Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2003
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Katharine Q. Seelye,  New York Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Bill+Bennett

BENNETT SAYS HE'LL STOP GAMBLING

Washington --- William J. Bennett, who is known as one of the United 
States' pre-eminent moral crusaders, said Monday he was walking away from 
the gambling table, saying he had "done too much gambling" and had been 
setting a poor example.

Two magazines reported last week that Bennett, the author of "The Book of 
Virtues," had lost $8 million at casinos over the last decade. The 
disclosure generated unflattering headlines around the world like 
"Anti-Drug Crusader Can't Say No to Gambling" (The Ottawa Citizen) and 
"Morals Advocate Fritters $8m" (The Times of London).

In a brief statement Monday, Bennett said he was calling it quits.

"A number of stories in the media have reported that I have engaged in 
high-stakes gambling over the past decade," the statement said. "It is true 
that I have gambled large sums of money. I have also complied with all laws 
on reporting wins and losses."

He added: "Nevertheless, I have done too much gambling, and this is not an 
example I wish to set. Therefore, my gambling days are over."

Bennett has long exempted gambling from the roster of sins, weaknesses and 
vices that he preaches are undermining American culture. His spokesman said 
Monday that he was not available for further discussion.

The disclosures about Bennett's gambling put him in an awkward position 
with some of his traditional allies, most of whom adamantly oppose gambling.

James C. Dobson, president of Focus on the Family, a conservative group 
often allied with Bennett, said in a statement on Monday: "We were 
disappointed to learn that our longtime friend Dr. Bill Bennett is dealing 
with what appears to be a gambling addiction. One of the reasons Focus on 
the Family continues to be strongly opposed to any form of gambling is 
because it has the power to ensnare and wound not only its victims, but 
also those closest to them."

Similarly, the Concerned Women for America, another conservative group, 
said, "Families are crumbling under the weight of irresponsible gambling 
losses."

Elayne Bennett, Bennett's wife, told USA Today over the weekend that her 
husband was "not addicted" to gambling and that he had not lost millions of 
dollars at casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., and Las Vegas. She said the 
family was "financially solvent," but that she was annoyed at the 
attention, and she told the newspaper, "He's never going again."

Bennett received support on Monday from a seemingly unlikely source. Mario 
Cuomo, the former governor of New York and frequent philosophical adversary 
of Bennett, said in an interview that he did not condemn Bennett.

"It's hard for me to see what he did wrong," Cuomo said. "Gambling is not a 
sin, it's not illegal, he didn't condemn it and then contradict himself, he 
didn't hurt anyone, he didn't lie about it, he didn't try to hide it, he 
doesn't think he's a saint and he doesn't pretend to be. Now he has 
admitted it's excessive and sets a bad example of indulgence and said his 
gambling days are over."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom