Larry Flynt speaks out on telling Falwell he was 'full of it' and Bush's abuse of government David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Published: Monday July 9, 2007 Print This Email This Larry Flynt appeared Friday on Henry Rollins' show on the Independent Film Channel. Rollins first asked Flynt about his reaction to the death of Jerry Falwell, against whom Flynt won a landmark free speech case in 1983. Flynt replied that although he never agreed with Falwell on any issue, as a result of their joint participation in many debates over the years, he finally "could see him as a human being." Flynt recalled an occasion when Falwell came to see him at his office, saying, "I honesty believe that he was there to bury the hatchet. I don't think ... he felt he was on the winning side of that free speech issue." "I was probably the only guy in his entire inner circle of people who knew him who could just tell him he was full of it," continued Flynt. "And he didn't get mad at me for that." Rollins then suggested that the importance of the pivotal Supreme Court verdict overturning a lower court's judgment against Flynt for his scurrilous parody of Falwell has never been properly recognized. "Had that decision been allowed to stand," agreed Flynt, "someone could sue you and they wouldn't have to prove libel. All they'd have to do is prove you hurt their feelings. Or their dog's feelings. Or their grandfather's feelings." However, Flynt also displayed some bitterness, saying "I could have settled. ... I wanted to fight it all the way because I wanted to win. But if I knew that I would have got as little recognition after spending 3 1/2 million dollars, I would have never went the distance on that case, because if people don't care any more than that about free speech, then let them defend their own concept of free speech." When Rollins brought up President Bush, Flynt responded, "I can't think of a single area of government that Bush hasn't abused in the most fundamental way. I think he's actually scared a lot of people. ... They're really frightened of him." Flynt suggested that it is only the Iraq quagmire that has spared the porn industry from Bush's worst intentions. Rollins asked Flynt about his decision not to run nude photos he obtained of Jessica Lynch, the soldier whose capture by Iraqi forces in 2003 was exploited by the US government for propaganda purposes. Flynt said that if Lynch had played the role of a hero, as the administration wanted, he would have published the pictures, but "she was a victim" of Cheney and Wolfowitz and he wasn't about to "ruin her life." Rollins responded to that statement by calling Flynt a "moral person." Flynt seemed taken aback and responded, "The only thing you can say about me and be true is that I'm a pornographer ... I've never apologized for being a fan of the curious form of art which is pornography." The following video is from IFC's Henry Rollins Show, broadcast on July 6.





