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Hey Bill Bennett! You Are The Outrage!
Southern
Style
by Rebecca Knight
Ooops! Mr. Virtue has turned out to be somewhat less than virtuous. Recent revelations regarding Bill Bennett's gambling habits call his moral authority into question. Shouldn't his own words be applied to his personal failings? Of course they should.
So, now that Dr. Bennett's gambling habits have been laid bare before the public, certain excuses might be made for him.
Perhaps he never decried gambling as a bad habit to be avoided. Isn't that convenient. Don't believe for a second that was an unintentional omission. Or perhaps he never hurt anyone but himself. Don't believe that one either. That simply cannot be factual when he made his millions from books and lectures through sanctimonious pontificating.
In his very own words Bill Bennett denounced people who were unable to control their "tempers, appetites, passions, and impulses." He also stated that those with so little control often lamented thusly: "'Oh, if only I had stopped myself' is an all too familiar refrain." The author should have heeded his own words!
You must have seen William J. (Bill) Bennett, on television over the years decrying the collapse of ethics and morals in the United States. He has been appalled, no outraged, by his belief that American values have steadily declined and the public seems so unconcerned. His media commentaries, columns, and books are filled with his opinions about our lack of outrage!
William J. Bennett received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Williams College, his Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Texas, and his law degree from Harvard. Bennett served as President Reagan's Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Secretary of Education. He also served as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy for President George H. W. Bush. He is Chairman and co-founder of K12, an Internet-based elementary and secondary school.
Dr. Bennett has appeared on CNN as a network contributor where he commented on social and cultural issues on American Morning with Paula Zahn. He is the author of eleven books including: The Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues, and The Death of Outrage: Bill Clinton and the Assault on American Ideals, which was number one on The New York Times best seller list. He is a Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, was one of the creators of Empower America, and on March 12th, 2002, introduced a new project: Americans for Victory Over Terrorism (AVOT).
On first reading Dr. Bennett has impressive credentials. However, a cursory investigation into the organizations with which Dr. Bennett is affiliated poses a few relevant questions.
What is the Heritage Foundation? The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies. To quote Rush Limbaugh: "Some of the finest conservative minds in America today do their work in the Heritage Foundation. For those of you new to all this, the Heritage Foundation is America's leading conservative think tank."
The board of trustees of the Heritage Foundation is very impressive. One member in particular represents a connection that could be considered problematic for Dr. Bennett. Richard M. Scaife has been a Heritage Foundation Trustee since 1985 and serves as Vice Chairman. Yes, the same Richard M. Scaife associated with a multi-million dollar organized effort to discredit former President Bill Clinton. Yet, the Heritage Foundation states that it is a non-partisan organization.
What is Empower America? The mission statement of Empower America states that it is a unique combination of public policy and political advocacy. One of the main functions of Empower America is access to the media and the highest levels of government to air its conservative message. Co-directors of Empower America are Dr. Bennett, Jack Kemp, Jean Kirkpatrick, Vin Webber, and William Cohen. Sitting on the Board of Directors is United States Senator Trent Lott.
What organizations provide the funding for Empower America? From 1990 through 2000 records show ten grants totaling $1,025,000 from two sources: Bradley Foundation and Olin Foundation. The Bradley Foundation is known as the country's largest and most influential right wing foundation, supporting organizations and individuals that promote deregulation of business, rollback of almost all social welfare programs, and the privatization of government services.
The Olin Foundation grew out of the Olin family business in chemicals and munitions and funds right wing think tanks including: American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, and the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy Research. Olin Corporation owns Winchester Ammunition, the largest producer of ammunition in the U.S. Winchester Ammunition stands to gain from the increased sale of handgun ammunition generated by the passage of lax concealed weapons laws.
And guess what! Empower America opposes legalized gambling and lists gambling as one of the problems in its Index of Leading Cultural Indicators. Well now, Dr. Bennett, your public policy is in direct conflict with your personal behavior!
