http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1128275042246443..xml&storylist=alabamanews
Antigambling activists say they never knew Reed, whom they once
considered an ally, helped strike down the proposal in Congress.
Some of them, who already criticized other work Reed performed on
behalf of Indian tribes that own casinos, now say his efforts on
eLottery's behalf undermine his image as a champion of morality.
"It flies in the face of the kinds of things the Christian Coalition
supports," said the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, a United Methodist Church
official in Washington who coordinates a group of gambling opponents
who favored the measure.
Some gambling opponents expressed doubt about Reed's claim that he did
not know his work against the measure benefited a company that could
profit from online gambling.
"It slips over being disingenuous," said the Rev. Tom Grey, executive
director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, who
worked for the gambling ban.
"Jack Abramoff was known as 'Casino Jack' at the time. If Jack's
doling out tickets to this feeding trough, for Ralph to say he didn't
know -- I don't believe that."
Reed's involvement in the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 2000
was revealed as authorities look into the lobbying activities of
Abramoff, a friend who now is the target of several federal
investigations.
The eLottery episode echoes Reed's work against video poker, a lottery
and casinos in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.
Working as a subcontractor to two law firms that employed Abramoff,
Reed's antigambling efforts were funded by gambling interests trying
to protect their business.
From The Associated Press, 10/2/05:
http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1128275042246443..xml&storylist=alabamanews
Reed helped defeat online gambling ban in 2000
ATLANTA (AP) --
Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed worked behind the scenes
to help defeat a proposed congressional ban on online gambling five
years ago.
Despite support among conservative and religious groups, Reed, now a
Republican candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor, fought the
proposal on behalf of an online gambling company, The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution reported in its Sunday edition.
A spokesman for Reed said the political consultant worked against the
ban as a subcontractor to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's law
firm.
But he said Reed did not know that the client that hired Abramoff was
eLottery Inc., a Connecticut-based company that wants to help state
lotteries sell tickets online.
The gambling measure would have barred such sales.
Reed's aides said he opposed the ban because it exempted some types of
online betting.
But proponents say that even a partial ban would have been better than
no restrictions at all.
Antigambling activists say they never knew Reed, whom they once
considered an ally, helped strike down the proposal in Congress.
Some of them, who already criticized other work Reed performed on
behalf of Indian tribes that own casinos, now say his efforts on
eLottery's behalf undermine his image as a champion of morality.
"It flies in the face of the kinds of things the Christian Coalition
supports," said the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, a United Methodist Church
official in Washington who coordinates a group of gambling opponents
who favored the measure.
"They support family values. Stopping gambling is a family concern,
particularly Internet gambling."
According to his campaign manager, Jared Thomas, Reed's job while
fighting the proposed ban was to produce "a small run of direct mail
and other small media efforts" to galvanize religious conservatives
against the measure.
Aides declined to give examples of Reed's work.
Nor would Thomas disclose Reed's fees.
http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1128275042246443..xml&storylist=alabamanews
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