William Bennett is one of the least-likable of all the conservative moralists in America. His self-righteous lectures on morality and religion have been condescending, insulting, divisive, and incredibly lucrative for the former Reagan administration secretary of education.
Bennett took in millions after compiling a series of books about “virtues,” making him something of self-styled “virtues czar” for America. In fact, as book sales took off, Bennett became sought after on the lecture circuit, demanding $50,000 a speech.
I know he’s used some of his millions to finance far-right political causes, but it turns out the blowhard moralist has been doing something else with his ill-gotten gains.
He’s been going to Vegas.
Carpetbagger friend Chief Osceola emailed the best story of the day: The Man of Virtues Has a Vice.
As MSNBC explained, Bennett once wrote, “We should know that too much of anything, even a good thing, may prove to be our undoing… [We] need to set definite boundaries on our appetites.” Apparently, Bennett has been having some boundary issues in his personal life.
“According to casino documents, Bennett is a ‘preferred customer’ in at least four venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, betting millions of dollars over the last decade. His games of choice: video poker and slot machines, some at $500 a pull. With a revolving line of credit of at least $200,000 at each casino, Bennett, former drug czar and Secretary of Education under Presidents Reagan and Bush, doesn’t have to bring money when he shows up at a casino.
“More than 40 pages of internal casino documents provided to The Washington Monthly and Newsweek paint a picture of a gambler given the high-roller treatment, including limos and tens of thousands of dollars in complimentary hotel rooms and other amenities. In one two-month period, the documents show him wiring more than $1.4 million to cover losses at one casino. In one 18-month stretch, Bennett visited a number of casinos for two or three days at a time. And Bennett must have worried about news of his habit leaking out. His customer profile at one casino lists an address that corresponds to Empower.org, the Web site of Empower America, the group Bennett co-chairs. But typed across the form are the words: NO CONTACT AT RES OR BIZ!!!”
I don’t care what Bennett does in his personal life. If he’s got a gambling problem, that’s his business and I hope he can get some help. I know some people personally who’ve had trouble with gambling so I can appreciate the hold the addiction can take on a person.
The reason this story is so significant to me is it exposes Bennett for his demeaning hypocrisy. Throughout his professional life, Bennett has made millions making Americans out to be immoral because of their vices. He was so busy lecturing all of us, he forgot to look in the mirror.
This isn’t just personal hypocrisy, it’s also professional. A political organization Bennett helped create, Empower America, has worked diligently to oppose gambling across the country. As MSNBC noted, an Empower America leader recently condemned public officials who “pollute our society with a slot machine on every corner.”
Bennett says he doesn’t have a gambling problem. Sure Bill, I’m sure you can stop anytime you want to.