What is Americans for Victory Over Terrorism or AVOT? It's stated objective is to sustain and strengthen American public opinion as the war on terrorism moves forward by promoting the democratic ideals of freedom, liberty, equality, and human rights. AVOT will answer those who seek to erode our nation's resolve and commitment to fight and defeat the evil of terrorism. It will visit college campuses and use various media outlets to promote America's democratic ideals and to support the use of our military around the world in defense of those principles. Doesn't that sound just like "you're either for us or against us" as President George W. Bush likes to say?
Dr. Bennett apparently had no substantial success while serving as Secretary of Education and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, since his biographical information does not include anything other than the fact that he served in those capacities under Presidents Reagan and Bush. In fact, Dr. Bennett admitted that 74% of Americans believe that the war on drugs is a failure. Yet, Dr. Bennett before the House Subcommittee on Government Reform and Oversight in 1995 assailed President Clinton for the rising statistics on drug use. "The president is virtually invisible on this issue," he said. "The most famous statement made by this president on this issue is, 'I didn't inhale.'"
Former President Bush at one point considered appointing Dr. Bennett to head the Republican National Committee. Dr. Bennett apparently turned it down because it did not pay enough. Yes, Dr. Bennett, it must be nice to have the financial backing required to set up advocacy institutions and pay yourself handsomely for traveling the country as the self-appointed moral conscience of America.
Isn't there something missing here? In addition to the recent revelations of his gambling, Dr. Bennett's moralist portfolio is somewhat lacking, especially when his positions with various right wing organizations are taken into consideration. It is obvious that he is following the right wing propaganda format right down the line for the benefit of his own bank account. Moralizing for the sake of profit and power shows a lack of personal integrity, which can be demonstrated through disparity of comments on public policy based upon which political party is in power. Do the moral standards Dr. Bennett sets only apply to Bill Clinton and not to George W. Bush or even himself?
On April 16, 1998, The Wall Street Journal, published the article "What We Know" by William J. Bennett, in which he laid out in painstaking detail his interpretation of the public knowledge about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Consider the following excerpts, which were the basis for writing the article:
Whenever the subject is scandal, President Clinton's apologists argue that his critics fail to distinguish facts from "mere allegations." The public, they aver, should withhold judgment until the facts are in. Implicit is the notion that there is no empirical basis from which to draw inferences and render reasonable judgments.
But in fact we know quite a lot. There are many important questions, arising from facts, about whether our president has (among other things) committed perjury, suborned perjury and obstructed justice. Given that the Clinton administration employs a nonstop, dust-in-your-eyes machine, it is important to recapitulate what we know:
Dr. Bennett then lays out his case against Clinton point by point. Two of the points made were extremely critical of Clinton for "stonewalling" and "invoking claims of executive privilege."
He concludes with this powerful paragraph:
The effects of the Clinton scandals will be severe--particularly if the president, because of public indifference and congressional diffidence, escapes accountability until the history books are written years from now. If that happens, it will undercut efforts toward the moral education of the young, increase cynicism and further erode public trust in our political leaders. Indeed, Mr. Clinton has already devalued the office of the presidency. It is axiomatic that the actions of the president strongly influence what the nation talks about; consider, then, the nature of our public discourse these days. He is bringing us down. Through his tawdry, reckless, irresponsible conduct, he has plowed salt in America's civic soil. For that, and for much else, he has rightfully earned our obloquy.
Dr. Bennett was morally outraged before the impeachment proceedings had even gotten under way. Would his moral outrage apply were the sitting president or the candidate for president a Republican?
His opportunity for equality of moral outrage came along shortly in the person of George W. Bush whose background included possible drug use, a drunk driving record kept hidden until a few days prior to the 2000 election, being deceptive when questioned, avoiding Vietnam, and possible perjury in a funeral home scandal. Did Dr. Bennett go apoplectic with outrage? Did he condemn candidate Bush? Did he even question the viability of the Republican candidate based on moralistic standards? No. He stated that these items would only be an issue if he had lied about it. If he had lied about it! In September 2000, Dr. Bennett appeared at a seminar on corporate ethics at Marquette University where he spoke about advising candidate Bush to seize the offensive and use the word "honor" to point out what he sees as moral shortcomings in the Democratic leadership.
