Uh, this kind of sounds like a liberal, feely-good emotional justification for vice. You're missing a fundamental point -- Bennett is a moralist. He makes his living espousing moral virtue. It's called the Book Of Virtues, not the Book of Vices. Bennett would probably be the first to start tossing around the word "evil" if we were talking about virtueless, godless influences on society. And gambling aint a virtue.
See it's this kind of insisting that every aspect of everybody else's life is your business that irritates so many moderates away from the conservative movement.
But that's exactly what Bennett does. That's the whole source and motivation for his fame.
Busybodies are all vile annoying people regardless of their political bent, leave the guy to his life.
Bill Bennett would certainly qualify, IMHO, as such a busybody.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a libertarian, and if Bennett wants to blow coin in a casino or a pick-up game with some Supremes, that's fine with me. It's the fact that Bennett is the Prime Pontificator on all things Virtuous that makes his gambling a conflict.
He supposedly lives his life on principle and virtuosity, but obviously he doesn't. There's nothing moral about gambling, especially when that money COULD be spent on moral things, which you'd think Bill Bennett would be interested in.
The funniest part is the way all the Bennett defenders, who'd spit on libertarians if they could get away with it, are lining up in droves to espouse the libertarian mantra of 'leave the man alone and let him live his life -- he's not hurting anyone'.