It is the Democrats’ turn to take the national stage this week as they attempt to rally their base at the National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. And, like the Republicans, the 2012 Democratic National Platform was published to coincide with the festivities. Unlike in the Republican National Platform, however, online poker was not attacked.
In fact, there was no mention of online poker or online gambling at all. The closest the platform came to discussing the issue, and it really wasn’t very close, was on page 69 under the heading “Internet Freedom.” That section states, in part, “The Obama administration has led the world to recognize and defend Internet freedom – the freedom of expression, assembly, and association online for people everywhere…”
It adds that the administration has taken strides to “preserve the Internet as a platform for commerce, debate, learning, and innovation in the 21st century,” though again, there is no mention of online gambling.
One will recall that the Republican National Platform called for a straight ban on internet gaming, stating:
Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support the prohibition of gambling over the Internet and call for reversal of the Justice Department’s decision distorting the formerly accepted meaning of the Wire Act that could open the door to Internet betting.
The same section of the Republican National Platform that included the above passage also made mention of child pornography, child predators, and human trafficking, thereby associated games to those horrors.
The Democratic National Platform also discussed human trafficking, but in the “Countering Emerging Threats” section, without lumping it in with online gambling. Other things that opponents of online poker often associate with the game such as organized crime and terrorism were also presented in that section, but contained in a paragraph about “Cybersecurity.” Again, no mention of poker.
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) had mixed feelings about the lack of discussion of online poker in the Democratic National Platform. On the one hand, it is good that the game wasn’t attacked, but on the other hand, it wasn’t good that it wasn’t supported outright.
Wrote Rich Muny, PPA VP of Player Relations:
Yesterday, PPA learned that the 2012 Democratic Party Platform is silent on the issue of online poker. While clearly far better than advocacy for a ban, I think they missed a golden opportunity to reach out to America’s poker players and supporters in what is sure to be a very close election.
John Pappas, the PPA’s executive director, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that despite poker’s omission from the platform, Democrats on Capitol Hill generally support the game:
Countless Democratic members of Congress have expressed their support of a licensed and regulated online poker market in the U.S. and we are working diligently to advance legislation to make this a reality. With so many issues drawing hard lines in the sand between Democrats and Republicans this year, this is one issue that is naturally bipartisan.
The Democratic National Convention will wrap up Thursday, highlighted by a speech by President Barack Obama.
