America's King Of Intolerance Begs Forgiveness

Bill Bennett, the former US Drug tsar recently exposed as a reckless, high stakes gambler and hypocrite, has apologised for his betting addiction, telling the new issue of evangelical Christian magazine World; 'I want to say I'm sorry'.

"Mortal sin- Venial sin- Something in the middle- I have no idea. But excess, for sure," the morality guru conceded, going on to suggest his gambling had been sinful 'because it was a bad use of time and resources'.

Bennett's apparent comfort with his own 'excessive' behaviour (Las Vegas casinos reported in May he lost so many millions they routinely gave him free limousines and luxury suites) is in stark contrast to his conduct as George Bush (Senior)'s Drug Tsar when he branded drug use a moral crime, resulting in millions of Americans being jailed for minor pot offences. He also made millions of dollars by marketing his creed of intolerance, through publications including the Book Of Virtues (first virtue Self Control) allowing him to gamble in secret on high stakes slot machines.

"The high you get, what happens physically to the brain of a gambler, is quite similar to what happens to the brain of a person on cocaine," civil liberties campaigner Ethan Nadelmann from the DPA pointed out when Bennett was exposed in May.

"Bill Bennett wouldn't choose the threat of jail to keep himself away from the casino. You can bet on that." (Washington Post)

http://www.thestranger.com/specials/bennett.html (Bill Bennett playing cards: 'Nevada's Most Wanted- What YOU Can Do to Help Bill Bennett Stop Gambling') Tags