Pres Obama handled well the Allentown guy who gave a stupid suggestion today

[ind_thinker2]

Also reminded him of S Korea where young folks are more into studying hard and building careers, rather than taking stupid bets to ask illogical questions to President of United States. My head hurts seeing the clip.


http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/student-hey-obama-legalize-it.php?ref=fpb

[vaberella]

1. That's actually not a stupid question. I see nothing wrong with their legalization.

It would actually help in stimulating the economy. Well at least marijuana and prostitution.

[AllentownJake]

18. It would increase tax revenues and reduce the prison population

The money being spent on those enterprises is spent regardless of the government making it legal or not.

[Hekate]

2. It wasn't so much stupid as it was politically awkward and untouchable. Obama handled it superbly...

... imo.

Legalizing a number of drugs, especially marijuana, makes very good sense--but it would be suicide for the president to say so in a public forum like that. I very much hope that somewhere he has people working behind the scenes to bring that about, however. As he has pointed out more than once, he is capable of doing more than one thing at a time.

Hekate

[opihimoimoi]

4. Bring on the FATTIES....!

:smoke:

[LiberalFighter]

9. +10

I bet a question like that would not have been asked during the Bush administration.

[timeforpeace]

3. He's played softball before.

[Zomby Woof]

5. Prostitution and gambling are state issues anyway

I am thinking that dumb kid failed civics.

[harkadog]

6. Really!

Didn't Elliot Spitzer get nailed in a federal probe of prostitution? Looks like you played hooky a few times from class too. These are just a few of the federal gambling laws:
Wire Act of 1961
Travel Act of 1961
Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act of 1961
Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992
Interstate Wagering Amendment of 1994
Amendment to Interstate Horseracing Act
Illegal Money Transmitting Business Act of 1992

That doesn't even consider the federal prosecution of online gambling.

[Zomby Woof]

13. It was about REVENUE, not REGULATION

You're way off-topic, because you are citing gambling or prostitution laws pertaining to the interstate commerce clause in the constitution. I notice you cited RICO too - but that has nothing to do with what the young know-nothing greaseball proposed to Obama. It was a REVENUE question, about how to help reduce the FEDERAL deficit, not an interstate commerce question concerning the FEDERAL REGULATION of state-sanctioned practices ACROSS STATE LINES (for example, 'full faith and credit' does not allow a legal prostitute in Nevada to ply her wares legally in CA - the ICC makes it so). As it is, gambling income is taxable on the federal level anyway, which further makes his question idiotic. Prostitutes in Nevada also make taxable income (well, it's taxable even when the prostitution is illegal, but that's definitely far more underreported).

When the federal government has the power to establish legal prostitution, casinos, and lotteries on a national level, then maybe I'll go back to class. But until then, oh never mind. You are not too bright, are you? :shrug:

[mkultra]

7. so are drugs

[ClarkUSA]

8. It's certainly not the first "Allentown guy" I've ever heard making a dumb comment.

:rofl:

[boomerbust]

12. Ya

Where is old _ake these days. Been pretty quiet lately.

[AllentownJake]

16. Too busy for some of the fools on here nt.

[AllentownJake]

15. Cute

Glad to see you are still in love with me.

[burning rain]

10. Guy seems to think he lives in a liberal, enlightened country.

He'll learn when he ventures out of his college world.

[Clio the Leo]

11. I think he did a better job handeling the guy who helped his wife get a question....

... and in so doing, broke the cardinal rule of the Obama town hall which we all know is "girl, boy, girl boy..."

[ProgressOnTheMove]

14. I know how the student has reached his conclusions but could of phrased it a lot better...

Legal prostitution can reduce the contraction of HIV by making sure by law they are regularly tested , legalizing all drugs means they can be safer and end gang crime as well. Not sure about legalizing all non violent crime white collar crime is pretty bad sometimes. As folks have said it's way ahead of the curve, but worth throwing out there in large forums for people to consider now and then.

[AllentownJake]

17. South Korea also has protectionist policies of thier own industries nt.

[AllentownJake]

19. Also interesting you bring up South Korea and prostitution

Most of the illegal importation of sex workers for massage parlors comes from South Korea. I guess those are the girls who didn't study hard enough.