Politicians For and Against Online Poker, August 29, 2007

[TheEngineer]

Politicians For and Against Online Poker

"TheEngineer"
TheEngineer_2007 at yahoo dot com

August 29, 2007

Many Americans oppose attempts by the federal government to ban Internet poker. This includes not only folks who enjoy a hand or two of cards after work, but also millions of non-gamblers who support liberty and freedom from federal tyranny on general principle. Despite this, and despite the fact that opponents of allowing people to spend their own money in their own homes lacked the votes in the Senate, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) was sneaked into the Safe Ports Act, where it was safe from debate and discussion. As a result, reform measures like HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, and HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, have been introduced.

The enemies of freedom are working hard to take your liberty. Are you willing to work hard to keep it? If you’re like most of us, you are ready, willing, and able to work hard for what’s right!

So, if you enjoy your freedom to play poker and other games online, or if you simply support freedom on general principle, please write to your senators and representatives today. You may wish to use this to see where they stand, as well as your guide for the upcoming elections.

2007 Kentucky Gubernatorial Race

The 2008 elections actually kick off in November 2007, with the off year Kentucky governor’s race. This is a great election for freedom-lovers for a number of reasons. First, the election has essentially turned into a referendum on gaming (including poker), and Steve Beshear [D], the pro-casino challenger, is the heavy favorite over Gov. Ernie Fletcher [R], the scandal-plagued incumbent nanny-stater (57.3% to 36.7%). Additionally, the fact that it’s off year adds to the visibility of the election. If we win in this traditionally red state, we carry awesome momentum into 2008 while simultaneously putting pressure on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. If we lose, anti-poker, statist groups like Focus on the Family will have the momentum.

Fletcher’s reelection campaign website, www.erniefletcher.com, does not list any of his accomplishments over the past four years. Maybe there were none. Rather, it contains only articles on the so-called "evils of gambling". Basically, Fletcher wants the votes of the big-government nanny-staters. He also wants to distract people from his many transgressions, and he apparently thinks WE are good scapegoats for his corruption.


U.S. House
Based on the way things look now, here's a close look at the U.S. House:

Key
A+: actively working for us
A: cosponsor of IGREA (Rep. Barney Frank's Internet gaming regulation bill) or SGPA (Rep. Robert Wexler's "skills game" bill)
A-: voted against HR 4411, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act (the bill that became UIGEA), not cosponsoring IGREA or SGPA
B: cosponsoring Rep. Shelley Berkley's study bill
?: no voting record
?- : voted for HR 4411, but no other action.
F*: cosponsored HR 4777 (Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s ban bill)
F: cosponsored HR 4411 and/or strong public statements against Internet gaming
F-: leader of efforts against us...zealot


Summary:

<font color="white">.....................</font> Dem<font color="white">.....</font>Rep
with us<font color="white">............</font>110<font color="white">......</font>15
neutral<font color="white">............</font>109<font color="white">......</font>73
against us<font color="white">.........</font>17<font color="white">.....</font>114


A+ (5 total, 4 Democrats and 1 Republican):

Berkley, Shelley [D-NV], Carson, Julia [D-IN], Frank, Barney [D-MA], Paul, Ron [R-TX], and Wexler, Robert [D-FL].

A (36 total, 33 D and 3 R):

Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI], Ackerman, Gary [D-NY], Baca, Joe [D-CA], Berman, Howard [D-CA], Capuano, Michael [D-MA], Carnahan, Russ [D-MO], Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO], Cohen, Steve [D-TN], Crowley, Joseph [D-NY], Engel, Eliot [D-NY], Filner, Bob [D-CA], Fossella, Vito [R-NY], Gutierrez, Luis [D-IL], Hastings, Alcee [D-FL], Honda, Michael [D-CA], Israel, Steve [D-NY], King, Peter [R-NY], Larson, John [D-CT], McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY], McDermott, Jim [D-WA], McGovern, James [D-MA], Melancon, Charlie [D-LA], Moran, Jim [D-VA], Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO], Rodriguez, Ciro [D-TX], Rothman, Steven [D-NJ], Ryan, Tim [D-OH], Sanchez, Linda [D-CA], Schiff, Adam [D-CA], Thompson, Bennie [D-MS], Towns, Edolphus [D-NY], Watt, Mel [D-NC], Weiner, Anthony [D-NY], Woolsey, Lynn [D-CA], Wynn, Albert [D-MD], and Young, Don [R-AK]

