Bill Bennett: Gambling Hit Pieces Won't Silence Me

NewsMax.com | 7/31/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Conservative ethicist Bill Bennett emerged from a self imposed two month silence on Tuesday to announce that he wasn't going to let inaccurate stories about his gambling habits planted by "people who were trying to take me out" drive him from public life.

"I'm back and I will be more outspoken than ever," Bennett told nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity, after accepting full responsibility for the betting brouhaha.

"What I did that was wrong was that in the last few years I started to play big money, really big money. Maybe not too much in terms of what I was making, but too much in terms of who I am. And I was not being a good example."

The leading conservative spokesman revealed that his habit had become an issue at home, telling Hannity, "It got excessive. Mrs. Bennett got on me. She was right. And this story hit and it was all out there for everyone to see."

Bennett said he was faced with the choice of either changing his behavior or changing his standards. "So, in this case, the excessive gambling is over," he pledged.

He noted, however, that there was an agenda driving the gambling story that went beyond legitimate journalism, observing, "Some of these people were trying to take me out, saying, 'You're gone, man, you're out of public life.' And I don't not accept that."

He complained also that whoever leaked his gambling records to the Newsweek and the Washington Monthly had violated his privacy.

"[My gambling] wasn't a secret. But you do not expect your financial records, whether it's at a bank, a casino or anyplace, to be displayed all over the place."

The former Bush administration drug czar added, "Las Vegas has an ad out on TV and the radio, saying, 'What happens here, stays here.' Well, not in my case. That was really a rotten thing to do."

A spokesman for Caesar's Boardwalk in Atlantic City - one of the casinos named by Newsweek and the Washington Monthly - told NewsMax in May that they take every precaution to preserve the privacy of high rollers, and that the release of Bennett's records was the subject of an internal investigation.

The two publications that hyped the gambling scandal said they were relying on "40 pages of internal casino documents." But the target of the twin hit pieces said they got more than a few factual details wrong.

"A lot of what they put out was inaccurate - about losing $8 million and all that. There's no way that happened."

Bennett said the sources of the illicitly obtained records "released information to reporters that was wrong about totals, about wins and losses. It was really an attempt to do me in."

He stressed that he wasn't swearing off all wagering, telling Hannity, "Since there will be people doing the micrometer on me, I just want to be clear. I do want to be able to bet the [Buffalo] Bills in the Super Bowl."

When Hannity closed the interview by praising Bennett for taking responsibility for the imbroglio, the ethicist quipped, "You can bet on it."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Media Bias

[Stone Mountain]

When the casinos talk about losses, they are talking about net losses, not a subtotal of losses and wins. Otherwise, any kind of won/loss figure is completely menaingless. You don't really believe that even though he lost $8 million, it's possible that he only lost a net of half a million, do you?

[palmer]

I'm not sure if Bennett listens to God. What I do know is it is really hard to be spiritual when you are violating 5 or 6 out of 7 deadly sins. And yes, my own pride in pointing this out is a sin too. His asking for forgiveness is between him and God but it wouldn't hurt his earthly image if he demonstrated some humility.

[aged]

you are also suppose to ask forgiveness of those you have sinned against. which would be us according to all the experts on this thread. well, i forgive him. now he can remind me of the virtues that we all should have.

[L.N. Smithee]

Cai Della: Gambling was his only vice? What about sex and drugs in conjunction? Were prostitutes involved?

eccl1212: I suspect such will come out, especially if his gambling habits involved "personal" bookies and such...

I doubt that his gambling was all of the "legal in nevada" type... and now I suspect that some of it, MAY have been with "friends" who were part of the "dark side" of the beast... mafia types. time will tell won't it?

"Time will tell?" Looks like you don't want to wait to suspect he is guilty of things he hasn't yet been charged with. Yeeeah, that's fair.

[L.N. Smithee]

(Liberals) would like to take evrything that Bush is, and define him thru the lens of the "16" words, get Americans whipped into a frenzy regarding his "lie", get him impeached or force him to resign and then have him tried for war crimes.

Let's not fall into that trap with Bill Bennett too!

I think the underlying motivation for this story is making speaking out about morality too dangerous a risk, and thus leaving practitioners of immorality (Rosie O'Donnell, Dan "Skipping Towards Gomorrah" Savage, e.g.) to be the arbiters of wrong and right.

Thanks for getting what I meant by 'falling for this Stupid Left Trick.'

