Dinner With A Congressman

[jbrent33]

I am having dinner with a 6 term Republican Congressman next week. A good friend married a his daughter, blah blah blah.
This is not a fundraiser type thing, rather dinner at my friend's house with about 6-8 people.

I have known the Congressman for about 5 years and have a fairly casual relationship, as he and I typically get involved is some type of political discussion after a few beers.

He is supports the UIGA and has in the past, compared gambling sites with drug dealers (yes I live in the south).
However, he is a reasonable man and I'm almost certain he has probably never discussed the situation with someone who derives a large portion of his income from online poker.

I would love to hear some well thought out points I should make.

Thanks,
Jb

[Turning Stone Pro]

Perhaps ask him if you can borrow a couple of bucks until you find a new line of work.

TSP

[jbrent33]

Not bad

[BS Yee]

I think you should start with the carve out provisions for horse racing, state lotteries, & fantasy sports and go from there. Then get into the taxation side of things. And about how many Republicans deserted the GOP last November specifically over this. You know the issues.

[Uglyowl]

"nanny state". Regardless of your dinner mates personal view of poker, we enjoy playing and are harming no one.

Further where the government says is "ok" to play where and when, does not work for all of us.

[ollie5050]

[ QUOTE ]
"nanny state". Regardless of your dinner mates personal view of poker, we enjoy playing and are harming no one.

Further where the government says is "ok" to play where and when, does not work for all of us.

[/ QUOTE ]

amen.

[jbrent33]

[ QUOTE ]
"nanny state". Regardless of your dinner mates personal view of poker, we enjoy playing and are harming no one.

Further where the government says is "ok" to play where and when, does not work for all of us.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the "harming no one" argument will not hold water. Here is a quote from some hearings he chaired on the matter.

[ QUOTE ]

I appreciate your testimony. Mr. Goodlatte mentioned, and I think others have mentioned, that Mrs. Kelly held some extensive hearings on this earlier this month. If you read that testimony, I think, if for no other reason, you see the social and the financial hazards that young people have when they are exposed to internet gambling. They are computer-sophisticated. They normally have access to a credit card. They become addicted at a young age to this form of gambling. And if for no other reason, I think we need to address it. And it is a tremendously growing problem with our young people who become addicted to gambling at such an early age.

[/ QUOTE ]

[slothinator]

But it's OK if they become addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, right senator? It's OK if they max out those credit cards on clothes and furniture, right senator? Do these guys actually believe anything they are saying?

[mpslg]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"nanny state". Regardless of your dinner mates personal view of poker, we enjoy playing and are harming no one.

Further where the government says is "ok" to play where and when, does not work for all of us.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the "harming no one" argument will not hold water. Here is a quote from some hearings he chaired on the matter.

[ QUOTE ]

I appreciate your testimony. Mr. Goodlatte mentioned, and I think others have mentioned, that Mrs. Kelly held some extensive hearings on this earlier this month. If you read that testimony, I think, if for no other reason, you see the social and the financial hazards that young people have when they are exposed to internet gambling. They are computer-sophisticated. They normally have access to a credit card. They become addicted at a young age to this form of gambling. And if for no other reason, I think we need to address it. And it is a tremendously growing problem with our young people who become addicted to gambling at such an early age.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course online poker harms some people. Just like alcohol, lottery tickets, casino gambling, shopping, credit cards, etc. However, all of those things are perfectly legal. It's about personal choice. Adults should be able to choose whether to gamble online. Some will not be able to handle it, but that doesn't mean they should take it away from the many people who can handle it.

[mpslg]

[ QUOTE ]
But it's OK if they become addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, right senator? It's OK if they max out those credit cards on clothes and furniture, right senator? Do these guys actually believe anything they are saying?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops. You beat me to it.