Republican Presidential Candidates' Stands on Internet Gaming

[Moneyline]

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FOX News wants to know what you would ask the Republican presidential candidates when they debate in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday, May 15.

Please e-mail your question to debate@foxnews.com. Include your name, town, state and contact number for verification.

Please keep your question sharp, brief and to the point. And let us know which candidate you'd like us to ask.

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Here's the email I sent. Feel free to use it for yourself.

My question is open to all candidates.

If you were faced with 2 bills passed by Congress; one which seeks to legalize and regulate online poker, and another which seeks to further curb online poker, which bill would you sign and which bill would you veto?

Thanks,

My Contact Info

[TheEngineer]

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Please e-mail your question to debate@foxnews.com.

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Well-worded. I sent it as well.

FYI -- thre's a minor typo in the mailing address (no period after the ".com").

[J. Sawyer]

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From an internet gambling standpoint I'd probably grade the credible presidential candidates thusly:

Obama B-
Rudy C+
Edwards C
Hillary C-
Gore C-
F. Thompson D-
Romney D-
McCain D-

Others:

Paul A+
Richardson B-
Bloomberg C+
Hagel D+
Gingrich F
Huckabee F

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What about Mike Gravel?

http://www.gravel2008.us/

[BIG NIGE]

President Gravel....

Nope, not happening [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[TheEngineer]

Interesting article about Fred Thomspon, at http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2007/...-conservative/ . There's no reference to Internet gambling, but it does help us see where he stands relative to the idea of an all-powerful federal government.

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Is Fred Thompson a Small-Government Conservative?

With former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson creeping ever closer to a formal announcement that he will run for president, it is worth asking whether he is the genuine small-government conservative that has been missing from the top tier of the Republican field (with all due apologies to Ron Paul). A preliminary look at his record suggests that while he is not quite the second coming of Barry Goldwater or Ronald Reagan, he may be much better on most issues than the alternatives....

[tangled]

Why is Gingrich getting such a low rating? Is it just because of his obvious social conservatism or is there a more tangible reason - like a stated position on the issue?
I am not disagreeing with the rating, I was just wondering.

[Grey]

[ekdikeo]

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I suspect Romney belongs in this group. I'm pretty sure he's a Mormon. There is a reason Utah is 1 of only 2 states that have no form of legal gambling whatsoever.

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Likely true, however, he may be actually able to seperate his personal beliefs from what he's supposed to be doing.

[BigAlK]

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Likely true, however, he may be actually able to seperate his personal beliefs from what he's supposed to be doing.

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I suppose this possibility is there. In an idealistic world this is what all of our political reps would do (makes decisions based on the facts and input from constituents without undue influence based on their personal beliefs). In the real world most fall somewhere on the spectrum of completley amoral (where can I get the most money or which side will get me the most votes) to voting entirely on personal beliefs. Few are at the extremes, but I doubt many hit the sweet spot between the two. My experience and observation of Mormon politicians as a group over several decades doesn't give me much hope on this score. However I have no knowledge on Romney's past record and can't rule out the possibility that he is one of the rare exceptions.