The distressing Mr. Flynt

[Mike Brehm]

Actually, check out (from your local library) and read "Jerry Falwell v.
Larry Flynt: The First Amendment on Trial" by Rodney Smolla. This wonderful
book covers the entire trial(s) through the federal courts all the way up to
the appeal before the US Supremes. It's got a copy of the ad that made
Falwell sue and the text of Justice Rehnquist (who wrote the *unanimous*
opinion--well, Justice Kennedy didn't vote, so it was 8-0).

<<soapbox mode on>>
And, I take issue with the fact that Larry Flynt is *nothing more* than a
sleazy pornographer (yes, he is that). However, remember Grenada and
Ronnie's little invasion? Journalists were blocked by the Defense Department
from accompanying the invading forces and a 2-day press block was
established in which the only news given out was the gospel according to
Ronnie and Caspar (Weinberger). Do you think news organizations got pissed
off? Of course they did. Did they do anything about it? Fuck no. Larry did
though--he sued the government claiming that the 1st Amendment guarantees
the media right-of-access in combat areas as long as media presence poses no
imminent security risks. He also showed tapes of John DeLorean to 60 Minutes
in which DeLorean declared that he didn't want any part of the coke deal
that the Feds set him up for.

Yeah, Larry's a little sleazy and the movie makes him out to be more saintly
than he probably is; IMHO he's just like a little kid who does whatever he
wants to get his way and prove his point. But hey! The point's important,
because if you don't let Flynt talk, pretty soon you're on to not letting
others talk as well. I mean I can think of dozens (if not more) of folks in
my community who would scream real loud to have GR removed from the shelves
lest we ruin the minds of the wee ones or give people (GOD FORBID!) bad
ideas (mostly because of Slothrop's journey down the john and the famous
shit-eating scene). So, in one sense, if you want Tom, then Larry comes
along for the ride. And that's probably Larry's purpose--to stir the pot so
all the scum doesn't form on top...

<<soapbox off>>

Besides, the ad parody of Falwell that Flynt did made me laugh my ass off....

Mike Brehm