A- (59 total, 50 D and 9 R):

Andrews, Robert [D-NJ], Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Becerra, Xavier [D-CA], Brown, Corrine [D-FL], Capps, Lois [D-CA], Conyers, John [D-MI], Cummings, Elijah [D-MD], Davis, Danny [D-IL], Delahunt, William [D-MA], Dingell, John [D-MI], Dreier, David [R-CA], Eshoo, Anna [D-CA], Farr, Sam [D-CA], Flake, Jeff [R-AZ], Gonzalez, Charles [D-TX], Grijalva, Raul [D-AZ], Hastings, Doc [R-WA], Holden, Tim [D-PA], Hoyer, Steny [D-MD], Inslee, Jay [D-WA], Jackson, Jesse [D-IL], Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX], Johnson, Eddie [D-TX], Kennedy, Patrick [D-RI], Kildee, Dale [D-MI], Kilpatrick, Carolyn [D-MI], Kind, Ronald [D-WI], Kucinich, Dennis [D-OH], Lee, Barbara [D-CA], LoBiondo, Frank [R-NJ], Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA], Mack, Connie [R-FL], Markey, Edward [D-MA], Matsui, Doris [D-CA], Miller, George [D-CA], Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY], Napolitano, Grace [D-CA], Neal, Richard [D-MA], Olver, John [D-MA], Pastor, Edward [D-AZ], Poe, Ted [R-TX], Porter, Jon [R-NV], Rangel, Charles [D-NY], Reyes, Silvestre [D-TX], Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA], Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA], Rush, Bobby [D-IL], Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA], Schakowsky, Janice [D-IL], Scott, Robert [D-VA], Serrano, José [D-NY], Solis, Hilda [D-CA], Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA], Tauscher, Ellen [D-CA], Tiberi, Patrick [R-OH], Tierney, John [D-MA], Udall, Tom [D-NM], Velazquez, Nydia [D-NY], and Watson, Diane [D-CA]

B (27 total, 25 D and 2 R):

Bean, Melissa L. [D-IL], Boyda, Nancy [D-KS], Clyburn, James [D-SC], Costa, Jim [D-CA], Costello, Jerry [D-IL], Faleomavaega, Eni (Del) [D-AS], Giffords, Gabrielle [D-AZ], Green, Al [D-TX], Heller, Dean [R-NV], Hill, Baron [D-IN], Hinchey, Maurice [D-NY], Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH], Langevin, James [D-RI], Lewis, John [D-GA], Maloney, Carolyn [D-NY], Meek, Kendrick [D-FL], Meeks, Gregory [D-NY], Moore, Dennis [D-KS], Pascrell, Bill [D-NJ], Payne, Donald [D-NJ], Peterson, Collin [D-MN], Ruppersberger, Dutch [D-MD], Sessions, Pete [R-TX], Taylor, Gene [D-MS], Thompson, Mike [D-CA], Walz, Timothy [D-MN], and Yarmuth, John [D-KY].

? (58 total, 41 D and 17 R):

Altmire, Jason [D-PA], Arcuri, Michael A. [D-NY], Bachmann, Michele [R-MN], Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA], Broun, Paul [R-GA], Buchanan, Vern [R-FL], Carney, Christopher P. [D-PA], Castor, Kathy, Florida, 11th [D-FL], Christian-Christensen, Donna M. (Del) [D-VI], Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY], Courtney, Joe [D-CT], Davis, David [R-TN], Donnelly, Joe [D-IN], Doyle, Mike [D-PA], Ellison, Keith [D-MN], Ellsworth, Brad [D-IN], Fallin, Mary [R-OK], Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Hall, John J. [D-NY], Hare, Phil, [D-IL], Hastert, Denny [R-IL], Hinojosa, Rubén [D-TX], Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH], Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" Jr. [D-GA], Jordan, Jim [R-OH], Kagen, Steve [D-WI], Klein, Ron [D-FL], Lamborn, Doug [R-CO], Lampson, Nick [D-TX], Loebsack, David [D-IA], Mahoney, Tim [D-FL], McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA], McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC], McNerney, Jerry [D-CA], McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY], Miller, Brad [D-NC], Mitchell, Harry E. [D-AZ], Murphy, Christopher S. [D-CT], Murphy, Patrick J. [D-PA], Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Del) [D-DC], Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL], Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL], Ryan, Paul [R-WI], Sali, Bill [R-ID], Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD], Sestak, Joe [D-PA], Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH], Shuler, Heath [D-NC], Sires, Albio [D-NJ], Slaughter, Louise [D-NY], Smith, Adrian [R-NE], Smith, Chris [R-NJ], Space, Zachary T. [D-OH], Sutton, Betty [D-OH], Walberg, Timothy [R-MI], Welch, Peter [D-VT], and Wilson, Charles A. [D-OH]

?- (121 total, 66 D and 55 R):

Allen, Tom, [D-ME], Baird, Brian [D-WA], Barrow, John [D-GA], Barton, Joe [R-TX], Biggert, Judy [R-IL], Bilbray, Brian P. [R-CA], Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL], Bishop Jr., Sanford D. [R-GA], Bishop, Rob [D-UT], Bishop, Timothy [D-NY], Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR], Bono, Mary [R-CA], Boren, Dan [D-OK], Boswell, Leonard [D-IA], Boyd, Allen [D-FL], Brady, Robert [D-PA], Brown-Waite, Virginia [R-FL], Butterfield, G.K. [D-NC], Calvert, Ken [R-CA], Campbell, John [R-CA], Cannon, Chris [R-UT], Carter, John [R-TX], Castle, Michael N. [R-DE], Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO], Cole, Tom [R-OK], Cooper, Jim [D-TN], Cuellar, Henry [D-TX], Davis, Artur [D-AL], Davis, Susan [D-CA], DeGette, Diana [D-CO], DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT], Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL], Dicks, Norman D. [D-WA], Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX], Doolittle, John [R-CA], Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL], English, Phil [R-PA], Fattah, Chaka [D-PA], Ferguson, Michael [R-NJ], Garrett, Scott [R-NJ], Gerlach, Jim [R-PA], Gordon, Bart [D-TN], Graves, Sam [R-MO], Harman, Jane [D-CA], Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX], Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD], Higgins, Brian [D-NY], Holt, Rush [D-NJ], Issa, Darrell [R-CA], Jefferson, William J. [D-LA], Johnson, Sam [R-TX], Johnson, Timothy V. [R-IL], Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA], Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH], Kline, John [R-MN], Knollenberg, Joseph [R-MI], Lantos, Tom [D-CA], Larsen, Rick [D-WA], LaTourette, Steven C. [R-OH], Levin, Sander [D-MI], Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL], Lowey, Nita [D-NY], Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA], Manzullo, Donald [R-IL], Marshall, Jim [D-GA], Matheson, Jim [D-UT], McCollum, Betty [D-MN], McHugh, John M. [R-NY], Mica, John [R-FL], Michaud, Michael [D-ME], Miller, Candice [R-MI], Miller, Gary [R-CA], Mollohan, Alan B. [D-WV], Moore, Gwen [D-WI], Murphy, Tim [R-PA], Murtha, John [D-PA], Nunes, Devin [R-CA], Oberstar, James L. [D-MN], Obey, David R. [D-WI], Ortiz, Solomon P. [D-TX], Pallone Jr., Frank [D-NJ], Pearce, Steve [R-NM], Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA], Pickering, Charles W. "Chip" [R-MS], Pomeroy, Earl [D-ND], Price, Tom [R-GA], Pryce, Deborah [R-OH], Radanovich, George P. [R-CA], Rahall, Nick [D-WV], Reichert, David G. [R-WA], Renzi, Rick [R-AZ], Rogers, Harold [R-KY], Ross, Mike [D-AR], Royce, Ed [R-CA], Salazar, John T. [D-CO], Saxton, Jim [R-NJ], Schmidt, Jean [R-OH], Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA], Sensenbrenner, F. James [R-WI], Sherman, Brad [D-CA], Simpson, Mike [R-ID], Skelton, Ike [D-MO], Smith, Adam [D-WA], Snyder, Vic [D-AR], Spratt, John [D-SC], Stearns, Cliff [R-FL], Stupak, Bart [D-MI], Tancredo, Tom [R-CO], Tanner, John [D-TN], Turner, Michael [R-OH], Udall, Mark [D-CO], Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Visclosky, Peter [D-IN], Wamp, Zach [R-TN], Waters, Maxine [D-CA], Waxman, Henry [D-CA], Weller, Jerry [R-IL], Whitfield, Ed [R-KY], Wu, David [D-OR], and Young, C.W. Bill [R-FL].

