Would you contribute a few bucks to send some Chardonnay to Larry Flynt?

[ConsAreLiars]

He's for sure a complex person. On the one hand, he made his money and gained his influence selling porn, stuff that made Playboy look like standard ad copy in Cosmopolitan. On the other, his life path makes the American Myth of Horatio Alger look like nothing in comparison. He started way worse than dirt poor. Of course, accumulating wealth is no sign of virtue. Quite the contrary. It's what one uses that wealth for that matters.

He, like Hefner decades ago (maybe still, I haven't been keeping track) was a staunch advocate for free speech. During the Clinton impeachment he exposed several leading Republicans for the absolute liars and hypocrites they were. One after another. It's a fair guess that his exposes were the decisive factor in in the final Senate vote not to convict. He even had the good grace to never publish the details of the Speaker of the House's (Livingston) "indiscretions" after he resigned and his wife asked for some leniency. (A footnote - the Corporate News Network recently mentioned the Livingston resignation but then tried to discredit Flynt by noting that he never published the proof - how corrupt is that deception?)

And now he is taking on the right-wing Fundie crazy homophobic opportunists who spout hate and claim purity in order to promote, empower, and get votes from, the most ignorant and bigoted sectors of our society.

I don't give a damn about what anyone, or two or three or four or more, do in private for entertainment, poopy diapers included, but I do want to know if any public figure, or any person or any entity I might encounter in my daily life, is a liar and a deceiver and a con artist. I need this information.

So if anyone might organize a Chardonnay for Larry Flynt campaign, I for one, would contribute a few bucks. He's no Helen Thomas, for sure, but he seems to me to fighting the same fight demanding truth about and honesty by those who govern this sad nation.

(edit - changed poll from "Roses" to "Chardonnay" because the first several posts suggested this would be more appropriate than Roses. Disregard the numbers, since the first 7 were about roses. And the results don't count anyway.)

Would you contribute?

[LynneSin]

1. Roses die. I'd rather just donate money to help the cause

Of course I doubt that Larry Flynt needs it. But I also know Citizens for a Legit Goverment are also combing the phone numbers and perhaps they could use my help

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I vote no, only because I'm totally strapped.

I think Larry Flynt is, after all is said and done, a major contributor to freedom of speech.

[karlrschneider]

3. No...I'm pleased with his efforts but I don't find flowers appropriate

for him...or for any other occasion. (I mean cut flowers...live growing ones are fine out in the dirt where they belong.)

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Ha. Good point.

I should have suggested a few cases of Trader Joe's prize winning Chardonnay.

(edit, so I changed the poll to the grape in respect for the collective advice from esteemed DUers.)

[karlrschneider]

13. Now you're talkin'! Although I have the impression he'd be just as happy with

Madeira. :D

[Adsos Letter]

14. ...yes...a few cases of Two Buck Chuck!!!

and a link to the photo forum!

:D

[AlCzervik]

4. i'd rather send him a case of something, an adult beverage of his choice.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Or how about sending him some nude pix of Dr. Laura?

[AlCzervik]

8. right like he hasn't seen those already? That would like a unwarranted punishment.

he would need to drink an entire case of said adult beverage to forget he ever saw those.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. What's scariest about those pictures is what's scary about the old pics of the Coultergeist.

That, once upon a time-- before the bile ate their souls--- there was a small spark of humanity in their eyes.

[saltpoint]

7. No.

The issue for me regarding Senator Vitter is the hypocrisy involved, not his dealings with escorts.

I don't care for politicians who trumpet "family values" agendas and then betray their own families, all the while voting with the repressive right-wing on all social issues legislation to restrict or prohibit sexual and reproductive freedoms for others.

If Flynt's actions had resulted in a true evaluation of the hypocrisy involved here, I'd be more respectful of his efforts. As it is, he's just stirred up the chamber pot for the gossip industry.

I don't want voters tisk-tisking Vitter over hookers. I want them to call him on his bullshit.

[mitchum]

9. He doesn't want roses for his piano, but would like tulips on his organ...

thanks...I'm here all week

[Cha]

22. You may have a

point there.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. A bottle of Dom Perignon would be better than flowers.

