home

"Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigoted Statement

By Last Night in Little Rock, Section Social Justice
Posted on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 06:36:56 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

by Last Night in Little Rock

Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" radio program has an alleged 1.25M listeners. He is also the author of "The Book of Virtues." In this audio clip from yesterday's show, he proves he is a bigot. This was found on MediaMatters.org.

MSNBC carries a story about the outrage. The appalling transcript is below.

CALLER: I noticed the national media, you know, they talk a lot about the loss of revenue, or the inability of the government to fund Social Security, and I was curious, and I've read articles in recent months here, that the abortions that have happened since Roe v. Wade, the lost revenue from the people who have been aborted in the last 30-something years, could fund Social Security as we know it today. And the media just doesn't -- never touches this at all.

BENNETT: Assuming they're all productive citizens?

CALLER: Assuming that they are. Even if only a portion of them were, it would be an enormous amount of revenue.

BENNETT: Maybe, maybe, but we don't know what the costs would be, too. I think as -- abortion disproportionately occur among single women? No.

CALLER: I don't know the exact statistics, but quite a bit are, yeah.

BENNETT: All right, well, I mean, I just don't know. I would not argue for the pro-life position based on this, because you don't know. I mean, it cuts both -- you know, one of the arguments in this book Freakonomics that they make is that the declining crime rate, you know, they deal with this hypothesis, that one of the reasons crime is down is that abortion is up. Well --

CALLER: Well, I don't think that statistic is accurate.

BENNETT: Well, I don't think it is either, I don't think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don't know. 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. 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, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

Bill: What are the odds you'll apologize? Las Vegas oddsmakers have it at 3:2. Want in, Bookie of Virtues?

Update (TL): The Washington Post reports here.

Further Update (LNILR): On CNN, Bennett says he was speaking hypothetically and his comments were taken out of context in response to the caller's question, but he did not apologize. He said that "the people who misrepresented my views should apologize." The oddsmakers were wrong. Should have got in, Bill.

< Judith Miller Released, Will Testify Tomorrow | DeLay Considering Change of Venue Motion >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigoted Statement | 51 comments (51 topical)
    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#10)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:28 PM EST
    BMB, if you and all of your related and extended family were put to death the crime rate would go down. Not that I would want to do that, "I'm just sayin'" BTW, troll, try to drum up traffic on another site, just like you have spammed your identical content on a miriad of other sites, regardless of the topic, this won't help your hit count.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:30 PM EST
    This is a surprise? Once again, it appears that the lunatic fringe has decided that bigotry is "in" and they don't have to hide it anymore, for some bizarre reason. On the upside, at least Billy Boy now wears his true colors on his sleeve. However, he failed to get full credit since he failed to preface the statement with "Jesus says ..." All the Dems have to do is keep bearing witness to this endless litany of Rep horsesh%$, and make damned sure that it keeps getting replayed in the MSM as we approach the midterms.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:30 PM EST
    And the big fat liar hypocrite and feeder at the public trough went on the Hannity show to defend his remarks The most pathetic thing about this he doesn't get it all he could do is talk about when he was drug czar how much he did for crime prevention in the black community I'm sure all the young black men in jail on pot charges thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced white bread

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:30 PM EST
    On the upside, at least Billy Boy now wears his true colors on his sleeve.
    Oh, that Billy Boy. Ok, I'm off the hook. :}

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:30 PM EST
    Hey forgive the guy, already...it was probably just the oxycontin and wild turkey talking.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#5)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country
    But if you TRULY wanted to reduce crime you would abort every WHITE baby in the country. And if you wanted to stop crime completely, just killl every adult and child in the country.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#6)
    by rilkefan on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    I think you're wrong.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    Could a "liberal" explain exactly how this comment is "bigoted"? If he had said he wanted to do that, that would be "bigoted". However, is simply proposing an example - which may or may not be true - "bigoted"? Hasn't the left ever heard of Lysenkoism? (Oops! Silly question: the left invented Lysenkoism. Got Ingsoc?)

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#8)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    rilkefan, thanks for the link that proved my post!

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#9)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    And the big fat liar hypocrite and feeder at the public trough went on the Hannity show to defend his remarks The most pathetic thing about this he doesn't get it
    Oh now, lighten up. He said he was speaking 'philosophically.' He was simply posing a philsophical question - sure it was outrageous, but hey!

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    Could a "liberal" explain exactly how this comment is "bigoted"?
    First, the bigotry of the statement doesn't need a "liberal" to explain it. Here is the problem: an abstract hypothetical statement, such as
    "killing babies will reduce crime--not that I would advocate such a thing."
    doesn't mention race. This is not the same statement as one that mentions a particular race; e.g.,
    "killing Martian babies will reduce crime--not that I would advocate such a thing."
    Such a statement is less abstract and general as the first, since other races are not mentioned. As soon as one particular race is mentioned, it is fair and appropriate to ask, "why that particular choice of race?" The qualification that the speaker would not advocate killing members of the mentioned race does not address why that race was mentioned as opposed to some other race. So one looks to the context to seek answers to the questions that the statement does not address. The context is talk radio. Since the revocation of the Fairness Doctrine, with the Reagan administration, talk radio, which is known for reactionary extremism, has flourished. In the context of talk radio, the choice of one race, as opposed to some other race, or no race (why even mention race?) involves a carefully calibrated appeal to the prejudices of the audience: the audience is flattered that they share, with the show's host, a tacit understanding of 1), the reason why the matter of race was mentioned, as opposed to not being mentioned; and 2), the reason why one race was mentioned, as opposed to some other race. The disclaimer that the host does not advocate killing babies of a particular race does not address the points the host wants to make, which concern that race, in particular. The disclaimer also appeals to the notion that the host and the audience are fundamentally good people, who do not harbor discriminatory impulses. This is a purely emotional appeal; it is not a logical appeal, as the intended message has been, in a certain sense, transmitted in code.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    Definition of bigoted: "blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others" Does this definition apply? Well, what would you think of me if I made the following statement on this here website: "But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce corporate crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every Republican baby in this country, and your corporate crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your corporate crime rate would go down." Now, I may not have actually advocated Republican infanticide, since I immediately said that it would be an "impossible, ridiculous" (and oh, by the way -- I almost forgot! my bad! -- "morally reprehensible") thing to do. But because I said killing Republican babies would cut down on corporate crime, I'm therefore implying pretty strongly that Republicans are the main, if not only, culprits where corporate crime is concerned. I'd imagine "bigoted" would be the kindest word you'd have for me, surely.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    I don't see his statement as bigoted. I don't have the statistics, but I do believe that the black population commits more crimes than other people as a whole. I'm not trying to make a judgement and I've heard a lot of reasons and excuses for it. If this is true, it is reasonable and not bigoted to think that aborting all black babies would reduce crime. Now, before all the accusations, I will identify myself. I'm not on the LEFT, so I guess you can call me a troll if you like. I would put myself closer to libertarian than to any other political party. I am mostly conservative but don't consider myself a Republican.

    Re: "Book of Virtues" Author Bennett Makes Bigote (none / 0) (#14)
    by DonS on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    Bennet has a history of this sort of thing; making provocative statements and thinking he can talk his way out of them because the thinks he is so damn smart, in that conservative "I'm smarter thanyou are way" -- like his buddy Pat Buchanan. Bennett is a nicoto