F* (97 total, 14 D and 83 R):

Aderholt, Robert [R-AL], Alexander, Rodney [R-LA], Baker, Richard [R-LA], Bartlett, Roscoe [R-MD], Berry, Robert [D-AR], Bonner, Jo [R-AL], Boozman, John [R-AR], Boucher, Frederick [D-VA], Boustany, Charles [R-LA], Brady, Kevin [D-TX], Brown, Henry [R-SC], Burgess, Michael [R-TX], Burton, Dan [R-IN], Buyer, Stephen [R-IN], Camp, David [R-MI], Cantor, Eric [R-VA], Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Cardoza, Dennis [D-CA], Chabot, Steven [R-OH], Chandler, Ben [D-KY], Coble, Howard [R-NC], Conaway, Michael [R-TX], Cramer, Robert [D-AL], Crenshaw, Ander [R-FL], Cubin, Barbara [R-WY], Culberson, John [R-TX], Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA], Davis, Lincoln [D-TN], Davis, Thomas [R-VA], Deal, Nathan [R-GA], DeFazio, Peter [D-OR], Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL], Drake, Thelma [R-VA], Duncan, John [R-TN], Edwards, Thomas [D-TX], Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO], Etheridge, Bob [D-NC], Everett, Terry [R-AL], Feeney, Tom [R-FL], Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA], Fortuño, Luis (R.C.) [R-PR], Foxx, Virginia [R-NC], Frelinghuysen, Rodney [R-NJ], Gallegly, Elton [R-CA], Gingrey, John [R-GA], Gohmert, Louis [R-TX], Goode, Virgil [R-VA], Granger, Kay [R-TX], Green, Raymond [D-TX], Hall, Ralph [R-TX], Hayes, Robin [R-NC], Herger, Walter [R-CA], Hobson, David [R-OH], Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI], Hulshof, Kenny [R-MO], Hunter, Duncan [R-CA], Jindal, Bobby [R-LA], Jones, Walter [R-NC], Keller, Ric [R-FL], King, Steve [R-IA], Kingston, Jack [R-GA], Kuhl, John [R-NY], LaHood, Ray [R-IL], Lewis, Jerry [R-CA], Lewis, Ron [R-KY], Linder, John [R-GA], Lucas, Frank [R-OK], Lungren, Daniel [R-CA], Marchant, Kenny [R-TX], McCrery, James [R-LA], McIntyre, Mike [D-NC], McKeon, Howard [R-CA], McMorris Rogers, Cathy [R-WA], Miller, Jeff [R-FL], Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Musgrave, Marilyn [R-CO], Myrick, Sue [R-NC], Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX], Peterson, John [R-PA], Price, David [D-NC], Putnam, Adam [R-FL], Regula, Ralph [R-OH], Rehberg, Dennis [R-MT], Reynolds, Thomas [R-NY], Rogers, Mike [R-AL], Scott, David [D-GA], Shimkus, John [R-IL], Shuster, William [R-PA], Smith, Lamar [R-TX], Sullivan, John [R-OK], Thornberry, William [R-TX], Tiahrt, Todd [R-KS], Walden, Greg [R-OR], Weldon, David [R-FL], Westmoreland, Lynn [R-GA], Wilson, Heather [R-NM], and Wolf, Frank [R-VA].

F (32 total, 3 D and 29 R):

Akin, Todd [R-MO], Barrett, James [R-SC], Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Boehner, John [R-OH], Bordallo, Madeleine (Del) [D-GU], Davis, Geoff [R-KY], Dent, Charles [R-PA], Ehlers, Vernon [R-MI], Fortenberry, Jeffrey [R-NE], Franks, Trent [R-AZ], Gilchrest, Wayne [R-MD], Gillmor, Paul [R-OH], Hooley, Darlene [D-OR], Inglis, Bob [R-SC], Kirk, Mark [R-IL], Latham, Thomas [R-IA], McCaul, Michael [R-TX], McCotter, Thaddeus [R-MI], Pence, Mike [R-IN], Petri, Thomas [R-WI], Pitts, Joseph [R-PA], Platts, Todd [R-PA], Ramstad, James [R-MN], Rogers, Michael [R-MI], Shadegg, John [R-AZ], Souder, Mark [R-IN], Terry, Lee [R-NE], Upton, Frederick [R-MI], Walsh, James [R-NY], Wasserman Shultz, Debbie [D-FL], Wicker, Roger [R-MS], and Wilson, Joe [R-SC].