[budwiesest]

I do however have a visceral reaction to hypocrites claiming to speak of God's moral virtues,

Sometimes the best person to seek advice from,(when designing an anti-theft device-for example), are the theives themselves. Muggers, rapists, computer hackers, etc. could all offer valuable insights into various ways of 'protecting' yourself from 'harm'.

Pointing out social and moral decay requires no special degree. We see it all around us. That a large, video gaming personality would like to remain in the spotlight while instructing us on virtue, all-the-while getting paid, irks me, in light of the amounts he's squandered and profitted from, in the name of self-entertainment.

You want to preach to me, then take a vow of poverty. Virtuous acts are not attached to the profit motive unless you can somehow attach virtue to helping a stranded motorist by calling a towtruck and then asking them to pay for the 'minutes used' on your cell phone. This is how I see the man.

[Matchett-PI]

eccl1212 wrote: "People who insist we "do as we say, not as we have done"

Matchett-PI wrote: "I agree. And since the article is about Bennett, I'm assuming that you have the quotes that show where Bennett insisted that we must do as he says. Perceptions aren't necessarily reality, so if you care about having credibility with critical thinkers, please provide the quotes where he "insists". 107 posted on 07/31/2003 10:12 AM EDT by Matchett-PI

Ignoring my requests for the Bennett quotes where you inferred that he "insists that we do as he says", you inexplicably reply:

eccl1212: ".... he wrote it [the quote that "insists" that we must do as he does] with what he did, instead."

I kinda figured that would be your perception of what constitutes "insisting". Hahaha

[mdmathis6]

"Any thing that is higher or true...dwell on those things...." Paul


I didn't say he didn't have a potential problem. I don't see where he has sinned or taken advantage of any-one. Lots of people may "feel affected by what he has done", but why? The only power the evil ones in this nation really have over the good people in this country is to heap a big guilt trip on conservatives when some-one important to the righteous doesn't always hold up to the rigidly Pharisaic high standards some of the more self righteous prigs have erected for them-selves. I'm not talking about the more obvious problems such as run away drunkeness, adultery, and theft.(only the Clintons are allowed a pass on those)

You do claim the moral high ground over Bennett, or else you wouldn't have said the nasty things you say about him. The worst sort of prigs are those who claim to have the special right to be personally offended at the perceived hypocrisy of others.

You make a statement that Bennett should have spent the 8 million on "poor women so that they could have their babies instead of aborting them" Perhaps you should write him and tell him so, you might even convert him. Of course at roughly 10,000 dollars a birth over ten years that works out to around 800 women helped, that's not counting the cost of actually raising them and feeding, let's see about 300000 dollars per child to age 21, lets see ahh yes 240 million. Sounds like a job that's way beyond Bennett. But why stop there....ect ect.


If more shoes are dropping, so much more the sorrow for the man. Even God takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. The tone you take in your discussions on Bennett is that you would delight to see it!

[eccl1212]

another "religio-conservative" icon of worship, has broken the glass in his own house... and YOU want proof...

you strain at the word INSIST... and swallow the camel of his immoral use of money (to most of us flyover folks) on the lusts of his flesh to gamble, play the high roller and live like the vegas crowd.

and write books on morality plays, while spending the money made, immorally (in the view of us flyover folks).

you sound like a clinton loyalist. justify the unjustifiable... and then whine when your false hero, turns out to be made of clay.

such is the case for those who practice hero worship and follow the cult of man as messiah to varying degrees.

I for one am glad to see the man put in his place, exposed for what he is, and to make room for others who perhaps practice more closely the type of morality, they want others to follow after, whether by INSISTANCE or INFERENCE...

so take a leap of faith on the man if YOU want.
I see him, not as a leader, but as a disgraced hypocrite.

and at this point, protestations of the idolaters who worship men crowd aside... nothing will change my mind.

as far as my perceptions are concerned. I perceive him as a hypocrite. you want a list of the values he INSISTS are important for us to live? YOU read his book, list them out.. and consider... does gambling with millions of dollars fit into the mold of those virtues he says are vital to a nation, a people or person?

I don't think so.
HONESTY is pretty important.
and waiting to tell the TRUTH, if we even have it at this point, until AFTER it is exposed in the national press... is a long ways from honesty.

this delay to tell the full truth type of behavior on his part will prove to be his very own personal donner pass.

you follow him like a bleating sheep if you want.
I don't want to.
if the blind follow the blind they all end up in the ditch.

