Poker Players Alliance Prepares to Flex Political Muscle

Barr and his party are strongly behind the legalization of online gambling, and the right to play poker.

The Poker Players' Alliance is the first step in card players and gambling enthusiasts realizing the strength of their political potential, and one of the initial exercises of this power will be seen in the upcoming Presidential election. To that end, Rich Muny of the PPA has attempted to narrow down the position of the candidates, and grade them accordingly.

Muny gives John McCain a D, mostly for McCain's voting against any legalization of sports gambling. The Republican candidate does not have strongly expressed views on online gambling or poker. McCain did not sign a pro-UIGEA staement circulated by anti-gambling factions.

Barack Obama was graded by Muny as a C. This grade was awarded despite Obama's well-publicized votes against gambling initiatives while in the Illinois Senate, votes he defended as being against those particular measures rather than against gambling per se.

Obama has conceded himself a poker player, and has voiced support for a legislative study on online gambling.

Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, has distinguished himself in Muny's eyes, earning a grade of A+. Of course, it is consistent with libertarian thinking that citizens have the freedom to determine their own choices, without government interference. Barr and his party are strongly behind the legalization of online gambling, and the right to play poker.

Chuck Baldwin, pastor of the Crossroads Baptist Church in Florida and candidate of the ironically named Constitution Party, gets an F from Muny. The Constitution Party's platform decries gambling as immoral and contributing to crime and destruction of family values. Baldwin and his fringe group would illegalize all forms of gambling, including anything online, poker, lotteries, and Indian casinos.

Although Ralph Nader is not mentioned by Muny, and Nader's official website does not mention a position on poker or online gaming, Nader's involvement in lawsuits in 1999 and 2000 against credit-card companies that became the germination of the UIGEA assures that his grade would be most unfavorable.

Hopefully, Barr's followers will prove strong enough, along with the earlier support shown to the candidacy of Ron Paul, that the victor of the Presidential race will feel the real influence of citizens who are not only pro-poker or pro-online gambling, but pro-liberty and freedom of choice.