With all the flak that video games have gotten from politicians, we're tempted to think that two will probably never mix.

The latest one involves U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama and his comment about video games. You can read an excerpt of his statement n the full article after the jump.

Common Sense Media recently submitted a questionnaire to the 2008 US presidential candidates, asking them: "What [...] strategies would you support to keep the video game industry [...] from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?"

Perhaps the most interesting answer comes from candidate Hillary Clinton, who introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act back in 2005, circa Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas era. Read her answer in the full article.

Several influential individuals and groups have already called for the reinstating of the Adults Only rating of Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii and PSP). Now even the senators are on the case. Four US senators sent a letter addressed to ESRB requesting a "thorough review" of the game. Check out the full article for more details.

It is human nature to find strength in numbers. When faced with great adversity, people stand side by side to meet the common enemy head on. With that said, it seems that various segments of the society have been viewing the gaming industry as the common foe. And not only that, it looks like they are so keen on trampling these "evil weed."

Accordingly, a new alliance has been formed to combat ill effects of videogames to kids, beginning with educating parents about game ratings. The alliance, if we might add, is looking formidable indeed. It is composed of Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman and ESRB President Patricia Vance. Surprisingly enough, Best Buy President Brian Dunn and GameStop President Steve Morgan complete the "Power Rangers."

Senator Clinton maintained that the renewed movement is in light of the coming Holiday season. It is needless to say that sales for gaming software and hardware will skyrocket during this time of the year. Clinton explained:

We all share in the responsibility of making sure our children play age-appropriate video games, and I'm pleased that the ESRB and retailers are working together to educate parents about the video game ratings and make sure they are enforced.

The group's first action included sending public service announcements to 800 TV stations nationwide, as well as radio and print ads. The PSAs are intended for parents, instructing them to regulate the games their children play. Senator Lieberman seconded:

I have long said that the ESRB ratings are the most comprehensive in the media industry. There are many age-appropriate games that are clever and entertaining. Parents should understand and use the ratings to help them decide which video games to buy for their families.

Over the past few weeks, ESRB was able to come up with various announcements regarding their plans to intensify enforcement of ratings for videogames. In the meanwhile, a big contrast is happening overseas, with some countries considering self regulation for the industry.

The U.S. Senate has just passed the CAMRA Act (The Children and Media Research Advancement Act) sponsored by Joseph Lieberman, Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, and Republicans Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback. The Act includes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) investigation into video game and other electronic media use.

The focus of the research has something to do with the role and effects, positive and negative alike, of all kinds of electronic media on children. These include TV, movies, videogames, and Internet, from where kids receive the biggest exposure when it comes to entertainment. Grants would also be provided to learn about the impact of certain factors such as the format, length of exposure, age of viewers, nature of parental involvement, and venue in which media is viewed.

The CAMRA Act does remind us of the online poker ban, which is currently undergoing Congressional reviews in the U.S. Although some bills have already been passed concerning this ban, player alliances are still outraged over the representatives' move, knowing that the largest population of online poker players are located in the U.S. The same trend occurs in videogames, where statistics tell us that the largest markets are in the U.S., Japan, Europe, and Australia.

Whether the CAMRA Act poses a threat on the videogame industry (note that Lieberman, Clinton, and Durbin are popular videogame critics) or not, it sends an implication that the CDC's aim is to prove that videogames are doing us more harm than good. Or are they? We believe that violent behavior usually associated with playing videogames always have something to do with the upbringing of children. Kids who are raised well know that videogames are just games, and somehow they are the best outlet for the venting of violent behavior.

The CAMRA Act is apparently a subtle advocacy towards proving what videogame critics had been trying to tell us all along. But we like to keep an open mind because we believe the investigation will shed new light on the very role of electronic media in the lives of children. Still, we can't help but raise a questioning eyebrow.