F- (3 total, 0 D and 3 R):

Bachus, Spencer [R-AL], Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA], and Shays, Christopher [R-CT].


I'd strongly consider voting against any incumbent not A or B rated, even if the opponent is equally (but not more) anti-gambling, as incumbents have much more power than freshmen.

L-rated candidates (most vulnerable opponents, i.e, most likely to be "Leached"). These representatives are strongly against us, and most won their last two elections by less than 55%. With their vulnerability, they may be more receptive to our letters. If no change of heart, it's Leach time! Don't let me click my mouse, lose your seat in the House!

Shelley Moore Capito (R.-WV). Won in 2006 with 57% of vote. Likely to be challenged by pro-gaming Democrat John Unger II.

Steve Chabot (R-OH). Ohio is a good state for us, I think. It's becoming more progressive and libertarian, especially with regards to social conservatism. Chabot is a foe of ours.

William Jefferson (D-LA). He voted against us while having $90K in cash hiding in his freezer. Besides the hypocrisy, the fact that the current Congressional Black Caucus is 61% A or B rated means his opponent (or the candidate running for the open seat if Jefferson is gone by then) is likely to be excellent for freedom and liberty.

Barbara Cubin (R-WY): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Ric Keller (R-FL). Consistently against us. Appears he'll have strong challengers in 2008.

Mark Kirk (R-IL): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). He sent a 2+2 poster a strongly anti-Internet gaming letter. Plus, as a Michigan Republican, he'll have a tough challenger in '08.

Randy Kuhl (R-NY): F*-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO). The Christian Coalition has ranked Musgrave's voting record at '100%' in support of the pro-Christian Coalition legislation listed on their scorecard (which includes Internet gaming).

Jean Schmidt (R-OH). She memorably called 38-year Marine Corps veteran Rep. John Murtha a coward for advocating leaving Iraq, which weakened her significantly. As for Internet poker, she's definitely an opponent of ours.

Chris Shays (R-CT). Good target here, especially as he's so vehemently against us. New England is turning against Republicans, while the Republican Party is turning against RINOs. He's in trouble in '08.

Mark Souder (R-IN). Brags about cosponsoring HR 4777 on his website. "U.S. Rep. Mark Souder joined a number of his House colleagues yesterday in cosponsoring H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, legislation designed to crack down on the growing problem of illegal, offshore gambling, as well as illegal gambling that crosses state lines via phone lines and the Internet."

Jim Walsh (R-NY): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Heather Wilson (R-NM): F*-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

U.S. House, by Region:

<font color="white">.....................</font> With Us<font color="white">.....</font>Neutral/Unknown<font color="white">.....</font>Against us
Northeast<font color="white">............</font>40%<font color="white">.....................</font>48%<font color="white">..................</font>11%
West<font color="white">...................</font>41%<font color="white">.....................</font>41%<font color="white">..................</font>18%
Midwest<font color="white">..............</font>25%<font color="white">.....................</font>45%<font color="white">..................</font>30%
Territories<font color="white">............</font>25%<font color="white">.....................</font>25%<font color="white">..................</font>50%
South<font color="white">..................</font>18%<font color="white">.....................</font>34%<font color="white">..................</font>47%



The Northeast has 83 reps (plus one vacant seat), the West has 97 reps (plus the other vacant seat), the Midwest has 100 reps, the territories (Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) have four delegates, and the South has 154 reps.

As can be readily seen, the South is strongly against us. There are 284 non-Southern reps: 35% with us, 44% neutral/unknown, and only 21% against us. Of the 132 congressmen rated F, F*, or F-, 73 are Southern (56%). As one of the main opponents of allowing people to choose to play Internet poker is Focus on the Family, this should not be surprising (http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/A000004244.cfm and http://www.citizenlink.org/pdfs/fosi/gam...AX_to_HOUSE.pdf).




2008 U.S. Senate Races

34 seats in the Senate will be contested on November 4, 2008 – 12 Democratic seats and 22 Republican ones. Per the latest Cook Political Report, 3 Democratic seats and 8 Republican seats are in play. Democrats currently have a two-seat advantage (i.e., both independents caucus with the Democrats).

Solid Democratic (9): Biden (D-DE), Harkin (D-IA), Durbin (D-IL), Kerry (D-MA), Levin (D-MI), Baucus (D-MT), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Reed (D-RI), and Rockefeller (D-WV).

