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Apparently Attacking A Candidate For Being A World Of Warcraft Player Is Not An Effective Campaign Strategy

Politics

from the vanquished dept

Thu, Nov 8th 2012 10:57am — Mike Masnick
Last month, we were among those who reported on an absolutely bizarre strategy by a candidate for the Maine state Senate to demonize his opponent, Colleen Lachowicz, by highlighting her enjoyment of World of Warcraft and then taking some of her statements about the game completely out of context, to imply they were political statements that had relevance beyond inside the game. Even after this was widely mocked, the folks behind the mailer defended it.
In the end, it appears that this was not an effective campaign strategy. As highlighted by Slashdot, Lachowicz won her campaign and was elected. The article notes that the attention from the bizarre attacks resulted in support from "gamers from around the world," who helped raise an additional $6,300 in contributions for her campaign. Not knowing when to back down and go away, her opponents claimed that the money raised was done so illegally, though an ethics board cleared her of any wrongdoing.

Perhaps, next time, politicians will recognize that mocking a candidate for doing something millions of people enjoy is not a particularly smart campaign strategy.
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Filed Under: colleen lachowicz, elections, maine, politics, world of warcraft

41 Comments

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:02am

    she kinda looks like her orc assassin

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:05am

    You would think if you were going to attack someone for playing a game, you might do some research to see how many potential voters you might turn away.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Philip (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:16am

      Re:

      People that attack on these grounds live in their own reality where games are for kids. They can't fathom "adults" playing video games.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        :Lobo Santo (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:22am

        Re: Re: Results Cloudy

        The same group of people for whom "online" isn't really real, or it's only something they see in movies.

        Despite using it, experiencing the utility, there's a disconnect between "online" and "reality" in their brains. Fairly common with many people (IMHO).

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lord Binky, 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:23am

    NEEEEERRD!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael, 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:35am

    Probably not

    "Perhaps, next time, politicians will recognize that mocking a candidate for doing something millions of people enjoy is not a particularly smart campaign strategy."

    That would suggest politicians learn from their mistakes.

    Crazy talk.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Matthew H (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:37am

    FOR THE HORDE!!!!!

    Lulz

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    gorehound (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:39am

    She lives in Maine where I live and she beat out the Republicans.We managed to get rid of some GOP and gain back the Democratic Majority.
    Looking forward to getting rid of hated Paul LePage !!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    PlagueSD (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:44am

    I like the quote, "But my DPS(Deaths per second) increased quite a bit."

    I'm sorry, DPS = DAMAGE per second, not Deaths per second.


    and yes...Fantasy <> Reality.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 12:26pm

      Re:

      Everyone keeps pointing that out, but I'm pretty sure she was being facetious, especially if she's savvy enough to grok min-maxing sites like EJ and (most likely) tweak her build (since she definitely made those posts before the current "talent" system).

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        That One Guy (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 1:02pm

        Re: Re:

        I believe the 'Deaths per second' bit was actually added by the people who put together the thing, due to either a) trying to make it sound all the more violent in an attempt to make her look worse, or b) becuase they actually were clueless enough to have no idea what the term meant, and just went with what they thought it meant.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Dave (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:49am

    So basically...

    ...her opponent was Leeroy Jenkins. Yes?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 12:17pm

      With friends like these, who needs Leeroy Jenkins...

      This article notes the fact that this hit piece originated from the party, not the candidate

      To Senator Martin’s credit, he refused to touch the low personal attacks and wished to remain strictly on the issues. By sticking on the high road, this enough should have saved him...

      Note the "Paid for by the Maine Republican Party, not authorized by any candidate or committee" in the return address in the above mail.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        John Fenderson (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 2:12pm

        Re: With friends like these, who needs Leeroy Jenkins...

        Personally, I don't care if a candidate officially endorses an ad or not. If it's on their behalf, I'm holding them responsible. To do it any other way gives them a loophole they can (and do) drive trucks through.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 3:03pm

          Re: Re: With friends like these, who needs Leeroy Jenkins...

          I agree. And judging from results, I'd say the voters of this Maine state district also agrees in this specific case.

          This candidate wasn't Leeroy Jenkins. He just had the misfortune of having Leeroy Jenkins in his party...


          Actually, I was wondering if this mailer had originated from one of those "independent-expenditure only committees" that are not allowed to coordinate with the candidate or party -- you know, a Super-PAC...

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 1:28pm

      Re: So basically...

      At least she got chicken....

      (and the election)

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jolie M (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 11:54am

    I hope Blizzard can sue the shit out of the campaign that used images from WoW in the advertising campaign. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm hoping this was some sort of copyright violation.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 12:04pm

      Re:

      "I hope Blizzard can sue the shit out of the campaign that used images from WoW in the advertising campaign. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm hoping this was some sort of copyright violation."
      Even if it is copyright violation, it's preferable that Blizzard doesn't sue. She already won, that's punishment enough.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 2:21pm

      Re:

      If you think this a a lawsuit-worthy copyright violation, you're part of the problem. Quit being a part of the fucking problem.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 12:14pm

    She got chicken.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    jupiterkansas (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 12:18pm

    Slowly but surely, the nerds will inherit the earth.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    joecrouse, 8 Nov 2012 @ 1:03pm

    I would have loved for her to say

    FOR THE HORDE! in her Victory Speech

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 1:31pm

    Odds of success

    If her opponent had done a number crunch, he would have realized the character assassination tactic had only a 33.33 (repeating, of course) percentage of success.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Magebear, 8 Nov 2012 @ 1:43pm

    Gamers Unite

    For the HORDE!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DOlz, 8 Nov 2012 @ 2:05pm

    Plays WoW, no problem. A rogue, no problem. An assassin, no problem. Horde, I don't know I've been killed too many times.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    DannyB (profile), 8 Nov 2012 @ 2:27pm

    Effective Campaign Strategy

    Attacking a candidate for playing World of Warcraft *is* an effective campaign tragedy.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 5:20pm

    There is a broken URL in the OP.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2012 @ 8:57pm

    "Perhaps, next time, politicians will recognize that mocking a candidate for doing something millions of people enjoy is not a particularly smart campaign strategy."

    I don't know... how many times have politicians resigned for things like sex scandals?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 9 Nov 2012 @ 12:11am

    The party of "legitimate rape" calling their world real...
    ITS LIKE RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!!! lalalala

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Adam Henderson, 9 Nov 2012 @ 1:32am

    Irrelevant to the article

    you guys put a blank tag around most of the article

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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