Viewpoint

Larry Flynt - from Hustler to hero?

In recent months, America's political system been turned upside down by its own players, the very same representatives and senators sworn to uphold the constitutional provisions that exist to dictate how the country is run. The basic job of government, according to most, is to handle the daily affairs of a country, not to sensationalize the sexual escapades of higher-ups. To pass laws, to watch out for those without a voice. To provide for the sick, the poor and the huddled masses - as long as their purchasing power satisfies the great corporate robber barons in the sky.

As far as mass media goes, ratings do not allow the proper thing to be done. To shy away from the perversions of the presidential sheets is unacceptable. It might cut into the latest advertising campaign that we, as a society cannot afford to miss. Or cannot avoid.

In recent years, the standards to which we as a people hold American politicians and politics in general has gotten lower ... and lower. So it is only appropriate when we finally hit rock bottom to find a man who has described himself as a "pornographer, pundit and social outcast" waiting. He is there to save the day and impart some form of decency into American government.

No, it's not Satan, it's Larry Flynt.

The Hustler publisher is tired of the hypocrisy of the Lewinsky scandal. His arsenal is the same "politics of personal destruction" decried by President Clinton in his darkest hour.

Now, the barrel of the gun is facing the other way, and nary a congressman can seek the aegis of the umbrella of righteousness or piety.

There is no shelter. Besides, they are Congressman. If there is one adage universally known to senators and representatives, it is this: Money talks. And from here on, senators run.

Flynt, who made the extraordinary, unprecedented transformation from skin-mag publisher to pseudo-respectable newsmaker and First Amendment champion ran an advertisement in The Washington Post offering $1 million to anyone who "had an adulterous sexual encounter with a current member of the U.S. Congress or a high-ranking government official."

That offer led to the Speaker-designate Rep. Bob Livingston's (R-La.) resignation after admitting to extramarital affairs. Even more, the buzz on Capitol Hill has politicians wary of being "Larry-Flynted."

In a press conference this week, Flynt will name another Republican who had been a strong, vocal critic of Clinton. Flynt says he has a list of 10 more politicians, and a third politician will be named in coming weeks.

A government living in fear of itself is probably not the best to be ruled by, especially when that government thinks each war it starts counts as a "Get out of an affair free" card. Flynt may not be playing fair, but he is playing by the same rules as everyone. If an unfaithful congressman would stoop so low to cheat on his wife, this will not stop him. But it will stop the inefficient, juvenile and spiteful finger pointing.

01-12-99