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.

[Senator Pardek]

It has to do with high standards.

I don't care if Bennett gambles, because it does not take food out of his family's mouth.

Nor would I care if he smoked pot on weekends, because it would not take food out of his family's mouth.

Having said that, if he claims that one activity is more acceptable than the other, I would not care if he took a round in the gut from a bookie.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Daddy has plenty of money to blow in a casino. The "how much money" issue is relative.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Gambling is LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jlogajan]

I'm not saying Lott was a great leader, but Bennett did something wrong, Lott didn't.

Actually, neither of them is being arrested. What they did was to behave stupidly. Lott showed he was too stupid to be in leadership (too stupid to be in the Senate for that matter, but that's never stopped anyone.)

Bennet can skate on this, but it does show rather questionable judgement to throw millions down the drain like that.

[Texas Eagle]

Thank you for the link.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I am in complete agreement. That's exactly it, and it makes them hypocrites.

[Jhoffa_]

PS: To expand on the above..

Strictly "Fiscal" conservatives (the type who always scream about the "immorality" of taxes, but support abortion.) in particular seem to have a problem with Social conservatives in general.

When one trips up, they are just waiting to smear him and scream: "See! See! He wasn't moral.. He was just like us! He just hid it better! He's no better than we are!"

And there's some faux Libertarian types who are simply jealous of anyone with money. Especially if they are perceived to be a hawk on conservative, social issues.

[MHGinTN]

Bill is a teacher, not a preacher. The entire exercise is a lesson in Demoicrat Party methodology, class envy and distrust, fostered to divide moderate conservatives who would normally vote rote Democrat but who are trying to stand united with their fellow moderate conservatives in the Pubby Party. William Bennett's high-stakes gambling is an issue of self-control, but it's from a teacher not a preacher and he has never condemned gambling in his books. That said, he has ended his credibility with average Americans, but this episode is of political significance only if the specious liberal outrage serves to manipulate voters. Sadly, it will work with too many otherwise commonsensical people.

[Rabid Dog]

At least that's what everyone in Los Vegas and Reno thinks! Hard to get too worked up over a sanctioned and promoted legal activity.

[billbears]

And what kind of judgement does it show to his children that he was willing to spend 8 million dollars in a casino? I don't care if he was a billionaire (which I don't believe he is). 8 million dollars is 8 million dollars and it sets a bad example for his children and others as well

[UnBlinkingEye]

I've been debating this all day and no one has shown me that he's a hypocrite yet. He never said, "Don't gamble".

Here's an easy test: define virtue then tell us why gambling approximately a million dollars a year qualifies one to write a book on virtue?

[Cathryn Crawford]

Questionable judgement? Maybe. I don't get off on gambling, but I do like to sit on the couch and read a good book all day, and I spend considerable amounts of money on my books to fuel my "addiction". Does that make my judgement questionable?

Yes, he threw money away. So do I, when I buy that cheap purple nail polish at the drugstore.

[Texas Eagle]

I see some criticism but I don't see anybody "abandoning" Mr. Bennett. It disappoints me to read what Bill Bennett says about his gambling but I'm not about to "abandon" him.

Are you sure you're not over-reacting here?

[Cathryn Crawford]

I don't know. What qualifies you and I to stand here and say he was wrong to do what he did?

Not a damn thing.

[ImphClinton]

I agree.

He could have used the money in much better ways.

Although I also do not know just how rich he is. If he is worth billions then 8 Mil may not be that much to him. Although even then much gambling money goes to crime famlies.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Yep, so right, so right.

That's why I pinged you!

[Cathryn Crawford]

If I am it is because years of watching conservatives eat their own has finally brought the rage to a full boil.

[InvisibleChurch]

maybe conservatives hold conservatives to a higher standard

[Smedley]

Standards are a bitch.

[exit82]

Hi Cathryn.You ask a fair question. Why do we conservatives hold our conduct to high standards? Why do we harshly judge our own?

I guess we conservatives are people who value people's words. If you say you are something, you need to show that you are that something. We have high expectations of each other. Words and actions have meaning to us; they are not just for show. If they are just for show, the person's reputation is demeaned in our eyes.

Bennett is like Newt Gingrich--an icon for a standard, then we find out he isn't backing up what he says he is.
Newt literally slept with the enemy while married, and his actions betrayed those of us who were fighting the evil X-42 administration as much as we could. Bennett is a spokesman for morality and moral clarity--yet his gambling addiction, which he denies, clearly demeans his message, and empowers those who say there are no moral absolutes, while they mockingly deride his contradictory behavior.

There will be those that say, well, is anyone perfect? That's the wrong question. Millions of us lead law abiding lives, faithful to our spouse and family, true to our principles, and patriotic to our country. We are the unsung millions who, through hard work and whose word can be counted on, make this country the great land that it is.We are not media darlings or on TV--we just go about our lives everyday, working to improve things for our loved ones and our community.We're not perfect, nor do we claim to be.

We have no room for sleazy self promoters,two faced hypocrites, traitors to our land, and those who refuse to take a stand on life and death issues.

We tend to harshly judge those who fall because of the disappointment we feel once we realize the trust that was misplaced in them. We have a conscience.We can think for oueselves. We know the true value and cost of freedom.We think that there really are moral absolutes in life.

That's why we are not Democrats or liberals.