In an article published in The Wall Street Journal on October 11, 2000, entitled "A Lifetime of Lies" Dr. Bennett pummels candidate Al Gore claiming it is time to hold Gore accountable and labeling him a habitual liar. He concludes the article with this paragraph:
If the Clinton years have taught us anything, it is that character matters in a president. And Al Gore, like Bill Clinton before him, is manifestly lacking in that regard. As the public considers for whom it will vote on Nov. 7, it should recall the old adage: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Surely the past eight years of persistent half-truths, lies and lawlessness have been enough.
These are very powerful words from Dr. Bennett. Character does matter in a president. Has he applied the character test to George W. Bush? Did he speak out against the stonewalling of the Bush administration regarding the records of Vice President Cheney's energy policy meetings? What is his position on the Bush claim of executive privilege regarding those records? Did it bother him that the Vice President was being sued to have those records released? What about the use of the executive order by President Bush in regards to the records of former presidents? Is he concerned that the Bush records as governor of Texas are hidden under lock and key in the Bush presidential library? Does he speak out regarding the Bush lie about Kenneth Lay's support for candidate Ann Richards in the Texas governor's race? Why haven't we heard him denounce the officials of Enron who refused to testify in Congressional hearings? Dr. Bennett, why are you so quiet on these obvious failings?
Dr. Bennett was so concerned about the lack of public outrage during the Clinton years for what he considered to be unforgivable failings. Yet, he and other right wing moralists cannot grasp that they are an integral part of the problem. Americans should be outraged that Dr. Bill Bennett, so highly compensated for blatant partisanship and now exposed as a habitual gambler, makes his living by publicly telling American citizens what is right and what is wrong. Therein lies his angle. And therein lies his hypocrisy!
Bill Bennett has now become the target of public outrage. How does it feel, Dr. Bennett? You apparently also are capable of human failings. Will you now demonstrate the integrity you found so lacking in Clinton and Gore? Will you admit your hypocrisy or will you make excuses? Your recent decision to quit gambling might just be too little and too late.
You see, Dr. Bennett, your own outrageous behavior now deserves scorn. You are familiar with scorn. You heaped it upon many a Democrat. Now we shall see how strong your character is in dealing with adverse circumstances.
Bill Bennett, at the moment, you are the outrage!
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References:
The Heritage Foundation
http://www.heritage.org/
http://www.heritage.org/staff/bennett.htm
http://www.heritage.org/whoweare/mission.html
http://www.heritage.org/departments/trustees.html
Media Transparency
http://www.mediatransparency.org/people/wbennett.htm
http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/comment_string_search_results.asp?
Message=William+J.+Bennett
http://www.mediatransparency.org/funders/bradley_foundation.htm
http://www.mediatransparency.org/funders/john_m_olin_foundation.htm
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipients/empower.htm
Empower America
http://www.empoweramerica.org/
http://www.empoweramerica.org/stories/storyReader$346
http://www.empoweramerica.org/stories/storyReader$233
Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/11/04/morality/index.html
LewRockwell.com
http://www.lewrockwell.com/elkins/elkins13.html
News Briefs
http://www.ndsn.org/APRIL95/CAPITOL.html
Harry Walker Agency
http://www.harrywalker.com/speakers_template.cfm?spea_id=41
AVOT
http://www.avot.org/stories/storyReader$53
Ashbrook Center
http://www.ashbrook.org/articles/bennett-clinton.html
Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/sep00/bennett16091500a.asp
Rebecca Knight is a native Tennessean, who grew up in Nashville, and currently resides in a small town near Nashville. Ms. Knight's political awareness evolved through the civil rights movement, the Vietnam era, the Watergate era, and the cold war. The debacle of the 2000 election increased her sense of responsibility for political activism. You may contact Rebecca Knight via e-mail at tennessee_gal655@yahoo.com. © 2003 by Rebecca Knight
