Newsweek Article on Libertarians and Online Poker

[Starkes]

Here is a good snippet:

Root, a millionaire, Spike TV host and former Las Vegas odds maker, is betting that the Libertarians can make it into the mainstream by attracting gamers. Root says that online poker players soured on the GOP in 2006, after the Republican Congress passed a bill restricting online poker. "There are 12 million poker enthusiasts in this country who had poker ripped away from them in 2006," said Root. "I'm a celebrity in their world. I can bring more gravitas to the [Libertarian Party] than it has ever had before, starting with those 12 million online poker players." Root said that he and Karl Rove—seated at Root's kitchen table one night in 2006—debated the fate of online poker. Root said he told Rove that banning online poker would demoralize the GOP. "Rove said, 'Wayne, that's ridiculous. Poker?'" recalled Root. "Karl Rove laughed, and the Republican revolution ended."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/138075

[KJo]