THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, U.S.A.
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 210, August 18, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
LARRY FLINT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA'S NUMBER
ONE HUSTLER APPEALING FOR THE PUBLIC'S TRUST & SUPPORT
Or
LARRY FLINT: CALIFORNIA HUSTLE
By Paul Walfield
Larry Flynt, publisher and soon to be candidate for Governor of California, wants every- one to know that he is a champion of
free speech. He is also fond of slot machines and, if elected to California’s highest office, he will solve the State’s budget
woes by putting a slot machine on every corner. According to WorldNet Daily, “he hopes to expand gam- ing, private
casinos, and slot machines to raise enough revenue to wipe out the State's projected $38 billion deficit.”
He is also looking into the legalization of prostitution, but it isn’t clear if that is to help the State of California or just some of
Larry’s friends.
Larry believes that, while he may be the American poster boy for sleaze and while he openly portrays himself as a “smut peddler,”
Californians will overlook his penchant for pornography. WorldNet Daily reports Larry as stating this belief:
‘“California is the most progressive [Liberal Leftist and morally relativistic] state in the union,’ Flynt told the Los Angeles
Times. ‘I don't think anyone here will have a problem with a smut ped- dler as Governor.’”
It appears that Larry wants Californians to believe that seeing a man who exploits and degrades women, while playing to the
most prurient recesses of people’s psyches, as anything other than Governor material is not “progressive.” In other words,
Larry wants us all to believe it is politically correct to over look his shortcomings, if any.
Then Larry went a little further in his quest to reach the lowest nook in the sewer. On August 5, 2003, he declared a “National
Prayer Day,” a day to pray for the death of Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly. That is correct. The publisher of Hustler
Magazine, the cham- pion of free speech, and aspiring California Governor wants Bill O’Reilly dead and wants everyone to
pray with him for that to happen.
While Larry also places a disclaimer on his prayer website, saying it is just a parody, there is nothing funny about it. It is just
plain sick, and, if being “progressive” also en- tails a “wink” at such despicable behavior, the Democrats are in even more trouble
than just the obvious.
Advocating or even just tolerating that kind of conduct is wrong on so many levels that it is difficult to find a starting point. Of
course, there is the obvious hypocrisy of Flynt claiming to champion free speech, and then his calling an event to pray for the
death of someone to ensure that person can no longer say things Flynt finds disagreeable. But, of course, Californians, being
such a “progressive” bunch, will simply ignore a little thing like lack of integrity, decency, and honesty on the part of the
candidate whom they vote for to be Governor of their State.
Then, there is the idea of detailing how Larry wants Bill O’Reilly to die. On his website, Larry prays: “Dear
(God/Allah/Buddha/other entity of your choice), we ask you to afflict Bill O'Reilly with a brain aneurysm that will lead to his
slow and painful death. O’ Lord, may his blood vessels bulge out of his head and explode without mercy.” Larry goes on and
on in graphic and quite heartless detail. Larry says that he planned the event long before he decided to run for Governor and it
is just a coincidence that his political career and his prayer for Bill O’Reilly’s death came out at about the same time. Well,
Califor- nians certainly can’t hold Larry accountable for the timing of the “events.” They were beyond his control. And besides,
praying out loud for the death of someone because you don’t like their attitude or politics is the right of every American.
California is the home to a lot of interesting people. We have congresspersons who would no doubt feel more at home in the
old Soviet Union and we have Hollywood celeb- rities who are ashamed of being American offstage, while demanding
Americans continue to bankroll the celebrities' ability to badmouth America. Mostly though, Californians are a lot like
everyone else in the country, in spite of what the crazies in San Francisco and Malibu would like the rest of the country to
think.
Unfortunately, people like Larry Flynt exist in a world that they create and are shielded from the reality of all that actually
surrounds them. Californians, just like the folks in Kansas or Montana, will vote for someone they like and someone they trust.
Generally speaking, we tend to like people we agree with and we tend to trust people, unless we have a reason not to.
Larry doesn’t seem to understand that he loses on both counts. People, in general, are not about to like someone who has
made a living doing what Larry does and/or who wishes and prays openly for the horrific detailed death of an otherwise
innocent individ- ual.
Larry also doesn’t seem to understand that, if you portray yourself as a champion of free speech and call for the death of
people who speak their mind in opposition to your views, you are someone who cannot be trusted.
Larry Flynt may be the darling of “progressive” (translation: "Liberal Leftist and moral- ly relativistic") Californians, but, for
the vast majority of Californians living in the here and now, Larry is persona non grata.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Morality, Decency, & Traditional American Family Values
American Politics & Political Competition
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and
post-graduate study in behavioral and analyt- ical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of Houlton, Maine,
and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. He has been the featured guest
on KTSA News Talk Radio. Walfield has his own website, USA NEWS & VIEWS, located at www.usanewsandviews.com
. His
email address is as follows: paul.walfield@usnewsandviews.com