Savage on Bennett

08 May 2003 by Matthew Linderman

Dan Savage weighs in on the whole Bill Bennett gambling revelation (Bennett was one of the inspirations for Savage’s novel “Skipping Towards Gomorrah”).

Bennett defended himself against charges of hypocrisy by pointing out that he never hurt anyone else, that he didn’t break the law, and that he views gambling like he views alcohol. “If you can’t handle it,” Bennett said, “don’t do it.” The trouble with all three of Bennett’s defenses is that they can be used to defend all the sins, pleasures, and vices that Bennett made millions condemning, from open relationships (don’t do it if you can’t handle it) to smoking pot (doesn’t hurt anyone else, don’t do it if you can’t handle it) to getting blowjobs from interns in the Oval Office (the trifecta).

Savage is even coming out with a deck of Bill Bennett playing cards that say, “If you see me gambling, please alert my wife”.