His Virtue and His Math Are in Question

Re “Bill Bennett Said to Be Big Gambler,” May 3: I can’t get too worked up over the recent revelations that former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett is a high-stakes casino gambler. After all, he’s participating in a legal activity with his own money and, according to the reports, has paid his wagering debts. I also don’t see any inconsistency with participating in legal gambling while not supporting the spread of casino gaming to locales where it doesn’t currently exist, as Bennett does.

However, if Bennett really believes that “over 10 years, I’d say I’ve come out pretty close to even” playing slots, he’s either seriously mathematically challenged or severely deluded.

Jon Spevack

Oakland

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So Bennett, former drug czar and author of “The Book of Virtues,” has decided to give up gambling, which has cost him an estimated $8 million over the last 10 years (May 6). (Is that how he spent his tax cut?) Will he now be writing “The Book of Vices”? You can be sure that the advance he receives on his book deal will cover his gambling losses.

David S. Lamont

Malibu

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Newt Gingrich, Henry Hyde, Trent Lott, Rick Santorum, Bill Bennett.... Is there a single Republican leader who isn’t a bigot or a hypocrite?

Rob Schmidt

Culver City