Likely Democratic (2): Pryor (D-AR) and Johnson (D-SD).

Leaning Democratic (1): Landrieu (D-LA)

Tossup (1): Allard (R-CO) -- retiring

Leaning Republican (2): Collins (R-ME) and Coleman (R-MN).

Likely Republican (5): Stevens (R-AK), Sununu (R-NH), Dole (R-NC), Domenici (R-NM), and Smith (R-OR).

Solid Republican (14): Sessions (R-AL), Chambliss (R-GA), Craig (R-ID) [though Craig himself will likely be gone], Roberts (R-KS), McConnell (R-KY), Cochran (R-MS), Hagel (R-NE), Inhofe (R-OK), Graham (R-SC), Alexander (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Warner (R-VA), and Enzi (R-WY).

[jono]

thank you!

[Tofu_boy]

Thanks for all your hard worh SIR. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[TheEngineer]

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/edwards...2007-03-01.html

Campaign 2008

Edwards’s gambling stance expected to hurt his chances in Nevada caucus
By Bob Cusack
March 01, 2007

Former Sen. John Edwards’s (D-N.C.) strong support of prohibiting gambling on college sports is expected to hamper his chances in the Nevada presidential caucus.

Lawmakers in the Silver State have long criticized the legislation; in 2003, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called it “anti-Nevada.”

“If Edwards stays firm on that, it will hurt him,” said Eric Herzik, a political scientist at the University of Nevada in Reno.

Edwards was one of a handful of Senate Democrats who backed the bill championed by Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.). But the negative effect the measure may have on Edwards is more acute than with his 2008 GOP counterparts because Democrats have moved Nevada’s race up in the nomination process, sandwiching it between Iowa and New Hampshire on Jan. 19.

Edwards, a formal cosponsor of the bill, didn’t hold back when lobbying for it. During a March 29, 2000 hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Edwards said, “Instead of rooting for a university because of loyalty, bookies in Nevada … root for a team for one reason, and only one reason: money.”

He later added, “We will hear today from folks in Nevada about how well-regulated the gaming industry is … We will not hear much, though, about the millions of dollars they give annually to politicians. You will not hear them talk about the influence their money has in Washington.”

Edwards said enactment of the bill would prevent Nevada casinos from “raking in close to a billion dollars annually on amateur athletics.”

Reid and other Nevada legislators testified that day in fervent opposition to the measure, saying it would create an economic burden on thousands of Nevadans. The senator, a former chief gaming regulator for the state of Nevada as well as an ex-chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, pointedly asked why the backers of the bill were targeting his state.

“It is easy because it is something you can pick at,” Reid said at the time, “and the NCAA, this has been fun for them because it diverts attention from their incompetence … Since 1994, Nevada, more than any other state in the union, has been targeted for federal initiatives that are anathema to the people of Nevada.”

Herzik said the rhetoric from lawmakers matches those shared by Nevada voters: “The issue of gambling is pretty well-settled in Nevada.” He added that most people in the state believe the industry is a well-regulated, legitimate source of income.

The other problem Edwards faces, Herzik said, is that he has heavily courted labor leaders in Nevada, who are closely tied to the gaming industry.

Kenneth Fernandez, a political scientist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, predicted that Edwards would steer clear of his support of prohibiting gambling on college sports.

“He’ll downplay it,” Fernandez said, “and his challengers will play it up.”

However, Fernandez does not believe it will severely impact Edwards’s chances, noting that the gaming industry has higher sources of revenue than betting on college sports, such as slot machines.

Reid, meanwhile, has indicated he will not endorse a candidate before the general election. Rep. Shelley Berkley, who is the sole House Democrat from Nevada and represents Las Vegas, has not yet endorsed a White House hopeful in 2008.

Berkley backed Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) right before the Nevada caucus in 2004 while Reid stayed noncommittal. Kerry, who had all but locked up the nomination before the caucus, won 63 percent of the vote three years ago. Edwards finished third with 10 percent, behind former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and three points ahead of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).

Edwards, describing his backing of the plan years ago, noted that legendary coaches in North Carolina such as Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski endorsed it.

Proponents of the legislation have pointed out that the 49 other states have banned gambling on college sports and that in Nevada, bets cannot legally be placed on Nevada college games.

The issue of prohibiting gambling has eased somewhat in recent years. McCain has not touched the matter since 2003 and Brownback has not reintroduced his measure since 2000. The NCAA is no longer lobbying for the proposal.

