[Callahan]

Earlier liberal blogger Josh Marshall was touting the "unpleasant information" about to exposed about a "leading conservative moralist." I guess this is it. Bennett has to know that speaking out about morals is going to make him a target for the left-wing hypocrisy police. Apparently his fondness for casinos was fairly well known in Washington. Bill never complained about gambling, so this shouldn't hurt him too bad. Michael Jordan loses more on a single golf shot. I'm sure there are alot of disappointed Democrats wishing he got caught with a naked Girl Scout.

[Celantro]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

[arielb]

I am sick and tired of all these people who claim that unless someone is absolutely perfect in every way, he doesn't have any right to tell anyone else that he should improve his behavior otherwise he is a hypocrite. So what? Accept the truth from anyone who gives it because truth is truth and independent from the messenger. Yes, gambling is damaging to society and soul. But instead of people trying to sincerely help Mr. Bennett from his gambling problem, we see this cynical "haha see I told you so" game that is childish and doesn't help anyone.

We are all human beings and nobody is perfect and we all need to help each other when we do the wrong things and there is no reason to put up walls when someone sincerely tries to help us.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Josh doesn't understand that blowing thousands of dollars to Bennett is like blowing $10 to us. That makes it no vice at all.

[Stultis]

This is very embarassing and disturbing.

Video Poker? Slots?

Why can't Bill play real games like poker, craps and blackjack?!

[realpatriot71]

I may not always agree with Bennett either, but come on!, who doesn't like to shoot some craps every once in awhile

[aruanan]

The only important questions here are: 1. Is it his own money? 2. Does he pay his debts?

[Political Junkie Too]

Fine. Then lets stop all the state lotteries, too. Does Bennet buy lottery tickets?

At least he hasn't been blackmailed by a prostitute like the Democrat B.B.

-PJ

[Pagey]

What an individual does with his own money,(and Gambling is Legal for Gods Sake in Nevada)in a legal fashion, is no ones' business. I wonder who Bill pis off at Newsweek for them to devote this many words to a LEGAL ACT. As if these 2 reporters were really doing their jobs for the previous 8 years of Clinton treachery,LORAL and Ron Brown come to mind immediately. There is no legitimate reason for this to be an article in a national magazine.Any type of dirt, on any Republican is good for the DumbocRATSthough,isn't it?Newsweak truly is a shameless rag.I can't wait to read this whole thread later.

[Jhoffa_]

His games of choice: video poker and slot machines...

Not only does he gamble, he gambles stupid..

[Texaggie79]

I guess Bill sees no problem with adults enjoying gambling, as long as they hurt no one but them selves..... Gee, what is his argument against pot legalization?

[LibKill]

Pooh.

If that was the only vice I had I would be a Saint.

[MattAMiller]

DOES BENNETT? The popular author, lecturer and Republican Party activist speaks out, often indignantly, about almost every moral issue except one-gambling. It’s not hard to see why.

No it isn't hard to see. Gambling obviously doesn't bother him. It doesn't bother a lot of people. If he hasn't spoken out against it what is this article suppose to prove?

[MattAMiller]

This has always interested me. Liberals supposedly believe that morality is simply a social construct. But for many of themyou can see that that does not truly inform their thinking.

There are many people who when they hear someone say "X is bad" protest loudly. This sin't because they think X is neutral or good, it's because condeming X is just too strident. Obviously they haven't been able to divest themselves of whatever moral teachings they were raised with.

I'm an atheist. I was raised in a non-religous home. It's my observation that the people who complain the most about "moralists" come from very religous homes. For all their talk of having risen loftly above "primitive" religion, still feel hell at their heels and just don't like being remined of it.

[Katya]

I really had no idea anyone would still refer to gambling as a vice...in fact, I thought Gambling was now a disease like alcoholism.

Okay, okay...but seriously is this a big deal?

[nutmeg]

Did you see the photo of President Bush and Bill Bennett that accompanies this article on the pMSNBC/Newsweak site? I don't think they could've possibly found a more unflattering photo of the two.

