The Health Care Mob, Visas for Honduras and Betting on the NFL

Protests against Democrat-sponsored health care legislation leads to charges of a “mob mentality.”

The State Department stops issuing travel visas to residents of Honduras as part of the continuing conflict over the removal of former president Manuel Zelaya.

Delaware proceeds with plans to offer “parlay” betting on NFL games.

Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.

1. POLITICS

Protests against Democrat-sponsored health care legislation leads to charges of a “mob mentality.”

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on what might come out of the protests:

“This anger isn’t guaranteed to result in a 1994-type Republican takeover in 2010. Even if the public distrusts Democrats, it understandably views Republicans as incompetent. The drive and direction necessary for a strong mass movement are just not present yet. Given the diffuse nature of the town hall demonstrations and the impotence of politicians, there is a real possibility that this movement will fizzle out if and when some watered-down form of Obamacare is passed. If the conditions [for a mass movement] can be satisfied, however, the tea parties could once again be the beginning of a genuine revolution.”

 

2. INTERNATIONAL

The State Department stops issuing travel visas to residents of Honduras as part of the continuing conflict over the removal of former president Manuel Zelaya.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Attorney Hans Bader on impact on the people of Honduras:

“Obama’s decision came in response to a recent ruling by the Honduras Supreme Court, ruling that the removal of the country’s would-be dictator was a perfectly lawful ‘constitutional succession,’ and that he must face criminal charges for the crimes he committed as president.  Obama’s action will further destabilize a country whose economy has been pushed to the brink by recent turmoil, and which is the third-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. (Honduras has close economic links to the U.S., making it very vulnerable to sanctions).”

 

3. LEGAL

Delaware proceeds with plans to offer “parlay” betting on NFL games.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Michelle Minton on why we should be free to bet on any sporting event:

“The constitutionally questionable ban on sports gambling that Congress imposed in all but four states — Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon — should be repealed. It only serves the interests of sports leagues such as the NCAA or the NFL. It is up to sports leagues themselves to develop and implement regulations for their members to ensure that integrity in sports is upheld. There is no evidence that increased legalization of sports gambling would lead to an increase in the occurrence of cheating among players.”

 

Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.