Republican draft platform drops I-Gambling prohibition, but adds it back hours later

[The Buzz]

HUGE news. The Republican Party has dropped the prohibition of Internet gambling from its draft platform.

“We can use this to make the tent bigger,” Sen. Richard M. Burr , R-N.C., and co-chairman of the platform committee, said of the compressed document.

The draft’s shortening from nearly 100 pages represents a victory for the Poker Players Alliance, a group that has lobbied to legalize and regulate Internet gambling. The million-member group has spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2008 and members have contributed more than $350,000 to candidates this election year.

“This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its Internet freedoms,” said John Pappas, the alliance’s executive director.

This doesn't mean that the language won't end up being back in the platform, but for now, the draft of the party's platform DOES NOT include a prohibition on Internet gambling. You will note, however, that it also does not include regulation of Internet gambling.

Full story here ... http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cf...s-000002941027

It will be interesting to see how the religious right/Focus on the Family responds to this ...

And a sidenote ... if anyone was watching the Democratic National Convention last night, yes that was Jim Leach, the former Republican Congressman from Iowa who penned the UIGEA, speaking at the DNC. (no, it wasn't Kerimt the Frog ... listen to his voice, you'll see what Buzzy means)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6981BGSPnNU

[PatriciaRome]

I saw Leach as well. It is hard to fathom that such a profitable industry could have been so bullied around by such puny little man. He for sure could not handle me!

[The Buzz]

So there was a 180 here ... if you click the original link, you'll see that the story has most certainly changed ...

Here's a bit of the new story ...

The Republican Platform Committee adopted language Tuesday opposing Internet gambling — a provision that had been stripped from the initial draft as part of an effort to broaden the party’s appeal.

The full 112-member platform committee acted on pleas that Internet gambling victimizes poor people and children.

“Internet gambling represents the most invasive and addictive form of gambling in our history,” said Kendal Unrah of Colorado, who sponsored the amendment.

The draft platform had been cut in half from nearly 100 pages to streamline a conservative message.

Dropping the opposition to gambling represented a temporary triumph for the Poker Players Alliance, a group that has lobbied to legalize and regulate Internet gambling. The million-member group has spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2008 and members have contributed more than $350,000 to candidates this election year.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cf...s-000002941027

[PatriciaRome]

Total 180....I am not sure what will come of it now...at least before we could say things were going in a decent direction.

[MichaelCorfman]

Well, remember, this is the Republican platform. I think the odds are for a Democratic win in the presidential election, in which case the Republican platform will not matter as much.

Michael

[IC_IC]

I agree with the premise that an Obama win will mean gambling is back in some way by 2010...but it could be a bumpy road with poker coming back first and casinos later on after they can figure a way to tax the heck out of them