What does Ron Paul think about Online Poker and Gambling?
If you are into online poker, you’ve heard the buzz; but just what is Presidential candidate Ron Paul’s position on online gambling? Paul is the only congressman who voted against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)—which, by the way, was tacked on to an unconnected bill that was signed by President Bush. Paul is often the sole “nay” in many bills that pass through Congress, so often that he has been nicknamed, “Congressman No.”
Paul is a Republican Congressman from the State of Texas, but his politics lean much more towards Libertarian. He supports less government in our lives and is against governmental regulations of our personal lives and our personal choices, including the right to participate in online gambling. Paul believes strongly in taking a protective stance for Freedom of Speech, both in politics and in our individual lives, as a Constitutional right. He opposes governmental management of people’s lives, like the legislation that pulled online gambling from the US Internet gaming market. He firmly states that the UIGEA is in direct contradiction to the US Constitution.
The UIGEA is currently being challenged in the US Supreme Court. Recently in November 2007, the UIGEA issue was addressed at an online gambling hearing. At the hearing, Paul was supported and introduced by Radley Balko, Senior Editor of Reason Magazine. Balko, in agreement with Paul, remarked that the federal government’s stand and prohibition on online gambling is an “encroachment on individual liberty.”
Although Paul is virtually alone in his pro Internet gambling stand among the 2008 Presidential Candidates, he remains firm in his support of an individual’s right to gamble online. Last year, he told Congress the following about the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act: “…. protecting liberty is more important than passing a bill that regulates something on the Internet.” Liberty is what has been steering 72-year-old Paul throughout his political career that has been successful since the 1970s.
Paul states that personally, he opposes gambling; you have to respect a politician who supports individual rights, even if some issues that lie within those rights do not happen to be in accordance with his own personal beliefs. Paul states, “The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty…”
In summation, Congressman Paul supports an individual’s liberty and personal choices, whether he participates in those chosen activities or not. His support of online gambling is not in response to a personal choice, but rather seeded in a belief and commitment to protecting the rights of US citizens as outlined in the Constitution of the United States.
Notables:
Ron Paul’s libertarian ideals are being met positively, especially by today’s techno generation that values freedom on the Internet and disapproves of politicians who want to regulate our online and private lives.
Ron Paul has become one of the most searched topics on the Internet. If you liked this articles help spread the word by clicking the stumbleupon button at the bottom!
Resources:
www.ronpaulonline.com
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252847,00.html
http://www.gambling911.com/Ron-Paul-Online-Gambling-111607.html
http://www.gambling911.com/Ron-Paul-Poker-122007.html
http://nation.bodoglife.com/
Also Read: Do you know about poker networks?, Online Poker vs Live Poker, Bodog Life Review, Can you See Hole Cards?, How the UIGEA effects you, Current PokerStars Tournaments, Current FullTilt Tournaments, Who Regulates Online Poker, Bodog Rakeback, Using Prepaid Visas for Online Poker, Uk Poker Sites
NichePoker.net recommends playing poker at FullTilt Poker.