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The Ethics of Exposing Sexual Affairs: An Inside Look at the "Flynting" of Politicians
Robert D. Richards and Clay Calvert
Flynt is well aware that people will question his motives. "The people you talk to who are critics will say, 'Why did you destroy this young man's career?'," observed Flynt. "If they only knew that I don't expose anybody's sex life for the sake of exposing it. If somebody takes a public position contrary to the way they are living their private life, as far as I'm concerned, they are fair game. It's the hypocrisy that we're going after. Many of these politicians go to Washington with the best of intentions, but the lobbyists start shoving money in their pockets and then it's hopeless. It's corrupted the whole city of Washington."
Indeed, during his interview with the outspoken adult magazine industry publisher, Kurtz openly speculated about what was behind Flynt's latest scheme to uncover sexual dirt in the nation's capital. "You and Hustler magazine haven't been in the news for a while," he told Flynt. "Could this have anything to do with trying to get some publicity for Larry Flynt?"
Regardless of what motivates him, Flynt got the goods he asked for. And when he did, the other media aimed a spotlight on his bounty, and often on Flynt himself-albeit begrudgingly.
"It's more of a left-out feeling." That's how Flynt describes the media's reaction. "When you do something that the mainstream should have gotten, it's a downer for them."
Flynt believes the mainstream media would rather ignore him completely, but knows they can't. "Over time, they have taken me seriously, but reluctantly," he noted. "When I break a story, they will use it, but preferring they wouldn't have to do it. Because there are so many media outlets, if they don't do it, somebody is going to do it." But it's typically Flynt who has to cause a stir on the political front before he captures the media's attention.
Curiously, Flynt says he gets a better response from the European press than he does from the media in his own country. "In France, Germany, and England, they want me to come into the studio and talk about George Bush or the political system in this country. But in the United States, they don't feel that I am worthy," he remarked.
Indeed, during his interview with the outspoken adult magazine industry publisher, Kurtz openly speculated about what was behind Flynt's latest scheme to uncover sexual dirt in the nation's capital. "You and Hustler magazine haven't been in the news for a while," he told Flynt. "Could this have anything to do with trying to get some publicity for Larry Flynt?"
Regardless of what motivates him, Flynt got the goods he asked for. And when he did, the other media aimed a spotlight on his bounty, and often on Flynt himself-albeit begrudgingly.
"It's more of a left-out feeling." That's how Flynt describes the media's reaction. "When you do something that the mainstream should have gotten, it's a downer for them."
Flynt believes the mainstream media would rather ignore him completely, but knows they can't. "Over time, they have taken me seriously, but reluctantly," he noted. "When I break a story, they will use it, but preferring they wouldn't have to do it. Because there are so many media outlets, if they don't do it, somebody is going to do it." But it's typically Flynt who has to cause a stir on the political front before he captures the media's attention.
Curiously, Flynt says he gets a better response from the European press than he does from the media in his own country. "In France, Germany, and England, they want me to come into the studio and talk about George Bush or the political system in this country. But in the United States, they don't feel that I am worthy," he remarked.
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