:hi:

I would contribute.

[ConsAreLiars]

15. Yes, I editied the poll to make it wine

because many others had the same good judgment as you to suggest that wine would be more fitting. And given that "Two-Buck Chuck" beat out all competition in a recent wine-testing contest we might fill up a good part of the delivery van for less money. Plus it has nutritional benefits. The "roses" suggestion was clearly a mistake on my part.

(edit - "Two-Buck Chuck" instead of "Two-Buck Joe")

[johnfunk]

11. And a bottle of first-class shiraz to Dan Moldea, Flynt's terrific detective

Two great Americans

[chknltl]

12. I voted other because I felt bad about voting no!

First off I am VERY broke, Mr Flynt is not in financial need of my food money. I have purchased his book, "SEX, LIES & POLITICS", and I STRONGLY recommend it to folks, ESPECIALLY to you my fellow DUers. Not sure what to think about the flowers idea...when I think of Mr. Flynt I think "Patriot" and somehow flowers don't feel right. Not exactly sure what I would send him except my profound gratitude for what he has done for Freedom Of Speech and for our civil liberties. I have recently e-mailed the producers of Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes suggesting that Mr. Flynt would be an excellent guest on either of their shows, (especially now because he is likely to expose up to 30 more hypocritical politicians between now and the next election).

Larry Flynt is one of my heroes, he is a true American Patriot and I love seeing him spoken of so highly here in the DU. :patriot:
c

[ConsAreLiars]

17. I changed the poll from flowers to wine, since so many said Roses

were just wrong. (Further evidence of the importance of collective work.) And too late to edit, but next time I'll remember to include "Yes, if I had a few bucks") as another option. I'm still at "a few" level, but made it "a few" rather than some specific amount, without acknowledging that any fixed amount might be too much for many of us. My bad.

And Flynt is indeed a hero and a warrior in my view. He literally took a bullet for defending our rights. Many others have, some famous, some unknown. There was a Democracy Now! program today (Friday) on the Rebellions in Newark and Detroit in which many were killed. Not directly related, but well worth watching for a little historical context about the times he was operating in. Hundreds were murdered by the state for demanding some measure of justice.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/13/1513241
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/13/1513244

[Zucca]

16. TWO BUCK CHUCK WON A WINE COMPETITION...

We can afford that with just pennies each!

[Swamp Rat]

18. other

He should send some to me 'cuz I'm broke.

Nice thought though. :hi:

[ConsAreLiars]

19. Now there's a good campaign!

Two Buck Chuck for Broke DUer's. And yeah, the poll is just a thank you and shout out for Larry. And regardless of the vote count on sending stuff, nearly everyone has given him a nod of appreciation. Maybe someday a Freedom walk of fame will include him.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. HAHAHA. Anyone who thinks LF is after anything more than bigger circulation for his vile rag

is a more than a little naive. He objectifies women in the most vile ways. Before the internet, if someone wanted really raunchy, nasty, degrading to women stuff to jerk off to, they'd put a buck or two in LF's pocket. What say we send Hugh Hefner a few roses, some champagne, or even a few bucks?

I wouldn't piss on him if he were burning to death. A girl I knew in school posed for his mag, starred in a couple of pornos, then swallowed a handful of sleeping pills while chasing them with tequila. Anyone who thinks that the leap from print to film was HER idea should talk to her parents.

Sleep with a DOG like LF and you're going to wake up in the morning scratching the flea bites on your genitals.

Frankly, I'm shocked that anyone who calls themself a "Progressive Democrat" would even consider sending him anything other than flaming bags of dog shit.

I've NEVER, EVER spent a dime on him. I'm sure there are those on this board who think "Chester the Molester" cartoons are funny. I don't, but y'all can send him all the gifts you want if it makes you think he's hunting rethugs for our benefit.

[Ghost in the Machine]

24. *snort*

"I've NEVER, EVER spent a dime on him. I'm sure there are those on this board who think "Chester the Molester" cartoons are funny. I don't, but y'all can send him all the gifts you want if it makes you think he's hunting rethugs for our benefit."


Um, how do you know about the Chester the Molester cartoons if you've never spent a dime on him? Do you just borrow the mag from a friend when they're done with it??

Sorry about your friend, but I don't think Larry Flynt caused her problems. It would take too long to try to list all the reasons people do the things they do, but believe it or not, some women enjoy showing off their bodies because they aren't ashamed of them, nor are they ashamed of being a sexual being. Like or not, women like sex too. Do you forget that fact? Did you even know that fact?

Sure, some women do it to feed a drug habit,.. some do it to feed their kids, however, no one grabbed them by the hand and led them into the strip club, brothel, 'massage parlor', or escort service to apply for a job. They made a choice.

[cherokeeprogressive]

25. You can justify your reverence for him in any way you want.

I'll stand by my original statement: "I've NEVER, EVER spent a dime on him."

How do I know about Chester the Molester? What, do you think I've never worked in a male only-environment? Do you think I've never seen a skin mag at work? I was a Sailor for ten years. And, to head you off at the pass, I'll ask and answer the question that's burning in your mind... have I ever jerked off to things I saw in Hustler? No. It's vile, degrading, and objectifies women in the WORST way imaginable.

I'd rather close my eyes and fantasize than spend a dime on scum like him.

Wrestle with PIGS if you want. You just get dirty, and the pigs like it.

[Ghost in the Machine]

29. "Do you think I've never seen a skin mag at work?"

I worked construction most of my life. We never had time to stand around looking at magazines. BTW, just how many of them did you pick up? Seems it should only be once, since you found it so vile and disgusting, so that Chester the Molester cartoon must have burned a really deep image in your mind.

I really, really didn't want or need to know about your masturbation practices either, but ummm... thanks, I guess, for inviting me so deep into your personal life. Now I feel like we gotta be buddies and I gotta take you out fishing on the boat sometime. When's your birthday so I can send you a card? Do I need to put you on my christmas card list too??

"Wrestle with PIGS if you want. You just get dirty, and the pigs like it." .... I guess as long as we both enjoy it, that's all that counts. You say "pig wrestling" like it's a bad thing or something. And I swear...I didn't pay that pig either, she wrestled me just because she enjoyed it...

[DS1]

36. Right, it's Larry's fault she offed herself

:eyes:

[Jed Dilligan]

21. I have always supported Mr. Flynt's case, his views,

his politics, and his right to run his business.

There was pornography in America before Larry Flynt. His "crime" was putting it out in the open instead of brown-bagging it, ending the dual standard that made the Fabulous Fifties a golden age of rape and exploitation beneath the whitewashed surface. His argument that there is nothing dirty about vaginas--specifically, the revolutionary move he made was showing the vagina--is a compelling one. There is nothing dirty about the vagina or male arousal from seeing the vagina. What's dirty is the minds of the people who think there is something dirty about it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. Bob Guccione was showing vaginas LONG before LF came on the scene n/t.

[Warren DeMontague]

26. What's wrong with vaginas?

Someone has something against vaginas? :shrug:

[cherokeeprogressive]

30. Hey now. Where did I say that I had something against vaginas?

I'm so confused!

[blogslut]

27. Luke Ford?

Is that you? :evilgrin:

[cherokeeprogressive]

31. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the person you're referring to. n/t

[uppityperson]

32. No, I'd rather send thanks and donate to a needy organization, thanks for the thought though

[ConsAreLiars]

33. That is certainly a better use for our time/money resources.

This was more of a shout out/thank you thread than a request for actual contributions of either. I do respect his stand against hypocrisy and his courage to go public in that fight and get results. And I think he deserves some appreciation for going a bit beyond just making money and daring to speak out and pull back the curtain.

[uppityperson]

34. Indeed he does and thank you. It's good to see people doing things like this

(meaning Mr. Flynt)

[DS1]

35. No. Something about his gold-plated wheelchair tells me he doesn't need it

:eyes:

[book_worm]

37. Since you suggested it, why don't you organize it?

but, No...I wouldn't contribute. Not everybody who does their job needs DU to send them roses or booze.