west20th Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 "But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down," Bennett said, according to an audio clip posted on Media Matters for America's Web site. "That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, you know, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky."Why is he still on the air after making these remarks? Are they defensible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Sheesh.Like you EVER even listened to his show in the first place. I know I never have, and had no idea he even had a show. This is America. We are all free to practice foot in mouth as we see fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west20th Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Sheesh.Like you EVER even listened to his show in the first place. I know I never have, and had no idea he even had a show. This is America. We are all free to practice foot in mouth as we see fit.Well I never listen to him because he's on too early for me. Yes this is America which means you can't be prosecuted for free speach. You can however pay the consequences of sticking your foot in your mouth. In his case that may be losing his job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Did he lose any sponsors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west20th Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Did he lose any sponsors?Don't know. That would be the correct response to his comments. Cut off the ads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeightsGuy Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 It's a shame, no way is Bennett a racist, he just aped an idea brought up in a highly-respected book on economic statistics and messed up the delivery.Maybe Bennett and Jimmy the Greek can team up for a new radio show. In both cases, their comments "might" and I mean "might" be defensable if they were brought up in a specific discussion taylored to the topic in question. In both cases, however, it was the "context" of the statement that brought Jimmy down and may very well bring Bennett down. You don't just pull a statement like that out of the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Did he lose any sponsors? He is not even trying to defend it, or make apologies for it. He was not making any kind of racial comments. He could have phrased it a little differently perhaps. Using the words "going by statistical data." would have worked just fine. He wasn't condoning "aborting all black babies." The man doesn't even condone abortion. He was making a point over what his caller at the time was talking about, that how if we had saved all the aborted fetuses, that we would have a workforce in place to replenish social security. Abortion is a moral aspect, not a monetary or criminal one. Of course the criminal aspect depends on who you think the criminal is or could be in an abortion. Who in your opinions commit the most crimes in this country ? Using statistics is where he got his analogy from, but in the same breath, he says it is MORALLY wrong, and unforgivable. Nothing racist about that. I can't say I've ever listened to him myself, I, like most of America, have just heard what has transpired in the last 72 hours or so. Does anyone have a breakdown on possible "other racists comments" this man has ever made on his show ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 It's a shame, no way is Bennett a racist... Could've fooled me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 It's a shame, no way is Bennett a racist, he just aped an idea brought up in a highly-respected book on economic statistics and messed up the delivery.Maybe Bennett and Jimmy the Greek can team up for a new radio show. In both cases, their comments "might" and I mean "might" be defensable if they were brought up in a specific discussion taylored to the topic in question. In both cases, however, it was the "context" of the statement that brought Jimmy down and may very well bring Bennett down. You don't just pull a statement like that out of the air. .........and you could've gotten Howard Cossell as a guest , if he was still alive. Maybe get Rush Limbaugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncertaintraveler Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Did he lose any sponsors? If necessary, I'm sure Bill would have no trouble landing any of the casinos or other gambling establishments around the country as sponsors, given his propensity to engage in such activities. The question I have is why do people even bother listening to the guy? Don't people have better things to do than listen for platitudes on life from someone who writes books on morality while compulsively gambling in his hotel suite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I'll BET you Bennett would have no trouble getting another job. It may be a GAMBLE for him to give up A SURE THING like his talk show but I'd WAGER if he ROLLED THE DICE just right, it would be A SURE THING for the guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 If necessary, I'm sure Bill would have no trouble landing any of the casinos or other gambling establishments around the country as sponsors, given his propensity to engage in such activities. The question I have is why do people even bother listening to the guy? Don't people have better things to do than listen for platitudes on life from someone who writes books on morality while compulsively gambling in his hotel suite? He earned his money, why can't he do what he wants to do with it. Is he gambling illegally in his hotel room in Florida, or in his hotel room in Vegas ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncertaintraveler Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 He earned his money, why can't he do what he wants to do with it. Is he gambling illegally in his hotel room in Florida, or in his hotel room in Vegas ? I could care