copied below). Wizards will continue to promote D&D as the great heroic fantasy game that it is and we thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Greg Leeds
President
Wizards of the Coast

August 28th, 2008

Michael Goldfarb
1235 S. Clark St, Suite M
Arlington, VA 22202

Dear Mr. Goldfarb,

I was disappointed to read the disparaging intent of your comments regarding Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fans, both in your response to New York Times editors, and on the John McCain campaign website.

Dungeons & Dragons is a global game with millions of consumers in the U.S. and abroad. The brand is owned by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.

For fans, the game is essentially about heroism and therefore it is not surprising to us that thousands of military personnel play and enjoy the game. Hasbro, in turn, supports the U.S. Armed Forces by sending multiple crates of game products, including Dungeons & Dragons, to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recently a soldier who saw your comments online said, “Wizards of the Coast (the makers of D&D) has sent care packages to the troops on many occasions, providing free gaming supplies in support of our men and women serving the country overseas to help them decompress after hours. McCain's people should really check their facts before they spout off. Does John McCain have no idea how many GIs play D&D?”

We would very much appreciate you not making any more condescending comments about D&D -- as it is a great game enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Wayne Charness
Senior Vice President
Hasbro, Inc.

[Name Lips]

Nicely done. Of course, it'll see little press beyond the gaming crowd, but still, I'm glad they addressed the statements.

[Trainz]

Ok, the McCain staff is living under a rock. If they think that by bullying nerds they will pander to a massive population, they haven't been paying attention to the cultural shift the world has taken, primarily and most obviously displayed by many of the theater blockbusters. Lord of the Rings? X-Men? Spiderman? Iron Man? BATMAN???

Hello?