[Happy2BMe]

Awrite Bill - fess up - you've been

BUSTED!!

[Biblebelter]

William Bennett is a windbag. So is his buddy Jack Kemp. They may be conservative, but I cannot say that their efforts have helped the cause much recently, say in the last four or five years. I have never much liked Bill Bennett, I always thought this was a prejudice of mine, stemming from the fact that his brother was one of the lowest forms of life, that being a weasel, known as a Washington lawyer. I kinda like gambling myself, and I have some respect for real gamblers. However, I cannot say video poker and slot machines have much to do with gambling anymore that voyeurism has to do with sexual intercourse. As I said Bennett is just a windbag, who talks the talk, but I have no evidence that he has walked the walk, but that could be said of most the politicians and Washington talking heads. Poor Sean Hannity, he will probably find it necessary not only to defend Bill Bennett, but also defend that video poker is a form of gambling, and lots of real mean kick back playing video poker as a form of relaxation. Bill Bennett should retire to the more anonymous Washington life with the likes of Bob Livingston. If only Newt would follow suit also.

[Neenah]

Tell Bennett to come live in Wisconsin, our Liberal Govenor will kiss him on the lips !! Our budget is in trouble..we need his help.

[logician2u]

William Bennett's choice of how he likes to spend his money is really not any of our business. Obviously, he has plenty to waste on the slots and video poker and cigarettes at $4/pack. From his girth, I doubt he eats at McDonalds, either.

I must confess that I was at one time a fan of Bill Bennett's. That was when he was the education czar, before his true colors had been put on public display. I thought for a little while we would see the demise of federal control of public education as Reagan had promised in his 1980 canpaign. Bill Bennett looked like the person who could see it through.

Then, when he became the nation's first drug czar and we got to see firsthand how he would impose virtue on citizens whose problems were beyond their personal control, the real Bill Bennett emerged. His hypocrisy is less worrisome than the fact that he, along with many other well-respected Republicans, has a near-total disregard for the Constitutional restraints on federal power.

If gambling -- a more serious vice, IMHO, than puffing on a weed that grows wild in many parts of the nation -- is left up to the states to decide if it should be legal, and how it is to be regulated, then why not other things that get people in trouble, like prostitution, drinking and smoking pot? Surely the federal government has its hands full fighting wars, deciding who is or is not eligible to immigrate to this country, and trying to keep the dollar weak enough that our exports will some day balance our imports. Fighting vice seems like something the states could handle better, and certainly should have the exclusive power to do under the Constitution. But then who in office has any respect for that old piece of paper they swore an oath to uphold and defend?

Most people who recognize the name will think first of The Book of Virtues before they think of the sad history of the War on Drugs which Bennett was in effect a general in. They will see the hypocrisy, which is most likely why MSNBC and Newsweek gave this story coverage.

But many will not understand that a legal vice, such as gambling, can be overcome with a supportive family and friends that care. Getting over drug addiction, on the other hand, brings law enforcement into the picture unless the person is able to pay for the Betty Ford Clinic. You get busted, you go to jail. If Bill Bennett and Newt Gingrich had their way, you'd be executed for selling the stuff. Not very compassionate, are they?

So expect Rush Limbaugh to line up in Bill Bennett's defense tomorrow. Blame the messenger, blame Newsweek, blame Jonathan Alder, blame the Democrats that run New Joisey and haven't put a limit on how much a gambler can drop in a slot machine. And, of course, he'll remind his listeners that the liberal media has been out to get Bill Bennett all along because of his stand for morality and family values, blah, blah, blah.

The best defence is a good offense, they say.

Don't expect for Rush Limbaugh to bring up the unpleasant subjects of personal responsibility, freedom to do what you like without harming others, or -- heaven forbid -- why gambling isn't controlled by the federal government.

And don't expect any of his callers to touch on those areas either, lest it lead to a discussion such as we are having here.

[diotima]

We should have had Bennett at FRiva last year.....lol!