NEVADA'S MOST WANTED: What YOU Can Do to Help Bill Bennett Stop Gambling

The Stranger ^ | 5/7/03 | Dan Savage

[ppaul]

Anyone who saw a daily newspaper or caught a cable news program this past weekend knows that William J. Bennett--virtuecrat, drug warrior, scold--was exposed by Newsweek and the Washington Monthly last Friday as a high-stakes gambler. The news that Bennett blew a small fortune in Las Vegas--he is believed to have lost upwards of eight million dollars--was almost too good to be true. Michael Kinsley, writing for Slate, best captured the reaction of American sinners from Maine to California: "Maybe there is a God after all."

Bennett defended himself against charges of hypocrisy by pointing out that he never hurt anyone else, that he didn't break the law, and that he views gambling like he views alcohol. "If you can't handle it," Bennett said, "don't do it." The trouble with all three of Bennett's defenses is that they can be used to defend all the sins, pleasures, and vices that Bennett made millions condemning, from open relationships (don't do it if you can't handle it) to smoking pot (doesn't hurt anyone else, don't do it if you can't handle it) to getting blowjobs from interns in the Oval Office (the trifecta).

On Saturday morning Mrs. Bill Bennett weighed in, telling USA Today that her husband's gambling days were behind him. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Bill Bennett had indeed decided to give up gambling for good. "Moral Crusader Says He Will Gamble No More," read the headline. "This is not an example I wish to set," Bennett said in a statement. "Therefore, my gambling days are over." It was a lovely little news cycle, wasn't it?

Link to article HERE.

[cornelis]

Schadenfreude. There is no virtue.

[rellimpank]

--anybody stupid enough to put eight million dollars into slot machindes and other forms of gambling is too stupid to be giving anybody advice--

[martin_fierro]

It's just about gambling. Move on.

[ppaul]

fyi

[gcruse]

"Vice is nice, but virtue can hurt you."

[G.Mason]

"--anybody stupid enough to put eight million dollars into slot machindes and other forms of gambling is too stupid to be giving anybody advice--"

And your very fortunate that Mr. Bennett isn't your psychiatrist.

[Revelation 911]

2:1 hes gambling in a month LOL

[Dr. Scarpetta]

--anybody stupid enough to put eight million dollars into slot machines and other forms of gambling is too stupid to be giving anybody advice--

You're right IMO. I once saw Bennett speak at a local college and admired his intellect and his opinions about morality, but I wouldn't go again.

My denomination (Wesleyan) speaks against gambling, and Bennett's books were popular with people in my church. Fred Barnes brought up the visual image of Bennett sitting on a stool at a $500.00 slot machine for hours, and I know it's his money, bla-bla-bla. But it's also my money, and I don't have to spend it on books written by someone with such bad judgement.

[Mike Darancette]

Save the Whale!

[BooBoo1000]

Leave him alone, we need in additional revenue in Nevada.

[rellimpank]

--I don't know what your point is but a) I don't need one b) he very possibly does---

[keithtoo]

There is only one foolproof way to beat a slot machine.
...of course, you will no longer be welcome back in that casino.

[ppaul]

Pound.

[babaloo999]

Bennett defended himself against charges of hypocrisy by pointing out that he never hurt anyone else, that he didn't break the law, and that he views gambling like he views alcohol. "If you can't handle it," Bennett said, "don't do it"

Sounds just like some liberdopian defending drug use, eh?

[babaloo999]

that is, if you exclude the 'didn't break the law' part.