How about a Bill Bennet thread

[JackWhite]

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though it's obvious from his comments he is a racist.

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Whiskeytown, here is a defense of Bennett from well known liberal blogger Matthew Yglesias:

http://yglesias.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/29/16450/9195

Like you, he hates Bennett, but he thinks Bennett is getting an unfair rap on this.

This reminds of Bill Maher's problems at ABC relating to his 9/11 hijackers weren't cowards remark. It is so easy to take one quote out of context to demonize someone.

I have a few problems with Bennett, too, but I believe in fairness. I have read several defenses of Bennett today, some from liberals and some from conservatives. The people who know him well say he is not a racist. The guy has been in public life for a long time. If he were such an obvious racist ogre, wouldn't we probably have found out about it by now?

If we were all judged by one off-handed comment we made that may have come out wrong, we'd all be in trouble. I wouldn't want my entire life and career to be judged by that standard.