One more thing. The new PPA letter to Congress is out, at http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...ertid=11248186 . Please send, and please have your spouse/S.O., family, and friends send one each in as well. And, if you disagree philosophically with part of it, just edit it, but please let Congress know you want your freedom. Thanks!

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I am a constituent, voter, and poker player asking for your support. Specifically, I ask that you introduce and support legislation that clearly exempts games of skill like poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).

UIGEA's sole purpose was to prohibit financial transactions related to gaming unlawful UNDER OTHER LAWS. Online poker should not have been affected nationwide, as federal case law has consistently held that the Wire Act of 1961 applies only to sports betting, and as only a handful of states have any laws against Internet poker. However, UIGEA has nonetheless impacted my ability to access and patronize some online poker sites. There were several bills introduced in the last Congress that clearly excluded poker from UIGEA while providing for sensible regulation of the industry. To rectify the current online poker situation, I ask that you introduce and support similar legislation in the 111th Congress.

Sensible regulation will allow the Congress to mandate rigorous safeguards against underage participation and protections for those with excessive gaming habits while providing consumer protections for the millions of Americans who play online poker every day. Regulation will also allow American gaming companies to participate in the world's Internet gaming market, bringing needed jobs to America. Internet censorship and an unenforceable, unpopular prohibition provide none of these benefits. All censorship and prohibition can do is drive players underground or overseas while limiting my personal freedom.

Our nation's financial institutions have repeatedly warned that UIGEA is overly broad, and that the lack of definition in the law could result in the disruption of lawful financial transactions. Indeed, with regulators, legislators and financial institutions all warning that UIGEA is unenforceable, and with the need for banks to focus on our economic recovery, it is difficult to imagine why some in Congress continue to insist that the banking system be used to "police" a legitimate game of skill like online poker.

Poker is a proud American tradition. Presidents such as FDR and Harry Truman, Chief Justices such as William Rehnquist and William Howard Taft, members of Congress, generals, and everyday Americans have enjoyed poker for more than 150 years. It is an honorable game that I am proud to play.

What's most important to me is your support for my rights. Please respond to this letter and let me know you will support my freedoms. I will be watching your actions on this issue closely. I hope that I, along with my over one million fellow Poker Players Alliance members, can count on your support.

Thank you for your consideration.

<marquee> TheEngineer and his efforts are truly amazing and deserve more appreciation imo TY SIR
</marquee>

thank you sir!! youve done a great job!!

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

 

Originally Posted by Earlybird893

i hope everyone here ... actually clicks his link and let their representative know what you think about gaming and how it applies to us and how it differs from 'gambling'

Earlybird makes a good point. I really hope we all send the letter. I also hope everyone can post on PL to make it a more interactive forum. That will enable us to use to further our efforts to stand up for our rights.

tytytyt again Engineer for continuing to fight for us!

<table width="408" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tbody align="left"><tr><td><span>Your e-mail message was sent to: </span> </td></tr><tr><td><span> Senator Christopher S. Bond (R-MO) </span></td></tr><tr><td><span> Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) </span></td></tr><tr><td><span> Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO 9th) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>

srsly F feinstein. And now that bish wants to run for Governor??? No thank you

Thanks again for the kind words everyone. I'm glad we're all working together.

On that topic, I'm working up a letter to President Obama. I'm trying to keep this shorter than our usual. With that in mind, will you take a look and provide input? It's at New letter to President Obama . Thanks.

 

Originally Posted by norcaljeff

I think it's a massive mistake to advocate for all gaming to be legal online. the whole point of getting poker in is that it's a skill game. shouldn't we concentrate on that before we call for online bj and craps or whatnot?

Yes. That's why PPA is focusing on skill game legislation.

 

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

Also, here's a good story on the S.C. poker case. Can you all please digg at http://digg.com/world_news/S_C_Poker..._Game_of_Skill ? Thanks....

Great news! This just hit the front page of Digg. People need to hear that SWAT teams are kicking down poker players' doors.

 

Originally Posted by norcaljeff

o rly?

Really.

Not every poker player wishes to send a poker-only letter. Are you suggesting that I tell them to pound sand? I'd rather they send something than nothing at all.

 

Originally Posted by norcaljeff

yes. tell any idiot that wants sports gambling and craps/bj to be leagal to pound sand! we are on a mission. handle that imo!! IT;S LIKE SAYIND "LEGALIZE WEED" WHILST OTHER MORANS WANT HEROIN AND CRACK LEGALIZED. COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE IMMFO
arrrrrrgggg f capslockimmfo

There's nothing in the letter you quoted above that harms our efforts. We'd rather have their support for all gaming than no support at all.

Hi everyone,

The new PPA auto-letter to President Obama just went up, at http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...36&type=PR. It's intentionally short and to the point, as the intention is to simply tell him we want our rights while reinforcing our placement in his Citizens' Briefing Book.

It takes only 30 seconds to send, so please send it. Thanks!

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Dear President Obama,

I am a voter and poker player who's writing to ask for your support. Specifically, I ask that you publicly support my right to play games of skill like poker on the Internet.

This issue is not lost on the American public. We recently made our desire for this liberty known through your Citizen's Briefing Book website. Of the thousands of proposals submitted, a proposal supporting Internet poker rights was consistently in the top 15 during the voting, ending up at #11 - and #2 for number of user comments.

This issue is not lost on Capitol Hill, either. In the 110th Congress, several pieces of legislation were proposed that would implement regulation and licensing of Internet poker. Sensible regulation allows Congress to mandate rigorous safeguards against underage participation and protections for those with excessive gaming habits while providing consumer protections for the millions of Americans who play online poker every day. Regulation also allows American gaming companies to participate in the world's Internet gaming market, bringing needed jobs and revenue to America. Internet censorship and an unenforceable, unpopular prohibition provide none of these benefits. All censorship and prohibition can do is drive players underground or overseas while limiting my personal freedom.

What's most important to me is your support for my rights. Please respond to this letter and let me know you will support my freedoms. I will be watching your actions on this issue closely. I hope that I, along with my over one million fellow Poker Players Alliance members, can count on your support.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

Please digg the letter to President Obama at http://digg.com/politics/Poker_Playe...iting_to_Obama . Thanks!

Sent. Thanx for the hardwork Engineer!