Hal Halpin: ECA Can’t Endorse a Presidential Candidate
By Shawn on Friday, February 8th, 2008 at 9:00 PM PST In Gamer Life, Games Industry
Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumers Association, explains to members and gamers alike why the ECA can’t throw their weight behind a presidential candidate that would support gamers’ interests. Put simply, it’s illegal.
The ECA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit membership org - an IRS designation that classifies the type of entity that we are and business that we do. It’s significant because that same classification prohibits us from backing any one party or politician. The rules have been further tightened recently, restricting us from promoting anyone (again, relevant because of our publications: GamePolitics, GameCulture, ECA Today, etc. which cover them when newsworthy).
But I don’t know that I would want us to [endorse a candidate] even if we could. The ECA represents ALL gamers, each with their own ethics, morals and perspectives. So apart from educating members about a candidate’s position as it relates to gaming, I’m not sure that it would be our place.
If you’re looking for information on where the candidates stand on video games and technological issues check out which Presidential hopefuls are tech friendly.
via The Escapist
