Greenstein: Obama Privately Supports Online PokerHall of Famer Makes Connection Between Gay Marriage and Poker |
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On Wednesday, President Barack Obama said he supports same-sex marriage in the United States. While the event was historic for the gay community, it has stirred up some conversation about other issues.
Early Thursday, poker professional and Hall of Famer Barry Greenstein took to Twitter to connect President Obama’s announcement to the plight of ostracized poker players.
He said that the nation’s top politician supports efforts to legalize web card playing, but just won’t admit it.
In April 2011, the Department of Justice indicted the three major offshore poker sites (Greenstein represents PokerStars) in a sweeping raid that closed out the game to many Americans.
The three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner also compared the two issues:
However, the “equivalency” of Greenstein’s initial position was questioned by gaming attorney Stuart Hoegner.
“My problem is with the implication that the two rights are somehow equivalent,” Hoegner said. “I support both rights, but they aren’t the same, nor are they equivalent. One is a fundamental issue of civil rights and human dignity.”
“Online poker is an economic right and a personal freedom that, while important, does not and should not be accorded the same level of urgency as a state law discriminating on the basis of someone’s sexual orientation. I like to play Internet poker and I think I should be allowed to play online, but I would never say that my right to attend an online cardroom is as imperative as someone’s right to state recognition of and respect for one of their closest and most intimate relationships. They clearly aren’t rights worthy of the same deference and protection.”
“Barry is an exceedingly smart guy, an incredible poker player, and a passionate advocate for the game. I’m certain that his comment was very much an off-the-cuff remark that he hadn’t fully thought through and that he didn’t mean as it came across.”
Efforts to legalize online gaming nationwide have, so far, failed to gain any real traction in Congress. Some states are pursuing the activity, thanks in part to the Department of Justice adjusting its stance on intrastate web gaming late last year.
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