Does Hillary support gambling?

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DO DEMOCRATS SUPPORT GAMBLING?

In the tit-for-tat world of election debating it's sometimes hard to work out....

Nevada is the latest stop on the presidential electioneering trail, and the positions on gambling taken by the leading Democrat contenders started to get confusing this week as Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama traded opinions on each others' stance on a diversity of issues, usually based on past statements and voting record.

The Clinton campaign distributed a document to Nevada reporters, headlined, "Obama Blasted Gambling as Socially Destructive and Economically Irresponsible," listing several of his past quotes.

Clinton says that in the past Obama has been critical of the gambling world, saying that it carries moral and social costs that could devastate poor communities. In his tenure as state senator in Illinois, Obama is also said to have opposed proposals to expand gambling for this reason.

It's an astute tactic by Clinton, especially in the US mecca for gambling where debates and presentations are being made by both candidates to sway voters to their side. And when it comes to online gambling, Clinton is reported to have taken the generally safe middle road of supporting an investigation into the pastime and the technologies available to regulate it.

The LA Times opines that Clinton has "....embraced the gambling industry and its executives, and her campaign has used Obama's past statements in an effort to turn casino workers and other Nevada voters against him."

Asked about Obama's stance on gambling by the LA Times, his presidential campaigners sent a list of quotations from the candidate in which he distinguished between Illinois and Nevada when talking about the industry.

In the comments, Obama cast the industry's effect on Nevada in a positive light. For example, he told the Associated Press last month that gambling could be a "successful economic model" as long as it was "properly regulated."

And in a boost for Obama, a federal judge this ruled the Nevada Democratic party can hold caucuses at Las Vegas casinos for workers unable to make it to neighbourhood precincts for Saturday's primary. Obama is courting union workers at casinos.

The differences between the Obama and Clinton approaches could also help shape the outcome of the primary election in California, where the February 5 ballot will carry four high-profile initiatives that could either rescind or allow an expansion of slot machines at Indian casinos. Californians who turn out to vote on those initiatives could be motivated by a candidate's position on gambling when they cast ballots in the presidential contest.

"There's a fundamental question here," said the Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. "Until this point, Obama's statements seemed to suggest that he did not buy into the industry arguments that this is a product like golf or Starbucks that should just go on Main Street. And Hillary, by attacking him, seems to have come down clearly on the side of the industry that this is economic development."

The Clintonites have gone back to 2001 to make their point about Obama's stance on gambling, quoting him as describing himself as "generally skeptical" of gambling as an economic development tool and likening the expansion of slot machines to the state lottery, in which, he said, "you'll have a whole bunch of people who can't afford gambling their money away, yet they're going to do it."

As part of its efforts to publicise those statements, the Clinton campaign has secured the help of top industry players - several of whom participated in a campaign-sponsored conference call with the media last week designed to chastise Obama.

Former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, now a senior executive at Harrah's Entertainment, and Philip Satre, a former Harrah's executive and top industry spokesman, argued on the conference call that gambling had brought jobs and much-needed tax revenue to many communities, including economically challenged places in Obama's home state, such as Joliet, Ill., home to a casino.

They disputed the argument that gambling causes social problems and that those problems disproportionately affect lower-income people. "People are not gambling away their mortgages," Jones said in an interview later, adding that she planned to raise campaign money for Clinton.

Former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller, an official in Clinton's campaign and a board member of International Game Technology and Wynn Resorts, says Obama's stance was reason for Nevada voters to choose Clinton. He accused Obama of being critical not just of gaming in Illinois, but gaming as an industry.

"Sen. Clinton, to the contrary, has always been supportive and understanding of our industry," he said, stressing he was not speaking for Wynn Resorts or IGT when talking about the presidential contest.

Satre, a former chairman and chief executive of Harrah's Entertainment, said he too would help raise money for Clinton. Obama, he said in an interview, "doesn't think gambling should expand. He thinks gambling has a moral and social corruption attached to it."

Clinton aides said the New York senator had long supported communities' efforts to lure new casinos to economically struggling places outside New York City, such as upstate New York and the Catskills.

Capitalising on the growing debate, Clinton described the gambling industry as an "economic development tool" in an interview with the LA Times and said that "for many places in the country, it seems to be an important part of what they are trying to do to revive and maintain an economic base."

Clinton likened the potential social costs of gambling to the costs of other industries that pollute or leave toxic dumps, saying that the impact "depends on how well-regulated it is."

But did she really mean it? The newspaper also quotes the Rev.Grey, who heads the coalition against legalised gambling and is also a Methodist minister. He said Clinton's position conflicted with the church's statement of values, which Clinton has cited as a personal moral guide.

He pointed to a quote published last month in the Christian Science Monitor in which Clinton said: "For me, the Social Principles of the Methodist Church have been as much a description of our history as a prod to my future actions."

The Social Principles say: "We call on Christians to abstain from gambling and to be in ministry with persons who are the victims of this societal menace."

Grey said: "It's perplexing to me that she would use the principles and choose to omit the one on gambling." The Clinton campaign did not respond to questions about whether Clinton's stance on gambling conflicted with church policy.

Obama, an avid poker player, developed a reputation in Illinois as a critic of gambling. He voted against a 1999 measure to extend riverboat gambling to include boats stationed at dockside.

But Obama was not dogmatic. In submitting campaign questionnaires in 1998 and 2002 for the anti-gambling group Illinois Churches in Action, he left himself room to back the industry, answering "undecided" on whether he favoured adding riverboat and land-based casinos. On a 2002 questionnaire bearing his signature, the words "not sure" were penciled in as answers to questions about several forms of expansion, such as moving casinos from rivers to land and raising the gambling age to 21.
 
