Larry Flynt was born November 1, 1942.
As the proprietor of Hustler magazine, Flynt himself would likely cheerfully tell you that he is a sleazebag and a pornographer. Printing pictures for guys to look at while they masturbate ain't the highest achievement in the history of mankind. His stupid defense of Bill Clinton during the impeachment didn't impress me much either- though I have to grant it was consistent of him.
However, Larry Flynt deserves substantial credit for advancing and protecting our freedom. He has been a hero and near martyr for the First Ammendment. In his own self-interested way, he's done more to promote and protect vigorous free speech than, for example, the worthless blowhard Walter Cronkite. Whereas the most trusted man in America worked tirelessly to sell the cheapest corporate liberal worldview, and block the expression of any other, Flynt was just doing his own sleazy thing, and running roughshod over any judges or do-gooders who tried to stop him.
Also, note that his high moment in public life didn't involve pictures of nekkid women at all. When he beat Jerry Falwell in the US Supreme Court case of Hustler v Falwell, he established legally the right to satirize public figures. This may seem silly, until you consider that a jury had awarded Falwell damages for his hurt feelings despite the fact that even the original jury agreed that the Campari ad parody in question was NOT libelous.
Between the Falwell case and the bullet he took that has left him wheelchair bound and in pain, and a few dozen batches of knocking down idiot busybody prosecutors, Flynt has contributed more than his share to protecting our freedom.
Happy number 60, Larry.
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