Why Do Conservatives So Quickly Abandon Their Own?

Cathryn Crawford

[Cathryn Crawford]

Isn't it true that a lot of the bashing of Bill Bennett is simply due to the fact that conservatives naturally rejoice in the misfortunes of their own? The ability of the conservative movement to abandon their own people when they are even slightly attacked by the liberal/media establishment is absolutely astounding.

Why are conservatives so quick to judge their own? Are we afraid? Are we so afraid of being tainted by a scandal that we will so easily turn away at the first sight of blood?

This is a serious and long-term issue among conservatives that deserves to be adressed.

[Cathryn Crawford]

It's not the size of the issue, it's the principle of the matter.

[HitmanLV]

I agree, and by that standard conservatives tend to be more principled.

[Cathryn Crawford]

You could be right.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I think I found my new tagline...see below...

[Mamzelle]

re: elitist

If you reread my posts, I referred to the NY literati (second-gen Eastcoast pundit, Goldberg). But if the Manolo Blahnik fits, wear it.

Bennett supporters overreact. Disapproval and annoyance is not tantamount to a lynching. If Bennett wants to go Hollywood, he'll lose readership (and watchership). Simple as that.

[Old Fud]

Why are conservatives so quick to judge their own?

You mean minor players like David Frum, mouthing off about patriotism and such? Nope. Didn't think so.

Ex-ed, drug, and currently self-appointed morality czar Bennett makes conservative noises and compiles good stories for publication (and profit). He soberly tells America to shape up. Fair enough.

He apparently spends a good deal of rec time at the Belagio flushing the rich provision God has given him down the toilet.

"MENDACITY! AH SMELL MENDACITY!"

[Cathryn Crawford]

No, no, I don't think I'm an elitist. Just curious.

My view are not necessarliy specifically for Bennett...the circumstances simply brought out feelings and views that I have held for a long time - that conservatives too quickly ditch their own when there's a whiff of scandal.

[miloklancy]

Agreed this should be discussed in a civl way, but also on a case by case basis. Not all conservatives are behind Bennett. I have never cared for Bennett, because he is a social conservative and I'm a social liberal, but very much a fiscal conservative. Conservatives are in my view far more diverse than Liberals. I'm a conservative with an Anthropology degree, thus my views are often different than a Fundamentalist Christian Conservative. Regarding recent events concerning say Rick Santorum and Trent Lott, I for one spoke out against what these guys said mainly because they were foolish in giving the opposition ammunition for their arguments. But to think all conservatives are of one stripe is not necessarily true. Although I believe most of us are far more intellectually honest with ourselves than liberals who have a penchant for intellectual dishonesty.

[Cathryn Crawford]

What's wrong with that? It's his money his flushing down the toilet! If I want to take my hundred dollar bill lying here on the desk beside my computer, run in the kitchen and grab a match and burn it, are YOU going to tell me it's not my right to? I don't think so.
Intrusion and control. Sounds like liberal traits to me. He did nothing wrong. His children weren't going hungry. He wasn't living in the street. He reported all his gains and losses. He didn't gamble other people's money.
Show me the crime.

[Cathryn Crawford]

My point is that when one person within the conservative movement (yes, I'm mostly reffering to Republicans) has anyone accuse them of ANYTHING, their fellow conservatives can't get away fast enough. They don't want to be tainted by scandal.

You and I would probably disgree on a lot. You sound like a liberal Republican.

[Stone Mountain]

How is gambling bad for society in general?

Before I answer, understand that I think gambling and other vices should be legal. Gambling is bad for society in the same way that alcohol or drugs are bad for society. The majority of people can handle them. But many cannot. Those who get addicted to drugs or gambling can cause great personal pain to themselves and their families. Now I tend to believe that when society attempts to prevent vices like these, it leads to greater harm to society than the vices themselves, but Bennett clearly does not believe this. He says that when someone smokes marijuana alone, he is responsible in part for the evils that large drug cartels perpetuate. Therefore, it is hard for me to fathom that Bennett takes no personal responsibility for supporting casinos that encourage people to gamble beyond their means, and who have taken advantage of those members of society who aren't able to control their gambling.

[Stone Mountain]

Since when is going to Vegas and gambling considered a sin?

You know what Las Vegas' nickname is, don't you? : )

[Old Fud]

Show me the crime.

There ain't one, and I didn't state that there was. I frankly don't care if Bill Bennett wipes his sanctimonious behind with 1000 dollar bills. He could dry up and blow away and I'd never miss him.

At the heart of the issue is the duplicity of professing to be a Christian (Catholic), and squandering God's provision. I assume he's poked his nose into the New Testament and read the parable of the talents. The same Judeo-Christian God that expects fidelity in marriage, expects good stewardship of what he gives us. It's a lesson that's apparently lost on Bennett. It's fair to call him on it, and especially so, given his morality cop staus.

[miloklancy]

I have never liked the term Liberal Republican. To me there are Right-Wing Republicans, Conservative Republicans, and Moderates. Just as with the Dems, I don't like the term Conservative Democrat, you are either a Moderate, Liberal Democrat, or a Left-Wing Democrat. Anyway enough about semantics. I disagree that all conservatives do not protect their own. Also I want to qualify my statement on Mr. Bennett. I don't care for Bennett because I think he is arrogant. There are disturbing things about social conservatives, who also happen to be fundamentalist Christians that I don't care for. I think these people have lost sight of the principle of religious toleration as aspoused by John Locke and inherited by the forefathers. Yes we are a country founded by christians and atheists and non-religous people simply have to accept that. I don't care for liberals who claim they have the moral high ground by cultural relativistic secularism. Yet I generally do not care for conservatives who strictly champion issues above largely more important fiscal issues. There are some on this site who are the exact opposite of me, socially conservative and fiscally liberal. Yet in saying that I'm still against marriage for gay people (marriage I believe is between a man and a woman), but not against domestic partnerships. I'm anti-abortion, but do not think it should be illegel, just strongly regulated and discouraged unless it is an absolute emergency. I'm pro-firearms. Some would call me a moderate, others right wing, and yet others just conservative. We are a diverse group us conservatives and will not sell out our principles like our peers on the left. Social conservatives had to admit that Bennett hurt their cause. However in the cases of Santorum and Lott, I know conservatives like Sean Hannity (another who I don't care for much) were rising to their defense.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I'll give you that point. It does seem a bit hypocritical by his own standards.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Yet by playing the morality police yourself, you are being hypocritical, which is the same sin you accuse him of...and around and round it goes.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I defended Lott, and nearly had to shut down my email account because of the hate mail. The amazing thing was, though, I got quite a bit of supportive email, too.

That being said, Lott sucked as Majority Leader. He just didn't deserve the kick in the ass out the door for the stated reasons at the time.

[miloklancy]

Indeed Lott was not a good leader in the Senate. True, getting carried away with what he said at Strom Thurmond's birthday bash, was by no means grounds for him to be booted out.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I'm with you...just a second and I'll give you the thread to my piece and the responses here on FR.

[Cathryn Crawford]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/811562/posts

At this time, I wasn't a FReeper, it was posted by TBLSHOW. If I had of been a freeper, I would have been debating some of the idiots that posted to this.