Maine Republicans blast opponent for World of Warcraft play

[alucard13mmfmj]

LITTLETON, New Hampshire (Reuters) - A Maine Senate race has turned into a fight over trolls, dwarves and goblin-like creatures known as orcs.

In a mailing this week, state Republicans accused Democrat Colleen Lachowicz of living in a fantasy world and making "crude, vicious and violent comments" in online forums dedicated to World of Warcraft, a popular online game.

Lachowicz, who is challenging incumbent Senator Tom Martin, has responded by accusing Republicans of focusing on her hobbies rather than public policy issues.

"I think it's weird that I'm being targeted for playing online games," she said in a statement. "What's next? Will I be ostracized for playing Angry Birds or Words With Friends?"

A website produced by Republicans includes a link to Lachowicz's online character, Santiaga, who sports a purple Mohawk and is armed with a meteor shard. It notes that the game takes place in a "make believe land Azeroth" and that Lachowicz is "playing at level 85 — the highest level one can attain."

The mailing said she spends hundreds of hours involved in World of Warcraft, which features an array of characters such as trolls and orcs.

"We need a senator who lives in our world, not Colleen's world," the mailing said.

It also highlights comments Lachowicz made in online forums to other World of Warcraft players in 2009 and 2010, including: "I love poisoning and stabbing," "I can kill stuff without going to jail" and "I like to stab things and I'm originally from New Jersey, what's your (expletive) point?"

Ericka Dodge, a spokeswoman for Maine Democrats, said in an interview on Friday that Lachowicz, a social worker, had only spent about 30 minutes playing World of Warcraft since January as she was now spending her free time campaigning.

"Clearly before she started the campaign she spent a lot more time gaming," said Dodge. "She's also a knitter, but my guess is no one is going to attack her for that."

An estimated 211.5 million people, or about two-thirds of the population, play video games in the U.S., according to NPD Group.

David Sorensen, a spokesman for the Maine Republican Party, said the mailing and website weren't meant to antagonize gamers.

"As far as we're concerned, it's not a ‘World of Warcraft story,' it's a ‘candidate saying outrageous things through World of Warcraft story,'" he said on Friday.

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Way to insult the younger voters... lol. Seems republicans are pretty good at insulting people.

 

[Origanalist]

They aren't called the * stupid party * for nothing.

 

[VIDEODROME]

How the hell would they even become aware of who her character is? Or that she plays this game?

 

[Keith and stuff]

How the hell would they even become aware of who her character is? Or that she plays this game?

By mining DailyKos. The Maine GOP made a website that makes fun of her. Check it out.

http://www.colleensworld.com/

 

[VIDEODROME]

I don't know about the gaming itself, but slipping a comment like going to drown Grover Norquist by itself is kind of out there.

 

[jene277]

After this election season I am totally convinced that the Republicans do not want anyone under 40 in the party.

 

[chudrockz]

I hope it's not Maine's "liberty friendly" Republicans bringing up some stupid crap like that. Never played WoW but I have friends that do. I've been tempted to try it once in awhile but I'm a little afraid of becoming addicted, and I've not got time for any more addictions! Stupid work!

 

[Nastynate]

I don't know about the gaming itself, but slipping a comment like going to drown Grover Norquist by itself is kind of out there.

Comments like what she posted happen all the time, its suppose to be funny. Nothing posted on video games forums, in MMORPGs, or about anywhere on the internet should be taken seriously. They're usually after shock laughs, like that being so far out there and random its funny.


I find that MMORPGs are in a way more real than the real world. You talk to the REAL people behind their characters, not some fake smile and pretend to be your friend. The people online are their real selves due to anonymity and for the most part not caring what others think of them. Its unfortunate that her openness was in a text format that was easily accessible, where as her republican opponent has probably said something MUCH worse and meant it in a private conversation but you'll never know that.

 

[Drex]

This is such a stupid issue to bring up.. another reason why I am leaving the republican party

 

[opal]

oh for cryin out loud! Really? geeze.. I'm not a WOW player but wow.. picking on a candidate for games?

What's the retort here.. neener neener.. GOP candidate once played spin the bottle as a kid? Maybe bites own toe nails.. geeze or gawd forbid.. uses a comb made in China.


It's not just the under 40 set that calls bullshit on this one

 

[wgadget]

THEY don't live in the real world if they don't realize how many people play these games as a matter of course.

 

[fr33]

Wow that is a really low blow.

 

[asurfaholic]

Why cant they just attack her based on her political performance? Why bring up her gaming habits? Or even if the game is not the issue, the language she used to other gamers on her free time is not an issue of substance.. Shes not the first politician to say a naughty word..

 

[Lindsey]

Why cant they just attack her based on her political performance? Why bring up her gaming habits? Or even if the game is not the issue, the language she used to other gamers on her free time is not an issue of substance.. Shes not the first politician to say a naughty word..

Agreed. Although I don't know her platform - if she is running on a "peace," anti-war, anti-crime type platform then the forum comments might provide some character insight. Otherwise, her hobbies have nothing to do with her senate-bid and should be left alone IMO. Not leaving the hobbies out of it, is not only irrelevant, but makes the GOP seem out of touch and petty.

 

[DonovanJames]

If anything they should knock on her for playing a Rogue.

Disgusting.

 

[Lindsey]

After this election season I am totally convinced that the Republicans do not want anyone under 40 in the party.

YOu better up that number to at least 50. Everyone I know in their 40s plays video games.

 

[cajuncocoa]

YOu better up that number to at least 50. Everyone I know in their 40s plays video games.

Or maybe even 60. My hubby and I are in mid-50s and we still enjoy video games.

 

[pcosmar]

oh for cryin out loud! Really? geeze.. I'm not a WOW player but wow.. picking on a candidate for games?

What's the retort here.. neener neener.. GOP candidate once played spin the bottle as a kid? Maybe bites own toe nails.. geeze or gawd forbid.. uses a comb made in China.


It's not just the under 40 set that calls bullshit on this one

I do.. and enjoy it. (when I have game time)
And I am the over 40 crowd. In fact there are a LOT of Wow players that are over 40,, over 50 even.
There are several Guilds that are "Adult Only". Though I have run across young players that are more mature that several "adults".

I don't care for a lot of Television,, and it is my "escape" from Politics,, and daily life.

 

[pcosmar]

If anything they should knock on her for playing a Rogue.

Disgusting.

And a Horde.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

At this point, she should start going after the WOW vote, explaining to people that "they're next." If playing that game makes her unfit for office, it will also make people unfit for employment. In fact, WOW better start contributing to her campaign or campaigning on her behalf, or they might be next, themselves.