[mdmathis6]

"You want to preach to me, then take a vow of poverty. Virtuous acts are not attached to the profit motive unless "you can somehow attach virtue to helping a stranded motorist by calling a towtruck and then asking them to pay for the 'minutes used' on your cell phone. This is how I see the man."

Well Budweisest, you must only be viewing the man thru your Budweiser. Since you probably have never met the man, I'm sure your clairvoyance is surely ethanol powered. The many sources I've read about the man suggests that he would not stoop to such petty avarice.

His book of Virtues came out well into the last decade and I saw not one word about the evils of gambling. The real proof of change will take place over time as we watch him stay out of the casino's. Then he'll write a new chapter regarding avoiding the appearance of evil.

[gcruse]

Did you think he was perfect before, and this shattered your image of him?

If not perfect, virtuous.  What got me, though, was RK saying:

I'm no liberal, and I think that people can spend thier money however they want.

It's the social conservatives most likely to criminalize how you
spend your money.  Think victimless crimes here.  Maybe,
"I'm no liberal, BUT, I think people etc."?

[eccl1212]

there is a difference between a lost sheep, and a wolf in sheep's clothing. the difference?
the sheep is hurting all alone and does not know how to help himself...

the false shepherd or leader?
he stands at the forefront, claiming to lead the sheep to the right path, while being a servant of corruption.

I believe this guy qualifies IN MY BOOK as the latter, not the former. Like the pharisees of Jesus' day, he has said, "THIS IS THE WAY TO LIVE" while not doing himself, what he could have done, to right the wrongs.

that's IN MY BOOK.
and a whole lot of others.
defend him, honor him or support him if you want. I think he is corrupt, and choose to BELIEVE what HE himself has admitted after considerable exposure.

you are, as all, entitled to your own opinion.
bon apetite.

[ladyinred]

I personally don't have a problem with what he did in the first place, and don't see why anyone does.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You want to preach to me, then take a vow of poverty.

Those who live a cloistered life, hide themselves away from the rest of the world, and are not tempted like the rest of us. By reducing their exposure to temptation, they remain more virtuous, perhaps. But, that shouldn't necessarily make them more revered. Because the mortals among us who suffer through the tempations, have grown into stronger and more virtuous human beings, because of our sufferings. It is learning the lessons, that strengthens us.

[AGreatPer]

"Bennett needs to spend a little time on the farm (a decade or two should do it) before he can speak with any authority about morality",p>Unless you forget, gambling is LEGAL. Nough said, Bennett's credential are such that his credability will NEVER be underminded.

He did NOTHING illegal. He just blew a wad. That is his right.

[mdmathis6]

As I said be-fore, you would have complained about the money wasted, when the perfume was splashed across Jesus feet, who was the real wolf in that story?


The concern is for the soul of Bennett and you are worried about the money he wasted and how it all looks, for "our side"?

Wolves come in conservative guise as well, and the San Hedrin contained some of the most conservative of all!

Ecclesiastes 12:12 indeed!

[palmer]

He did NOTHING illegal. He just blew a wad. That is his right.

Nobody says he did anything illegal, this discussion is about vice and virtue. To Bennett, virtue is just a concept to make money off of which he then uses for his vice (see my post #44).

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I don't believe that God ever wanted us to blindly follow the steps of any man, but to open our eyes and see the potential in every person. I think it would be pretty difficult to find any person in this country without faults. And, if in accepting someone's faults, we can then see the rest that they have to offer. Our eyes become opened to the truth that all are imperfect, but that some are worthy of respect and forgiveness.

Perhaps is my own need for God's forgiveness that lets me overlook the faults of others.

[Doe Eyes]

Looks like you don't want to wait to suspect he is guilty of things he hasn't yet been charged with. Yeeeah, that's fair.

As you read this thread, you would think Bennett was a Democrat, not a God fearing Republican.

[eccl1212]

I rather feel that the comparison of bill bennett to Jesus Christ, is ridiculous. The two don't belong on the same page in my book.

Bennett does not need my concern for his soul.
He can save himself as far as eternity is concerned via means of his relationship with his creator.

But that will not redeem his image, personna or career as a morals leadership guru... for a very long time.

... on to the next thread. you like him. I don't. great. YOU buy his next book if you want, I won't. Got it?