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Bill Bennett: Gambling Hit Pieces Won't Silence Me
NewsMax.com | 7/31/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 07/30/2003 11:43:13 PM PDT by 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



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: billbennett; catholiclist
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1 posted on 07/30/2003 11:43:13 PM PDT by kattracks
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It may not silence him. After all, he did not lose his rights to speak... just the respect of some of those who have listened to him in the past.

But his gambling behavior vs. his moralistic preaching at americans about the importance of morals and virtues... has pretty much turned my ear away. Not from morals and virtues, but away from listening to him.

I don't listen to Swaggart, or brother bishop buggeror either...

People who insist we "do as we say, not as we have done" are pretty much self silencing. I can't help it, hypocracy simply discredits folks who practice it.

Every body gambles in some way, a traffic light turning yellow... a car payment they cannot afford unless everything goes as planned... and so on. But with Bennett it was the degree and the length of time he was involved that really trips the trigger... MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of dollars... and he did it for years.

He knew better. He kept it up. He did not get help.

I see swaggart bawling on stage "I have sinned!" and turn the channel.
2 posted on 07/30/2003 11:55:58 PM PDT by eccl1212
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To: kattracks
Honestly, Bennett's opinion on virtue and morality still the same, not insignificant, amount of weight for me. Sure, high-roller gambling isn't the most virtuous of behaviors - but I do not recall a large part of Bennett's moral message having any relation to gambling.

If someone has the money to gamble, and they find it an enjoyable and entertaining activity, I have no quarrel with it. To me, it seems no more frivolous than a millionaire spending millions on a classic car collection. Let him do with his money as he pleases - he can afford it. The immoral part of gambling comes when someone is gambling away everything they have in the hopes of getting rich quick.

That said, if he sees it as a problem, then he should fix it. I see no, or virtually no, moral component to the gambling habits of a multi-millionaire. If he can afford it, then he should be welcome to spend his free time as he chooses. It's still probably cheaper than golf. :)

Cordially,
ADE
3 posted on 07/31/2003 12:22:36 AM PDT by Bonesman
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To: kattracks
A friend of mines father went to college with Bennett. Has been telling me for years that Bennett is a fraud. He was right.
4 posted on 07/31/2003 12:45:05 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: Bonesman
I see no, or virtually no, moral component to the gambling habits of a multi-millionaire. If he can afford it, then he should be welcome to spend his free time as he chooses. It's still probably cheaper than golf.

Fine, but it certainly calls into question his judgement and his character. I judge people by all sorts of behvaviors. When somebody has an obsession that causes him to piss away millions of dollars, I question his judgement, and that affects what I think about his leadership.

I'm no liberal, and I think that people can spend thier money however they want. But when I look at "the book of virtues" of my book shelf, it is hard not to think that the book just doesn't have the same effect when you know that they guy pissed away 8 million dollars on a game that he had no chance of winning.

5 posted on 07/31/2003 12:48:22 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: kattracks
Bill Bennett is a class act. He takes personal responsibility for his behavior. Name ONE liberal who has done the same.
6 posted on 07/31/2003 3:08:49 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: kattracks
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.

Dammit, Bill, you still don't get it. You have a problem - and ALL gambling needs to be over in your life, because you can't handle it.

7 posted on 07/31/2003 3:11:14 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (.....always remember that in any barnyard full of talking animals, sheep lie.....)
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To: Bonesman
He made a promise to the Missus. If he's faithful to his wife, I don't have a problem with him. And he isn't a hypocrite since he never lectured others on the evils of gambling. He may have overdone it but the $8 million loss was indeed an exagerration and in any event the casinos had no right to release a customer's financial details to the media.
8 posted on 07/31/2003 3:11:27 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
He can handle it. An occasional wager now and then probably won't harm him. Bennett did mention betting on NFL Sunday football. OK, a lot of people do. I don't see a problem here if that's all the betting he'll be doing from now on.
9 posted on 07/31/2003 3:13:08 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: kattracks
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.

And one or more democrat weasels who thought this would be a fun smear with little repercussion suddenly have become aware that the casino industry doesn't like actions which impact the bottom line, and will take more, um, direct and personal action against the malfeasors than a mere firing.

If I was them, I'd be looking for a new identity and a good plastic surgeon.

10 posted on 07/31/2003 3:17:02 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (.....always remember that in any barnyard full of talking animals, sheep lie.....)
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To: goldstategop
If he can keep to friendly bets among friends, thats one thing. If he's like my grandfather was, calling his bookie and betting 30 games a weekend, its not. And remember, if he goes online to gamble football, he has to wade through a bunch of gambling teasers - and of course, a legal sports book is out of the question for him, if its in a casino.

I will agree about the casino having no right to do that, and I suspect he has a decent cause of action against 'em.

11 posted on 07/31/2003 3:21:27 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (.....always remember that in any barnyard full of talking animals, sheep lie.....)
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To: eccl1212; All
gambling is not a sin nor is it expressly forbidden in the scriptures...to not take care of one's finacial obligations is a sin!
12 posted on 07/31/2003 3:37:47 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
His personal obligations were taken care of, he was not bank-rupt nor alcoholic. I don't see the sin!
13 posted on 07/31/2003 3:40:08 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: mdmathis6
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."

Who best to define it as a "problem" than his wife. By his own accounts it was "excessive."

14 posted on 07/31/2003 3:47:08 AM PDT by Bluntpoint
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To: mdmathis6; goldstategop
Its not a sin.

However, given where his living was coming from, it was stupid to assume there would be no blowback if it got out.

He needs to decide where his living comes from - as a pundit and editor of some pretty neat books on morality, or as a professional gambler - because the two cannot be sychronised. A car dealer, a doctor, a lawyer, a real estate developer, PJ O'Rourke or George Will could get away with it - but not Bill Bennett, because Bill Bennett has made his whole speaking and writing reputation on the notion of virtue.

15 posted on 07/31/2003 3:49:41 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (in one ear and out the other, don't you get criss crossed, I recommend you try a little mental floss)
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To: Bluntpoint
He needs to go to GA. I'd also guess he's a problem drinker - the two go hand in hand.
16 posted on 07/31/2003 3:51:12 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (in one ear and out the other, don't you get criss crossed, I recommend you try a little mental floss)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
The questions are:

If this side of Bennett was publicly known, how many speaking engagements would not have been offered him? How many books would not have been purchased? How many TV and radio gigs may not have been offered?

For me it is the same old question or maxim of "virtue."

"Don't do in private what you would not want to be made public."



17 posted on 07/31/2003 3:54:54 AM PDT by Bluntpoint
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To: kattracks
All missing the point again. Bennett is not addicted to gambling, he is addicted to having his a$$ kissed. The high rollers do it because they are treated like royalty, not because they like to throw money away. 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.
18 posted on 07/31/2003 3:55:20 AM PDT by palmer (paid for by the "Lazamataz for Supreme Ruler" campaign.)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
He needs to go to GA. I'd also guess he's a problem drinker - the two go hand in hand.

They do. I noticed in the earlier articles that he was gambling during the early hours of the morning - a classic sign of compulsive behaviour. Very likely, he has other serious problems as well.

It seems he has not faced up to the full picture. You were right that his statement that he only needs to cut out "excessive" gambling is a warning light.

19 posted on 07/31/2003 3:56:09 AM PDT by BlackVeil
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To: palmer
I need help on the farm.

Topping tobacco would be good therapy for him.
20 posted on 07/31/2003 3:57:30 AM PDT by Bluntpoint
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