Videogame Music Used in John McCain Presidential Ad

Not long ago I was telling you about the fact that videogame playing voters might end up deciding who the resident of the White House would be after the American Presidential elections set to take place later this autumn. And a while ago presidential hopeful Barack Obama name-checked GTA IV while giving a speech regarding education and kids in America.

Now John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, is getting some of the attention of the gaming public thanks to one of his campaign moves. In a campaign ad that aired in the past several days he used a piece of orchestral music lifted right out of Medal of Honor: European Assault, a World War II videogame about the liberation of Europe. It's the first time when an in-game feature is used in a presidential campaign in the United States and, I think, everywhere else in the world, so it's a great moment for gaming culture.

The problem is that the guy who created that track for the game is not thrilled about its current use. Christpher Lennertz is more of an Obama guy so he found it infringing on his beliefs and to the morality of the political process that his music is used by the McCain campaign to promote a candidate that he does not care for. He says that he no longer holds the copyright to the track, but that he should have been asked before the track was used.

In a statement published by Game Politics the composer asked "Where does the line get drawn? Is it reasonable to use my music to sell tobacco, alcohol, or pornographic materials? Is it reasonable to use it to promote a religion in which I do not believe? Is it legal?...yes, perhaps, is it ethical?...I don't believe so. Is it American?...definitely not by my standards".

The McCain campaign staff have not released an official position regarding the situation. See if you can spot the track in the ad: