Posted on 05/25/2007 4:31:20 AM PDT by GFritsch
I realize that the infamous pornographer Larry Flynt and Rev. Jerry Falwell were friendly adversaries. And I know they shared podiums while debating on college campuses. But that doesn't qualify the smut king to appear on national TV to comment on the life of the Christian leader who fought against immorality and most everything else Flynt represents.
I agree with Dr. Judith Reisman, a former consultant to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Ventura County (California) prosecuting attorney. It's appalling that CNN chose Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine, to appear on Larry King Live to discuss the passing of Rev. Falwell on May 15. The smut magazine owner appeared on the program the following day.
Reisman was an important participant in the prosecution and ultimate conviction of one of Flynt's business associates, Hustler cartoonist Dwaine Tinsley. For many years, Tinsley was a featured cartoonist for Flynt's magazine, and on one occasion parodied Falwell in one of his drawings. That matter was the subject of a lawsuit filed against the pornographer by the pastor. Tinsley's cartoons commonly made light of child-adult sex and child rape. In 1990, though, Tinsley was convicted of felony child sexual abuse involving his own daughter.
In contrast, Falwell was deeply committed to confronting and speaking against the porn industry. He even said once on King's own program that Flynt's business is "sleaze and garbage" and "demeaning towards women and children." In light of the Liberty University founder's opposition to an industry that was so morally despicable to him, CNN still chose to have Flynt be the one to talk about the life and death of Rev. Falwell. Certainly there were many people in the Christian community who would have been honored to comment on the life of the Thomas Road Baptist Church founder.
CNN's choice of guests was despicable! Why give Flynt any platform? Why give him the air time? Based on Falwell's earlier comments, King himself should have known better than to have Flynt on the program.
Both Reisman and I believe that King was well aware of Flynt's tawdry past and should never have given him air time for such an interview. How utterly classless! Further, King was certainly aware of the accusations by Flynt's oldest daughter, Tonya Flynt-Vega, against her father. He may even remember the time when Flynt published a horrible layout of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the mid-1970s that disturbed even some leftist newspapers on the East Coast.
In 1998, during the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton controversy, Larry King asked Tonya Flynt-Vega to be a guest on his program. She refused to be on King's television show because -- as she told me -- she believed her father was "a good friend of Larry King" and she was afraid of being "set up." In a letter to Ms. Flynt-Vega (dated June 20, 1996) regarding her opposition to her dad's business, the pornographer told his daughter that he would remove her from his estate and didn't "want to hear from (her), see (her) or speak to (her) as long as I live."
Despite all this controversy, was this the best guest Larry King could get to discuss life of Rev. Falwell, a man who was dedicated to the teaching of the Bible? I believe not.
Larry? Judith and I would simply be inclined to ask you one other question: Why?
In a weird sense of the word, I thought that the interview was a tribute to Falwell.
Jerry could hate what the worst of sinners was doing for a living, and still put his arm around them, and give them the Gospel.
If, I was Larry K or Larry F, I would really be doing some soul searching. They have heard the Word over and over, and still have not accepted the truth. Hell has a special place for those that know better and reject the Holy Spirit.
With the “unique” relationship that the good Rev. and Mr. Flynt had ... I have to say it was it was a good choice...
In fairness I am willing to bet that, due to the nature of their of their relationship/friendship, had Flynt gone first that they would have had Rev. Falwell on the very next day.
Would you have been troubled with that?
Also I think Larry was very respectful in the interview. and other statements.
They have not HEARD the word, they are trying their best to mock it. CNN has sunk to a new low. This is disgusting.
I don’t like Larry Flynt either, but it really says something that he had the class to say nice things about Rev. Falwell at the time of his death. Most of the rest of Rev. Falwell’s adversaries were abusive and mean spirited. What good did it do anyone to rehash old controversies and say such awful things about Rev. Falwell: The man is dead, so it doesn’t hurt him. It only serves to exacerbate the sorrow and loss for Rev. Falwell’s family, friends and followers.
And as for Mr. King — the guy is more in his element with celebrities. Last night, for example, he had Don Rickles as his guest — it was a fun show to watch. But when King tries to do a show about a non-celebrity, or about current events, or political issues, his guests just don’t cut it and he himself is really a bad interviewer.
CNN, and all TV networks who have passed themselves off falsely claiming to present the “news” for decades, have destroyed this country, and our culture.
And we do nothing.
A matter of terms. They have been presented the Word over and over, an still......
Flynt on Falwell (17 May)
http://newsbusters.org/node/12807
The Reverend Jerry Falwell and I were arch enemies for fifteen years. We became involved in a lawsuit concerning First Amendment rights and Hustler magazine. Without question, this was my most important battle – the l988 Hustler Magazine, Inc., v. Jerry Falwell case, where after millions of dollars and much deliberation, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in my favor.
My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find characteristics about them that you like. Jerry Falwell was a perfect example of that. I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends. He would visit me in California and we would debate together on college campuses. I always appreciated his sincerity even though I knew what he was selling and he knew what I was selling.
It is not Larry Flynt who is the subject of this piece. It is Larry King whose judgment has been shown to be serious flawed at most times, but particularly in this case. King would call in the Westboro crowd to discuss this if he could get it past his handlers, rest assured. The limelight has become more and more important to him as he ages. Most likely he sees the publicity generated by the people on The View behaving as they do and figures he can get in on it.
When one thinks about it Falwell was quite good for the career of Flint. No wonder Flint had a “friendly” relationship with Jerry Falwell. Without Falwell Flint might not have been as high profile as he was. There are times when openly protesting your adversaries only makes them more prominent.
And we do nothing.
***
Why not? There is always that remote or the channel changer on your tv set.
My remote is not the problem here.
I was offering the remote as a solution.
The only way programs stay on the air is through people watching them. If people don’t watch, the programs die. And sometimes if enough of the programs die, the network will die too.
Ask yourself if CNN would’ve had Jerry Fallwell on as a guest had Larry Flynnt died first?
Larry Flynnt went through his born again phase in the 1970s, I guess after he got shot. Then he became porn again.
Larry had one of the Yippie radicals take over as editor when this happened.
Larry King is a self-proclaimed agnostic. He says “how can you know” so he believes in nothing.
“My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find characteristics about them that you like.”
What a crock of BS.
Larry Flynnt hired a hit man to take out his rival Bob Guiccione at one point.
He’s a moral degernate and not a nice man. Hitler liked kids and puppies too. Didn’t make him a nice man.
Phase is the operative word! Larry is as lost as a goose.
CNN is on in every airport in the nation, 24/7/365.
There is no remote, people are stuck with GIGANTIC and loud TV screens spewing propaganda, and small screen ever few feet, with no escape.
Not to mention CNN International, BBC, PBS, Time and Newsweek in your face EVERYWHERE, the NYT is the only newspapers in some hotels, cruise ships, ect, USA Today is given FREE in every possible location.
Every half hour ABCCBSNBC program the public on radio, and at the dinner hour.
The left owns K-12, and 99.9% of colleges.
The left owns Hollywood, ie, films, TV entertainment, Madison Ave, comedians, theater and publishing.
And Sunday mornings have had leftwing hacks posing as journalists, on every network, for decades.
There is ZERO chance of the death of the leftwing monopoly on communication and information, as long as we continue to do nothing.
Sorry....but no one really forces you to watch, listen or read anything you don’t want to.
Just because USA Today or the New York Times are offered for free in hotels or wherever, you still don’t have to read it.
Just because CNN is all over the airport, you don’t have to listen to or watch it. I bring with me a CD player and a magazine to read. I can tune CNN out.
You don’t have to send your children to liberal colleges and universities either. Send them to a Christian school if you wish.
You know, I don’t watch Fox all the time either. All that news and talk gets on my nerves after a while.
There are still some good tv programs out there. If you’re lucky to have cable and it’s offered, watch Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Some really good old movies out there. Or build your own library of dvds or vhs movies and shows. There are also religious channels out there — CBN, EWTW, and where I live, there is a local Christian station. Or better yet, turn off the tv and go for a walk.
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