But almost every nominee’s positions in the race for the White House are put under a magnifying glass.

And clearly, Nevada lawmakers have strong feelings about the measure. Reid has chastised Congress for seeking to “trash” the 10th Amendment, “whether it’s nuclear waste or morality-based anti-gambling initiatives.”

In 2002, Edwards voted in favor of storing nuclear waste in Nevada, but he now opposes it, as do the other Democratic contenders for president.

Other Democrats who backed the 2000 Brownback gambling bill included Sens. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Jack Reed (R.I.) and Dick Durbin (Ill.) — who is Reid’s deputy — as well as then-Sen. Charles Robb (Va.).

Edwards’s campaign did not return phone calls seeking comment.

[fnurt]

That's interesting. Harry Reid has made some comments in the past that seemed to be very anti-John Edwards. This issue might explain why.

[BennyMac]

Great post, but some of your Cook Political Report race rankings are off:

http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/r...ings_aug29.pdf

[BluffTHIS!]

Engineer,

Another nice thread. Regarding the number on our side, I wonder how many of the B's are soft. Not necessarily that they are against us at all, but rather not for us *right now*. This especially could be the case if domestic gaming interests really do see a benefit in squeezing the offshore sites prior to legalization. However, if you count all the B's or better, then it appears that to actually pass Frank's or Weixler's bill, that all of the democrat neutrals have to break for us.

I was wondering about another matter as well. Which is how many of those in the F categories against us, also support horse racing. I see for example many reps from Texas which certainly has tracks. As I have opined in past threads, the horse racing industry has gotten a free ride with special treatment for too long. We need to find a way to squeeze them firmly into our camp by exposing them to serious harm as well. Perhaps by planting the idea in FOF's head that removing exemptions to horse racing (after all it *is* gambling!) is the path to compliance with the WTO issue (aside from the nuances of whether that is really 100% true), and which thus would remove one of our pillars of support. We need to make horse racing punters feel our pain and get in our camp.

[TheEngineer]

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Great post, but some of your Cook Political Report race rankings are off:

http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/r...ings_aug29.pdf

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Thanks for the heads-up. I wrote that section a few days ago, before the new report came out. I'll update it later today.

[TheEngineer]

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Another nice thread.

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Thanks.

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Regarding the number on our side, I wonder how many of the B's are soft. Not necessarily that they are against us at all, but rather not for us *right now*. This especially could be the case if domestic gaming interests really do see a benefit in squeezing the offshore sites prior to legalization. However, if you count all the B's or better, then it appears that to actually pass Frank's or Weixler's bill, that all of the democrat neutrals have to break for us.

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We still have our work cut out for us, no doubt. I wrote this not to sugarcoat our situation, but to use existing data to show where we stand.

The data show us a number of things. We see opposition to Internet gaming isn't really bipartisan, and it isn't homogeneous across the nation. With Republicans/Southerners out of leadership in the House and Senate, many of our opponents have been cut off at the legs. For example, I hear the latest FoF letter fell on deaf ears in this Congress. The NFL letter, OTOH, has gained traction. As Congress is no longer knee-jerk against us on general principle, our letters rebutting the NFL's letters are more likely to have an effect in this Congress than in the last one.

Finally, once a cause gets attention, sponsorship of a committee chair, and support from half of a chamber, compromise becomes an option. We may get the Frank bill added to must-pass legislation as part of the funding source under paygo. Or, these guys may get tired of us and give us the Wexler bill to get rid of us to save the rest of the prohibition (they can see the folks fighting back are primarily poker players) until they figure out what to do with the domestic industry. The Wexler bill also has a benefit of being more consistent with the laws of many states in terms of allowing skill-based gaming but not games of chance.

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I was wondering about another matter as well. Which is how many of those in the F categories against us, also support horse racing.

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Good point. I hear the horse racing folks are getting concerned that some banks will block all gaming transactions once the UIGEA regs take effect, including horse racing. Although UIGEA excludes horse racing, as the act doesn't define illegal gaming, the Treasury Dept. cannot either. And, as the DoJ claims the IHRA didn't legalize Internet horse racing [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img], they're in murky territory as well.

To further pressure the equine industry, our letters have repeatedly pointed out that we can get out of the WTO issues by banning all Internet gaming, including them (we'd still owe for past noncompliance, of course).

[TheEngineer]

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thank you!

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Glad to help. I hope we can all make good use of it.