Row flares between Jeb Bush and Jack T over games bill

LAST THURSDAY we ran a story based on a press release put out by Miami attorney and videogames watchdog Jack Thompson who claimed that he was requested by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to draft a violent video games bill. That's here. But according to the office of the Governor, he was bending the truth a little.

Thompson said he was asked to draft a bill similar to that currently awaiting signing or trashing in California, which would restrict the sale of violent and sexually explicit videogames to minors, and that if such legislation were passed Governor Bush had assured Thompson that he would sign the bill into law.

However, since then we've received an email from Governor Bush's Deputy Press Secretary Russell Schweiss saying that this is incorrect.

"Mr. Thompson contacted one of our policy directors to ask if the Governor would spearhead a legislative effort to prohibit the sale of sexually explicit and violent video games to minors" said Russell. "Mr. Thompson was advised that, while the Governor does have concerns regarding violence in video games, he does not use his position to rally against specific products are retailers that sell them. "He was told that if he wished to pursue this campaign, he should approach a member of his local delegation with a bill proposal."

This contrasts a little with Mr. Thompson's press release, which stated: "Miami attorney Jack Thompson, a leading activist against the video game industry, has today been asked by the Office of the Governor of the State of Florida, Jeb Bush, to draft and submit to him and to Florida legislators a bill that will prohibit the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors.

"The Office of Governor Bush has told Thompson that the Governor will sign such a bill if it is placed before him."

Incorrect?

In a telephone conversation with Mr. Thompson today, he told INQ hacks that policy advisors to the Governor contacted him - as opposed to Thompson contacting the office of Governor Bush as the press office is telling us - and that he would be willing to go under a polygraph - lie detector to you and me - to confirm this.

So, which version is true? Thompson says the press officers are wrong, and the press officers are saying Thompson is wrong. We can see this spilling into a running gun battle next week, though Thompson says that he is too busy drafting the legislation to bother having a tit-for-tat verbal battle and he considers his position clear and the matter closed. µ