WASHINGTON, DC – Most American men would be delighted to receive a free subscription to Hustler Magazine. But, in an ironic display of wartime morality, some members of the United States Congress are complaining about receiving precisely that.Although most famous for boldly displaying the genitals of pretty women, Hustler bills itself as a “humor magazine” with special emphasis on “political and social satire.” Its publisher, Larry Fynt, is a familiar and controversial political pundit whose publication often includes pointed political commentary along with its rounded visual content. Each month for at least the past decade, Flynt has sent a complimentary copy of Hustler to each of the 535 members of Congress so that they can know where he, his writers, and his magazine’s readers stand on a variety of issues – and maybe so they can admire the naked beautify of a pretty girl, too.
Regardless of intent, several members of Congress have tried without success to make the monthly deliveries stop. Because citizens have the right to seek redress from Congress, Flynt has the right to send his views, via his magazine, to the various representatives of his nation. Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT) considers the practice to be “a disgusting abuse of the system” and “a nasty, tricky little thing to do by a person with no conscience.”
Flynt, not surprisingly, doesn’t agree.
“I felt that they should be informed with what’s going on in the rest of the world,” the persistent publisher explained recently. He admits that “some of them didn’t appreciate it much.” Nonetheless, he has no intention to stop and has no sympathy for the congressional interns whose job it is to open the mail of Representatives.
“I’m sure the interns are over 18,” Flynt says with confidence. Besides, “Those guys need some help getting through puberty, anyway.”
According to Chief of Staff Scott Parker, most interns are unlikely to get a chance to browse the magazine since some Representatives, including those for Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), are instructed on how to tell the magazine’s envelope from other mail – and then throw it away. Rep. Jim Matheson’s (D-UT) staff has the same instructions and the Congressman is offended that they have to deal with the publication at all.
“It’s insulting behavior on the part of the publisher,” Matheson insists, adding that it’s “not surprising.”
Also not surprising is the collaboration of conservative religious group Focus on the Family with members of Congress who don’t want to deal with the monthly nuisance of identifying and disposing of yet another copy of Hustler. Daniel Weiss, a senior analyst for Focus on the Family’s media and sexuality department, believes that offended members of Congress should work with the United States Postal Service to put an end to the delivery of Flynt’s mailings. If still unable to stop the unwanted flow of information, Weiss proposes that the Justice Department investigate whether or not the magazine can be declared obscene.
While Weiss considers Flynt’s actions to be “Childish,” Free Speech Coalition spokesman Tom Hymes told the Salt Lake Tribune that the move is “vintage Larry Flynt” and a testament to his “tenacity” and “flair for publicity.”
As far as Hymes is concerned, Congress needs to start reading the magazine and stop being distracted by its photos as part of “a mature discussion on sexual issues, such as pornography” because there is no “two-way dialogue going on right now.”
