Online Poker Community Urged to Send Question About UIGEA to YouTube DebatePoker community, supporters of Ron Paul, prompted to submit YouTube video for debated regarding UIGEA passage and freedom of Internet
The CNN/YouTube Republican debate is taking place on November 28. The format, which included a video of a talking snowman that left Republican Mitt Romney not amused, was an instant hit with the rest of the nation. This CNN/YouTube debate is expected to be an even bigger hit.
Back in October 0f 2006, a Republican led initiative passed through the infamous Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) attached to none other than an unrelated (and highly important) Port Security Bill. Due to the urgency in passing the Port Security Bill, the UIGEA - by default - would eventually come into law. It should be noted that many Democrats also voted in favor of the Port Security bill while expressing reservations about the unrelated attachment.
The poker community eventually forced one of the UIGEA's co-founders out of office, Republican Jim Leach of Iowa. He was a front runner in that race until fans of online poker banded together in a campaign to educate Iowa voters about their elected official's activities, designed heavily to appeal to special interests.
The UIGEA essentially makes online poker illegal by placing the burden on banking institutions to monitor and prohibit such transactions.
Scott Shuller, a poker fan out of Ohio who is one of many business executives floored by the passage of this new law, has asked that all fans of poker submit a short video to CNN related to the UIGEA and what gives politicians the right to police our activities over the Internet (especially as it pertains to America's favorite past time).
"Wouldn't it be great if they aired a question about the UIGEA or Online Poker during the debate?" commented Shuller. "Really put them (the political candidates) on the spot."
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Of the 2008 US Presidential Republican candidates appearing, only Ron Paul voted against the Port Security Bill, mainly because it attached the unrelated piece of legislation that he opposes.
“I believe strongly that the internet should not be regulated by the federal government and believes even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions," Ron Paul told Gambling911.com's own Kira Wissman this past summer.
“The majority of people in Washington were afraid to support the internet for fear it would label them ‘pro-porn’ or ‘pro-gambling’.”
Because the YouTube debate generates interests mostly from an Internet-savvy audience, the question would most certainly be relevant.
Several hundred, or even a few thousand, people submitting such a question would prompt CNN to include the subject within its platform.
Likewise, Ron Paul supporters are being urged to submit a similar question as it would help solidify their candidate's "Internet freedom" message.
"Just want to help this industry and keep it chugging away," Shuller said. "The message should be spread by every fan of poker and online gambling in general."
You may not want to use a talking snowman for your video.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Originally published November 8, 2007 10:57 am ET
The 2008 election will be the most critical in modern history, and poker players like you across the nation must be part of it if we are to continue making progress in our shared cause.
