Politicians tend to take one of two positions toward video games: hostility or indifference. A little of the first position and a lot of the second was on display when only four of the large pool of presidential candidates answered a question on video game regulation from a questionnaire distributed by Common Sense Media.

The non-profit, non-partisan’s group’s questionnaire quizzed the candidates on a wide variety of issues involving the media and government. Only Democratic candidates Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and John Edwards and Republican candidate Mitt Romney weighed in on the issue of policing the video game industry, which garnered a lot of negative publicity from fights over questionable content in games such as Manhunt 2. They were asked by Common Sense whether they would support federal legislation or other measures to prevent the sale of violent video games to minors.

Obama praised the new technical innovations that have allowed parents better control over what their children play, but stated the ratings system needed to be made clearer. “If the industry doesn’t, then my administration would,” he said. Richardson called on parents to assist legislators and teachers in regulating children. Edwards praised the ESRB as “a good example of industrial responsibility” but said more work needed to be done to reduce sales of M-rated games to minors. Essentially, each of the Democratic responses suggested that government involvement would be taken only if the gaming industry did not continue, and improve, its self-regulation.

Romney was not as conciliatory in his response. “I want to restore values so children are protected from a societal cesspool of filth, pornography, violence, sex, and perversion. I've proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence and that we go after those retailers.” The phrase “go after those retailers” reminds me a bit of the failed Family Entertainment Protection Act in 2005, which would have imposed fine on businesses that sold games with Mature or Adults Only ratings to minors. That bill was first sponsored by another Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. According to the New York Times, Clinton missed the deadline for the survey, as did Republicans Mike Huckabee and John McCain.

I’m reasonable enough to know that there are larger issues facing the country than video game industry regulation. I’m pleased, though, that (some) presidential candidates have actually studied the issue enough to give a response more sophisticated than “quit playin’ yer video box and go outside, kids!” Video games are actually recognized as something normal people do in their spare time. I suppose the candidates on both sides could be portrayed as pandering with their responses (Romney to the family values crowd, the Democrats to young voters), but at least it’s an issue they deem worth pandering on. I guess that counts for something.