less what he does with his money. However, I do think people have a right to investigate how so-called "moral teachers" spend their money....and considering that the guy lectures (on the speaking circuit and in his tomes on morality and virtues) on how gambling is a vice, immoral, and possibly sinful, I don't think it is unreasonable to point out that the guy is a complete hypocrite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Bennett and his wife had (and may still have) a ministry in the Washington DC area to African-American teenaged girls. The idea was that girls who pledged to stay in school, stay drug free and sexually abstinent through their high school graduation were mentored and encouraged. At the end, those who kept their pledges (on the honor system, of course) received a diamond ring. I thought it was interesting that one of the "encouragements" they gave to these girls was to take them to weddings; since most of them had never seen a wedding before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I could care less what he does with his money. However, I do think people have a right to investigate how so-called "moral teachers" spend their money....and considering that the guy lectures (on the speaking circuit and in his tomes on morality and virtues) on how gambling is a vice, immoral, and possibly sinful, I don't think it is unreasonable to point out that the guy is a complete hypocrite. He has actually said that, and yet he gambles ? Maybe he is searching for truth in himself, or maybe he is just looking for that "Ace of Spades" on the river card. Do you have an outtake of one of his speeches where he is quoted as saying that. That would be hilarious. <---- gotta hide my "pokerface". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west20th Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 He earned his money, why can't he do what he wants to do with it. Is he gambling illegally in his hotel room in Florida, or in his hotel room in Vegas ? When you write books called "The Book of Virtues" and the "Moral Compass" and believe that "individuals have a moral responsibility to own up to their addiction" you would think he would hold himself up to a higher standard. Illeagal? No. Moral? Not according to Bill Bennett. But I guess the morality he preaches doesn't apply to himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 When you write books called "The Book of Virtues" and the "Moral Compass" and believe that "individuals have a moral responsibility to own up to their addiction" you would think he would hold himself up to a higher standard. Illeagal? No. Moral? Not according to Bill Bennett. But I guess the morality he preaches doesn't apply to himself.SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH ! I had to hit the brakes hard on this one. Yes, he wrote a couple of books, perhaps he is not "addicted" as you assume. Are you a drinking man west20th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Bennett and his wife had (and may still have) a ministry in the Washington DC area to African-American teenaged girls. The idea was that girls who pledged to stay in school, stay drug free and sexually abstinent through their high school graduation were mentored and encouraged. At the end, those who kept their pledges (on the honor system, of course) received a diamond ring. I thought it was interesting that one of the "encouragements" they gave to these girls was to take them to weddings; since most of them had never seen a wedding before.Did he threaten to abort their babies if they became pregnant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I heard a clip of it on the news and it was a lot less offensive when the sentences before and after were included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Really! Good to know he was quoted out of context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 With all the troubles we have today, lets just kill Bill! I mean really... There is a MUCH larger issue here that nobody wants to talk about. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0927052school1.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Ouch ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 You are right...MUCH larger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 You are right...MUCH larger. Red: You forgot Dean Allen Corll and Elmer Wayne Henley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Well, children do grow up, you know...KILL BILLMan, now I feel really bad for picking on Ronterius, Keson, Dexter and Devonte. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west20th Posted October 4, 2005 Author Share Posted October 4, 2005 SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH ! I had to hit the brakes hard on this one. Yes, he wrote a couple of books, perhaps he is not "addicted" as you assume. Are you a drinking man west20th?Yep. Not near as much as in my younger days. And that has to do with what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Yep. Not near as much as in my younger days. And that has to do with what?How often doyou drink ? 3 beers a week, 3 beers a month ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westguy Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 The caller was trying to link Social Security troubles with abortions, and Bill Bennet brings up black crime statistics. Why did even go there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 I don't think I like the direction this thread is going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 The caller was trying to link Social Security troubles with abortions, and Bill Bennet brings up black crime statistics. Why did even go there? Bill was simply pointing out how unrealistic the caller's thinking was. Do you think it is unrealistic what Bill's answer was to him ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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