Replies

I believe your agenda would change if we were discussing Mario Cuomo's gambling and not Bennetts.

Read my reply at post #46. I mentioned the circumstances under which I would think this was a big deal. I know nothing about Mario Cuomo's gambling problem if he has one.

Me thinks you got a little too much "emotionally and politically" invested in Bennett not being judged by his actions.

I am not a Bennett devotee by any means. I have one book that he wrote -- Our Sacred Honor, about the religious writings of the founding fathers -- and I bought that off the clearance table at Borders.

What frustrates me is that so many durn many of you have fallen for this Stupid Left Trick. This hit piece was nothing more than Newsweek saying, "Now all you people who like Bill Bennett have a reason to hate him as much as I do."

What frustrates me is that so many durn many of you have fallen for this Stupid Left Trick.

I don't care what the motives are for Newsweek reporting this story. Apparently, the story was true. If the press reported that my kids were being molested by a neighbor, information obtained through an illegal wire tap, I would not spend too much soul searching about the method of discovery.

By-the-way, I like your Tag line and am replying to you because you make perfect sense to me.

I am amazed at the comments I've read on this thread. It seems to me the theme is that there are degrees of sin and vice and that one is worse than another, and that gambling is the ultimate vice or evil. Similar to believing that calling a lie a "white lie", makes it less offensive, or less a lie. Although the punishment for different sins, vices or crimes may be different, if you've ever told a "white lie" or taken a penny from your brother or bought a lottery ticket that would make you a liar and a thief, and a gambler. WOW! Anybody here fit that profile? Does that mean anyone here cannot have an opinion or make a comment because we would be considered hypocrits?

Gambling may not be a habit you want to emulate, but the last time I looked, gambling in a casino is legal. And why would the amount make the difference? Any money lost is relative. If you make and lose millions, how is that any different than making and losing 10's of dollars or 100's of dollars? And how does this effect one's ability to recognize virtue? If you spend the rent or grocery money on lottery tickets, and your children go without dinner, that's sinful. But who among this group would accuse another of sinful immorality if someone spent a dollar or 10 on a lottery ticket? Would that person then be ostracized and banned from ever commenting on any issue?

Oh well, I've ranted enough for today.