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Focus on the Family coming for us

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  1. TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline Rich Muny - PPA Board VP

    KY
    United States

    Posts: 2,830
    Joined: Nov 07

    Jun 17th, 2009 (6/17/2009 12:30am)

    FoF has a new letter of opposition to our position, at http://fota.cdnetworks.net/pdfs/2009...ng-letter2.pdf

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    Internet Gambling: Irresponsible Policy
    http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/A000004244.cfm

    by Chad Hills [Updated: 06-12-2009]

    On October 13, 2006, Congress passed legislation to stop illegal Internet gambling in the U.S [Article VIII of the SAFE Port Act, known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (or UIGEA). Regulations were implemented on November 12, 2008. We must keep families safe from online predators that seek to exploit people for a profit.

    [Updated: 6-12-2009]

    Frank: Pushing Irresponsible and Fiscally Ignorant Policy

    Rep. Barney Frank is at it again. He's serving as a finger puppet for foreign online gambling interests and pushing their agenda into U.S. policy. The UC Group Ltd (UK) and the Interactive Gaming Council (Canada) are funding the Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) with $3 million to lobby U.S. Congress Members hard in 2009. Barney Frank seems all too happy carrying the bill for them. Responsible, fiscally conservative citizens are needed to help educate their Congress Members about these dangerous, exploitive Internet gambling policies.
    ______________________

    Pro-Family Groups Take a Stand against Online Gambling (CitizenLink.com, 6-11-2009)

    Focus on the Family and Concerned Women for America (CWA) are among 20 pro-family groups calling on Congress to continue the enforcement of UIGEA and oppose the legalization of online gambling. ... Pro-family groups are asking the U.S. House to oppose two bills from Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.: H.R. 2266, which would give banks more time to comply with UIGEA; and H.R. 2267, which would legalize Internet gambling in the U.S
     
  2. Jennifear Jennifear is offline

    Niagara Falls, NY
    United States

    Posts: 10,222
    Joined: Nov 05

    Jun 17th, 2009 (6/17/2009 2:27am) in reply to TheEngineer

    What can we do about this?
  3. Skallagrim Skallagrim is offline

    Portsmouth, NH
    United States

    Posts: 90
    Joined: May 07

    Jun 17th, 2009 (6/17/2009 9:53pm) in reply to Jennifear

     
    Originally Posted by Jennifear View Post

    What can we do about this?

    Hi Jennifear,

    There are actually quite a few things that can be done in response to this. An effort could be made to educate FoF about poker, and why playing poker for money (as a game where skill predominates) is really no different from playing chess for money, or golf for money. FoF has, though in some sense I hate to say it, a totally paranoid attitude towards anyone who questions anything they (Dobson, basically) say is the gospel truth. So the only people who should actually attempt to reason with FoF are other devout Christians who play poker. The reason I hate to say this is because all too often other christians who have a far better understanding of the real world (and poker) often get upset by attacks on FoF like calling them, as they have often been called, the "Christian Taliban." Saying FoF is a group of religious and politcal extermists does not mean everything they say is bad, or that Christianity is bad; but in todays atmosphere of identity politcs, you have to be very clear that in attacking FoF you are not in any way attacking Christians or Christianity in general. If you don't you are wasting your time, or, at worst, alienating potential allies.

    Another thing you can do is follow TheEngineer and his posts. He is the leader when it comes to where to express our views and opinions. When FoF mobilizes a campaign against us, it is TE who organizes a response (where called for). It is absolutely necessary that we show the politicians everywhere (and especially in DC) that there are as many people who care about poker (hopefully more) than there are FoF types who blindly attack poker. And outside of any moral issues, you can also take this opportunity to educate your representatives (and/or the general public) on the true nature of our game, an historical American competition of guts, skill, and knowledge that is as different from slots and lotteries as you can get.

    And the final thing I am going to suggest (in this post ), at the risk of being called biased, is to urge you to join the Poker Players Alliance if you have not already done so. The PPA is THE organization fighting for openly legal poker, poker everywhere, live and online. It is important that we have the ability to act and respond as a block, this makes a huge difference in the political world (and even makes a difference in the legal world, where I do most of my work). Being a part of an organization fighting for your cause and supporting that organization is the best response by far.

    Skallagrim
    AKA Patrick Fleming
    PPA Litigation Support Director
  4. Jennifear Jennifear is offline

    Niagara Falls, NY
    United States

    Posts: 10,222
    Joined: Nov 05

    Jun 18th, 2009 (6/18/2009 2:59am) in reply to Skallagrim

    Great post Skallagrim ty for your detailed response!
  5. TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline Rich Muny - PPA Board VP

    KY
    United States

    Posts: 2,830
    Joined: Nov 07

    Jun 19th, 2009 (6/19/2009 1:01am) in reply to Jennifear

    Nice post Skall! And, thanks for the kind words, of course.

    We're all glad your legal expertise is on our side!
     
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