Mike Kinsley has the best piece I’ve seen on this whole Bill Bennett flap. And he candidly states what the real story here is: no one likes a stuffed shirt. Are people happy to pile on when someone so preachy takes a hit? Yes, of course, they are. That’s human nature. And frankly it’s a good part of it. I don’t even want to link to some of the wildly intemperate attacks on the authors of the piece that I’ve seen today. But let’s just make this point: many are now saying that it’s impossible for anyone to talk about the importance of morality in the public sphere without themselves getting scrutinized for every possible personal lapse. I don’t think this is true. Nor do I think this is really what Bennett’s done. Bennett hasn’t just piped up on behalf of morality in general. He’s generally been the first in line to give a kick in the pants to individual people who’ve fallen short. That’s a big difference. On this whole matter the wild fury of Bennett’s defenders tells the story.
