[eccl1212]

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.

[mdmathis6]

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!

[L.N. Smithee]

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...

Comparing Bennett to Swaggart is beyond the pale.

Bennett spent too much time using disposable dollars to gamble. Swaggart stole the ministry of Jim Bakker on the grounds that Bakker's affair with Jessica Hahn made him unfit to run a TV ministry empire, and then it was discovered that Swaggart was rendezvousing with cheap whores in motels.

Get some perspective.

[Happy2BMe]

"I see swaggart bawling on stage "I have sinned!" and turn the channel."

Actually, comparing Bennet to Swaggart is overkill.

Bennet is not in the ministry, and should not be held to the same moral standards as a minister.

Ministers are falling out of the ministry like fleas off a dog's back in recent years - it's just too hard to hold high moral standards in a society full of rotting moral decay.

Homosexuality, adultery, fornication, graft, libel, lying, gambling, pornography, and many more sins common to man have become all but normal (and acceptable) behavior in our society.

To speak out against them is not just unpopular, it can get not just get your image, reputation, and career ruined but it can literllay get you killed in some places.

Face it, this nation is in a tail spin straight to hell.

[Redleg Duke]

Tell you what, you stay in your pen and I'll stay in mine and keep your big, sanctimonious, self-righteous mouth shut!

I am much more willing to listen to a man who has the courage to admit he was wrong than a self-righteous twit like you.

I rather doubt if you ever listened to him, or anybody for that matter. I wouldn't be surprised to see you back-talking God for making the avocado pit too large!

[Matchett-PI]

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

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".

[foghornleghorn]

But who said gambling ,per se, is immoral? This appears to be one of those "appearance of impropriety" issues, and Bennett has addressed it correctly.

[Perfesser]

Bullsh*t! Bill Bennett's authority to "moralize" has not changed one iota. Simply, because gambling is not a moral issue. It is merely a personal choice, a preference, an enjoyable activity and certainly noone else's business.
Everything he has said in the past about the declining morals of society are still true. You certainly may ask, in this case "What would Jesus do?", but don't let arrogance prompt you to pretend you know the answer.
Furthermore, IMO gambling is neither good or bad but either way the degree to which one engages in it is immaterial if you can afford it. If you cannot afford it and still do it, it is still noone' business but your own.
To continue to accept the message but not the messenger seems "..how you say, hypocritical?".

[Paleo Conservative]

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.

Apparently there is quite a difference of opinion on gambling between Protestants and Catholics. Protestants tend to disapprove of gambling and consider it a moral weakness. Catholics are likely to consider gambling a moral weakness if it doesn't interfere one's responsibilities to family, creditors, etc. Some would argue that as a Catholic Bill Bennett is not being hypocritical.