As to your original question:
Does Hillary support gambling?

It all depends on who she's talking to -- just like any other politician.
 
Does Hillary support gambling.............well, she stayed married to Bill.......I WOULD HAVE TO SAY YES!

LMAO - that's a classic, suzecat!

I have to say I find it fascinating to watch politicians (not just the Americans of the species) play with words and flex their opinions - often from one side to another.

And we think con-men have a way with words!
 
More info on this....

From the US Gamblers weekly newsletter:

Hillary Clinton Supports Online Gaming Study
The online gaming community has renewed hope for one of the candidates running for US President, and she just happens to be the favorite to win. With the Nevada Caucuses taking place last Saturday, The Las Vegas Sun reports that Democrat Hillary Clinton supports a study to determine if Internet gaming can be fairly regulated so that individuals can safely participate in it and American businesses can compete in the international market.

Until now, only Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul has gone on record as denouncing prohibition of online gaming.

"I believe strongly that the internet should not be regulated by the federal government and believe even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions." Dr. Paul said. He also indicated that politicians are afraid to touch any issue related to the Internet "for fear it would label them 'pro-gaming'."

While Clinton leads in polls, Paul leads among many of Republican candidates in terms of finances. A huge grass roots one-day fundraiser is being planned on Martin Luther King's Birthday this coming Monday January 21. Paul has mostly been ignored by the mainstream media, however.


Ms. Clinton's proclamation could also serve as an indirect shot at Senator John McCain, whose fellow Arizona Senator, Jon Kyl, helped push online gaming prohibition through the Senate in late 2006. McCain is presently the favorite to win the Republican nomination and prediction markets indicate he likely will.

In the past Senator McCain has attempted to get legislation passed that would ban betting on college sports. Unlike his colleague in Arizona (Jon Kyl), who has received significant amounts of money from major sports leagues that have pushed to ban Internet gaming, McCain's arguments against college sports wagering have some merit and are not necessarily viewed as being pushed along by "special interests".

He's also a casino gambler himself who has been photographed at the tables...sometimes in front of big stacks of chips. Whether he would encourage such studies into the regulation of online gaming remain to be seen.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, a few big companies like MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment have supported efforts to legalize Internet gaming, but the concept lacks broad support.

Though the right to gamble has never been a pressing issue for most Americans and it may be years before Congress takes up the issue again, some industry experts say legalization is inevitable because of the potential tax revenue now going offshore


"This legislation has a loophole big enough to drive a truck through that was designed solely to protect betting on horse racing and lotteries over the Internet," Ms. Berkley, who co-chairs the Congressional Gaming Caucus, "Internet gaming is becoming more popular every day and we need a comprehensive federal study that looks at the question of whether or not it can be effectively regulated and what role technology can play in accomplishing that goal.

Antigua to Sit Down With US Over Internet Gaming Dispute

Antigua and Barbuda's finance minister, Errol Cort is set to have talks with a United States Trade Representative today in an effort to bring resolution to the Internet gaming dispute between the two countries.

Cort left the island on Wednesday for today's meeting with the US official, Susan Schwab.

"We believe this matter can be settled in an amicable way because we enjoy an excellent relationship with the United States," he said.

"I am therefore hopeful we can come to some broad understanding in terms of settlement."

Antigua and Barbuda officials have already been given the go-ahead by the World Trade Organisation to target U.S. services, copyrights and trademarks in retaliation for a U.S. online betting ban.

The WTO also ruled Antigua could impose only US$21 million in annual trade sanctions and not the US$3.4 billion the island had requested.

Antigua has insisted the U.S. is trying to cripple its gaming industry by banning Americans from placing online bets with gaming operators, including those based on the island.
 
"I believe strongly that the internet should not be regulated by the federal government and believe even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions." Dr. Paul said. He also indicated that politicians are afraid to touch any issue related to the Internet "for fear it would label them 'pro-gaming'."

Just one of the many reasons I am seriously thinking about supporting Ron Paul for President.
 
Barack Obama plays poker. Hilary is just appealing to whomever at the moment. That's how she is. She's tied with big corporations and the Clintons will forever have those connections.

Look at how vocal Bill Clinton is, you would think he's running for another term.
 
Just one of the many reasons I am seriously thinking about supporting Ron Paul for President.

Don't just think about it lots0, do it now, we need your support now...Dr. Paul is most likely the last great hope for America. His moral values are impeccable and unchallenged...there's no one else even in the same league as him...:thumbsup:
 
Speaking of Las Vegas and politics; looks like Sheldon Adelson is betting on red... and letting it ride

"...The election is merely a first stop: Former White House scheduler Brad Blakeman, the group's president, noted recently that the organization envisions a "never-ending campaign."

Key to unlocking these secrets may be another man Klayman hopes to depose: casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the group's top donor, who is shaping up as the right's answer to George Sorosonly a lot richer. Last year, Forbes pegged Adelson as America's third-wealthiest person, with a net worth around $28 billion. Even a sliver of that fortune will go a long way for Freedom's Watch, which is expected to barrage would-be voters with ads on foreign policy, national security, and domestic issues. Freedom's Watch hopes to direct as much as $200 million into the 2008 campaign, nearly 10 times what Swift Boat Veterans for Truth spent in 2004. "Money won't be an object," promises Matt Brooks, Freedom's Watch's treasurer.

MJ article
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Be afraid, be very afraid...
 

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