McCain’s anti-D&D anti-blogger Crusade

by Jon on August 22, 2008

Boingboing brought a lot of attention to Goldfarb, a McCain staffer, regarding his insult to people who play Dungeons and Dragons.  For those who missed it, the statement was, “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”

However, it seems to have been missed that Goldfarb has a weird obsession with Dungeons and Dragons.  Recently, he used it to insult both bloggers and the New York Times.  He described NYT editors as bloggers “sitting at home in his mother’s basement and ranting into the ether between games of Dungeons & Dragons.”

What’s with the D&D obsession?  And why doesn’t he like bloggers either?

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

TelythugyNo Gravatar September 11, 2008 at 11:34 am

I would really like to know what old man McInsane thinks of gamers in general.
If he has issues with pen and paper guys, he must hate WoW players or even regular video gamers all together.

VaiaNo Gravatar September 11, 2008 at 2:42 pm

You know what’s funny though…I bet they don’t even realize how many members of the military they alienated with that remark. I have had a good many friends in all branches of the service who get together with whole groups of people from their barracks on the weekend and play D&D to relieve stress. Just further proof of how out of touch these people really are with present day reality :p

Albert MaruggiNo Gravatar September 14, 2008 at 1:04 am

I think the real point is this, until you feel pain you don’t really know pain. I don’t just mean physical pain.

Here’s a story, when I was 12 my mother died. After that my cousin and I became much closer friends. 9 years later his mother died. At his mom’s funeral he said to me, all these years I thought I knew what you were going through, today I can tell you I really had no idea what you were feeling, becuase today I know the experience myself.

Using generalities as Goldfarb did is inappropriate. But don’t let his glib response hinder our ability to recognize the character of John McCain. This is not, repeat not, a political or partisan statement. It is simply the ability for one human to recognize the patience, will, strength, and commitment to sacrifice for his country of another human. And then McCain years later to return to that same country of his living hell and reconcile with its people.

Again current political positions aside, McCain’s war story is to be admired and respected.

JonNo Gravatar September 14, 2008 at 1:39 am

@Albert I agree that McCain is a war hero. I don’t think any rational person questions that. However, this article isn’t about his war credentials. It’s about his ability to control his senior advisors, and whether the people he chooses to have on his team have a reckless disregard for the interests of people who will be voting this November.

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