Pubdate: Wed, 07 May 2003
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Jay Ambrose
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Bill+Bennett

IF ONLY THE UNBLEMISHED PREACHED VIRTUE, VIRTUE WOULD ONLY SELDOM BE PREACHED

Some who have not liked his virtues-promoting message have been nothing 
short of gleeful that William Bennett has been exposed as a big-time 
gambler, but they ought to concede a couple of points, starting with this 
one: The validity of an argument is not dependent on the conduct of the 
person making it.

Bennett, a former education secretary and anti-drug chief, has made the 
case in books, speeches and TV appearances for responsibility and avoidance 
of those vices that are humanly degrading. While there is room to dispute 
some of his particulars, the case is one that needs to be made; America, 
for all its wonders, sometimes seems to be flirting with decadence.

At any rate, the proper tests for what he has said are such things as 
logic, evidence and wealth of understanding.

On those grounds, Bennett has done well.

It is certainly true that Bennett, by gambling apparently huge amounts of 
money over the years, stands as a counterexample of his thesis that 
behavior should be temperate.

But here is a second point: If only the unblemished preached virtue, virtue 
would only seldom be preached. After all, few among us are without fault. 
And even people with the most grievous faults can often see that their 
faults are just that, grievous. Although he did not completely abide by 
them, Bennett seems to have been sincere in his stances. Hypocrisy resides 
in insincerity.

Yes, he should have understood that his seemingly excessive gambling 
exhibited dubious values and could someday be used to undercut his 
credibility, and it has to be a disappointment for many who have applauded 
him that he did not exercise more self-control. Having paid a price, he now 
says he will not gamble again.

The betting here is that he won't.

- -- Jay Ambrose is director of editorial policy for Scripps Howard News 
Service, 1090 Vermont Ave. N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005-4901
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom