William Bennett considering lawsuits against casinos

The Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | ROD SMITH

[lelio]

And what is the character problem with gambling, exactly?

To use one of Bill's points: WWJD? Would Jesus bet and loose millions of dollars?

[RickGee]

If Mr. Bennett has stopped gambling, and doesn't pick up any new vices, whoever revealed his problem did him a favor. Count your blessings, hug your family and shut up.

[jpl]

Las Vegas is a sleazy town that appeals to man's baser instincts, and even their ad campaign reflects that basic reality. Bennett was stupid for putting his faith in a bunch of mafiosos to respect his privacy.

[MEGoody]

"Hey Bill, how bout taking a little personal responsibility, eh? What a hypocrite."

What is he blaming someone else for that he actually did himself? The article seems to indicate that he is suing the casinos for something THEY are responsible for - namely, keeping their records on him confidential.

Now, we can argue about whether or not he should have been gambling. We can argue about whether he should sue or not. But there is no question that it is the responsiblity of the casino to keep such records confidential.

[gcruse]

And what is the character problem with gambling, exactly?

It's vice.  Is vice good now?

[Bluntpoint]

I still am not clear whether a law was broken in the case of the casino releasing such information or if it is more of a breach of contract, implied or explicit.

Most of what Bennett lists as virtues he claims are based on his own religious upbringing.

I certainly am not a bible scholar but I do remember the bible not being a document that one would go to to support gambling.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Also, isn't the weight of the vice, determined by the effect on Bennett's family? Has his wife divorced him, did his children suffer? Was their home repossessed by the bank? Did he blow his retirement funds? Did he abuse his family? Did they go hungry, and live in the streets?

[MEGoody]

"He'd have a case if the whole story was a lie but he had admitted he was there gambling huge sums of money."

So you think casinos should be able to release names and amounts won/lost for all gamblers? How about if your name was on the list? Would you want that information made public, or do you think the casino should be keeping that information confidential?

[fml]

Being judgemental is also a vice.

[MEGoody]

"A false impression of a legitimate problem. This isn't making a lot of sense."

So you don't think facts can be 'skewed' to give a false impression? Seems to me the liberal media does that kind of thing all the time.

[mr.pink]

Some swarmy democrat scumbag wanted to stick it to a conservative. I'd love to see the worm rooted out.

The one game Bennett should know how to play from his years in DC is hardball low-life politics.

His addiction, like most addictions, gave way to recklessness and opportunity for his enemies.

[berserker]

of what was Linda Tripp convicted?

You know full well that the criminal case had to be dropped after the Starr gave her blanket immunity, and the state could not 'prove' that their evidence was independent of what Tripp told to Starr. Back in the old days of conservative thinking, this would have been described as "getting off on a technicality."

[Richard Kimball]

When you engage in business with someone, you expect them to maintain a certain amount of confidentiality. Would you want your laundromat to tell people about the skid marks on your underwear? Would you want your garbagemen to tell people how many liquor bottles were in your garbage? Would you want the video store to tell people what movies you rented? EVERYBODY has done some stuff they'd just as soon the whole world didn't know about. I was joking about his suing the casinos, but this was a hit on him, with totally legal actions being treated like a scandal.

Just don't be surpised to open up the paper one day and read that someone found out you still dress up like Billy Jack and walk around your apartment on Saturday night threatening to kick Bernard Posner's butt (I'm sorry. Was that supposed to be a secret?).

[Bluntpoint]

Being judgemental is also a vice.

What are your feelings about Clinton's adultry?

Keep them to yourself.

Face it. This is just a question of "Whose ox is being gored."

[gcruse]

Got a cite for that? Prostitution, gambling, booze, and --being judgemental? LOL

[Ken H]

There is a world of difference between a multi-millionaire losing a large chunk of change without jeopardizing his family's financial security and a $25,000/year Joe-Six-Pack who loses his still-doubly-mortgaged house and his kids' college fund at the craps table.

It was enough to make a difference in his family's life:

"It was a high level, was a lot of money," he said, and "counting up, has made a difference in our lives."

Which is different from his first statement when the story surfaced:

"Over 10 years, I'd say I've come out pretty close to even," Bennett told Newsweek. "You can roll up and down a lot in one day, as we have on many occasions," Bennett explains.

BTW, who is the we he refers to?

[MEGoody]

"I certainly am not a bible scholar but I do remember the bible not being a document that one would go to to support gambling."

The bible doesn't explicitly support gambling, nor does it explicitly command us not to gamble.

Personally, I don't gamble - seems a waste of money. But from a biblical perspective, I don't see a problem with it as long as it does not take first place in our lives.

[gcruse]

The impression that he was gambling was true. Nothing false about it

[Teacher317]

Isn't this a racist assault on American Indians? They will undoubtedly be disporportionately affected.

[Bluntpoint]

Also, isn't the weight of the vice, determined by the effect on Bennett's family?

If Bill and his wife had an open marriage, would adultry still be a vice?