Larry Flint (10 posts)

1. Larry Flint
Sat, Jan 9, 1999 - 11:51 PM/EST
Tad

I would like to start a thread about Larry Flint's efforts to expose what he calls the "hypocrisy" of the Republican party in the Monica Lewinsky matter.

As most of you probably know, Flint publishes the sex magazine "Hustler," and last October he offered $1 million to any woman who could prove that she had had an extramarital affair with a member of the U.S. Congress.

It has been reported in the news that Flint's offer was responsible for exposing the extramarital affairs of Bob Livingston. Livingston subsequently forfeited the Speakership of the House of Representatives. There are rumors that another Republican politician's extramarital indiscretions will soon be exposed by Flint.

What do people think of this extraordinary twist in the developing Lewinsky saga? Is Flint an opportunistic scumbag who is simply trying to milk the sordid nature of the scandal for his own perverse, self-promotional pleasure? Or is he making a real contribution to the debate, by showing us what lies at the bottom of this slippery slope we have stepped onto?

2. Flynt
Sun, Jan 10, 1999 - /EST
JimP

As long as I am sitting here rambling, I might as well get in on this thread too.See Education, Impeachment, etc.

I think he spells his name Flynt, but I can't swear to it.

Nothing Flynt would do would surprise me. I think the answer to the last two questions above could really be both. But, I would have to hear the evidence presented by someone other than Flynt.

3. Larry the Hustler
Sun, Jan 10, 1999 - 1:56 AM/EST
Gayle

When someone opens a slimey can of worms that someone had better expect a little of the slime to cling.

L.F. is in business to make a buck, but he may well feel very strongly about exposing the hypocrisy. He certainly has the power to ask for and receive information, and he certainly isn't one to feel squeamish about it. Who knows...his actions could be a blessing in disguise. From this point on we all might be more careful of throwing that first stone.

4. oh me oh my
Sun, Jan 10, 1999 - 4:35 AM/EST
mmac

let him do it. lets air out everybodies laundry.but larry should also ask clinton to resign if hes gonna do it.hes the one thats being a hypocrite.the republicans are wanting for clinton to resign because hes a lawbreaker.now if larry wants to impose his will about adultery let him also include clinton.my gawd clinton brought it to a new level.

5. "Flynt"
Sun, Jan 10, 1999 - 1:38 PM/EST
Tad

Thanks for correcting my spelling, Jim...it's "Flynt."

As mmac points out, the Republicans have always contended that their bone with Clinton is not about sex, but about perjury and obstruction of justice. Some Democrats have called "foul," and claimed that what the Republicans are really doing is trying to politicize the President's personal life.

Flynt would seem to agree with those Democrats. Apparently, his strategy is to beat the Republicans at the game of public embarrassment that he thinks they are playing.

I do NOT believe that the Lewinsky matter is about sex, because I can see a distinction between perjury and adultery: perjury is a crime, adultery is not.

But here's the thing: if a man is going to fool around, he risks getting caught. And if he gets caught, he has two choices: be a coward and lie, or be a man and tell the truth. Clinton fooled around, got caught, and when he faced that choice, he chose to be a coward. He happened to be under oath at the time, and that's when he committed a crime.

I have very little sympathy for adulterers who get caught, regardless of their political affiliation. So if Flynt wants to try to catch a few more, that's fine with me. Let them face the same hard choices that Clinton had to, and let them try to handle it more honorably than he did.

6. Challenging
Mon, Jan 11, 1999 - 3:38 PM/EST
Crispus

cLarry Flynt plays the role of a challenger in our society. I am in favor of 100% free speech, but his magazine says "this is real, this is what free speech IS." So, he makes me declare whether or not I am a hypocrite if I support his right to be published.

What Flynt is doing now seems to fall under that same category. He is challenging our foolish, hypocritical notions. H.L. Mencken was a better writer than Flynt, but Mencken would have understood what Flynt is doing.

7. Reply to Crispus
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - /EST
Tad

Yes, I agree that Flynt has made meaningful contributions as a "challenger."

I think of Flynt as a sort of "evil genius." Evil, because I think he deliberately appeals to our basest instincts, without respect for the discipline that a civilized society must exercise to restrain the destructive power of those instincts. Genius, because he has an amazing ability to hone in on the hypocrisy and denial that sometimes creeps into our efforts at disciplining those instincts.

As we strive to be a moral society, we sometimes develop "cracks" in our code of ethics, where hypocrisy and abuse seeps in. Flynt is like a foul liquid that gushes in through these cracks. He does us the service of showing us where the cracks are.

8. a breath of fresh air
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 2:58 PM/EST
Aaron

I think that Larry Flynts actions are a welcome breath of fresh air to this situation. Putting things in perspective is always good, and if a million dollars is what it takes then so be it.

9. Isn't it funny?
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 3:46 PM/EST
JimP

Here we have several people, each of intelligence and having common sense, with widely disparate views about Larry Flynt and his
a) motivation,
b) character, and
c) the quality of his contribution to the C/L affair.

And, the wonder of it is, that they may all be right.

10. Brace Yourselves
Thu, Jan 14, 1999 - 5:34 PM/EST
Tad

I have heard it rumored that Flynt is about to fire a few more volleys. I'm looking forward to hearing what y'all have to say when it hits the fan.

T