“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”
~ Oscar Wilde
This month’s Hustler Magazine is reported to have published an altered photo of Glenn Beck’s GBTV host, S.E. Cupp. The fake picture is an obscene and repulsive depiction of Cupp that is an insult to her and all women, particularly professional commentators who put themselves in the public view by expressing their opinions. The exercise of constitutional rights ought not to be an invitation to engage in profane humiliation.
That said, it didn’t take long for a chorus of right-wing opportunists to embrace this repugnant graphic for political gain. There was an immediate rush to associate Hustler’s Larry Flint with Democrats and to compare his literal pornography to the figurative porn of Rush Limbaugh. Conservatives from all quarters began demanding that every progressive women’s organization issue a public condemnation of Flint.
There is, however, a chasm of difference between Flint’s obscenity and Limbaugh’s vulgar characterization of law student Sandra Fluke. Flint is fringe purveyor of pornography who does not lead an army of disciples in a political war. Limbaugh, on the other hand, is a hugely popular rightist icon who commands the attention of his loyal followers and much of the media. It is precisely because of Limbaugh’s success and popular acceptance that his contemptuous incivility be challenged. And it is precisely because of Flint’s aberrant irrelevancy that he can be largely ignored. Flint is a notorious manufacturer of outrage, but when was the last time anyone ever paid close enough attention to him to demand an apology or retraction?
The response from the right to this affair is as fake as the photo in Hustler, and nearly as distasteful. Their unambiguous aim is to cast aspersions on liberals as being responsible for, or aligned with, Flint’s depravity. And leading the pack is Glenn Beck, who so often considers himself the victim of abuse. On his webcast today he interviewed Cupp and conflated this episode with both Limbaugh’s assault on Fluke and, shockingly, the Trayvon Martin shooting. He thinks there is some reason for the National Organization for Women and President Obama to lower themselves to respond to Flint. That would be like asking Mitt Romney to take a position on something said by NAMBLA. For her part, Cupp seemed oddly appreciative in this exchange with Beck:
Cupp: If I could just express a little gratitude for Hustler – and I’m being completely serious here – There is an accompanying sidebar to this story and why they did this to me. And in that paragraph they say it’s because she’s lovely, she’s smart, she’s fine, but she happens to be a crazy conservative, she’s pro-life, and wants to defund Planned Parenthood. And for that she deserves a phallus in her mouth. That is essentially what they’re saying and I have to commend that as being incredibly honest. […] So I wish that the media entities that perform this kind of misogyny would just come out and do what Hustler did instead of just beating around the bush and pretending to be fair, pretending to be above that.
Beck: So may I translate? I think what I’m hearing you say – correct me if I’m wrong – is that Hustler Magazine has higher standards than the media and the National Organization of Women.
Cupp: That’s exactly right. They are more straight forward. They have uncomplicated this belief system, which exists on the left and the right, that my being pro-life, my political views make this OK. It justifies it and I, essentially, deserve it. That is honesty on this issue I have never seen before.
Really? That’s a pretty clear indication that Cupp is actually thankful for the publicity she’s receiving. It is evidence that she is not really disturbed by any of this, but rather is encouraging others in the media to “do what Hustler did.” And both she and Beck seem happy to have this spotlight so that they can turn it on NOW and unnamed persons in the press. That’s just brazenly cynical and dishonest, and it exposes their disingenuousness and their desire only to exploit this as a partisan weapon against their ideological foes.
For the record, some of those whom the right are castigating for not speaking out about this have already spoken out about this. Sandra Fluke, Planned Parenthood, Fox Democrat Jehmu Greene, the Women’s Media Center, and others have Tweeted their disapproval. However, I hope this doesn’t devolve into a parade of forced condemnations from high officials. It serves no purpose for people of integrity to mud wrestle with the likes of Larry Flint. It should suffice that all thoughtful, conscientious people affirm that women be treated with respect. It would be nice if conservatives held that position even when it involves liberal and/or Democratic women like Fluke, Hillary Clinton, and Michele Obama.
I don’t get it? So they are saying the condemnation of Limbaugh for his Fluke comments were spot on? Rush Limbaugh is the face of the republican party, Larry Flynt is the face of Larry Flynt and nothing else. Does this new reqirement for condemning everything mean Romney needs to comdemn every tabloid each time they report that the Obamas were visited by space aliens or some other nonsense. Get serious!
I think that Democrats are incriminated by the Hustler bit only to the extent that they support and applaud it in blogs or elsewhere. Any of that happening? If not, good on them. If so, shame on them. Larry Flint has always been a bomb-thrower and is best ignored.
I don’t think any senior political Democrats should feel beholden to condemn the picture any more than a Republican should feel beholden to condemn the killing of Martin. Neither party had anything to do with those things.
I think you’re not getting Cupp’s comment about appreciating the fact that Hustler didn’t pretend to a more noble aspiration than hating her because she’s conservative and pretty. More respectable news sources seldom are so candid in their editorial views.
Another way to put this: Who is more honest? Larry Flynt, or Debbie Wasserman Schultz? The answer is obvious.
The left will probably have at least one person defending Hustler. Last time I listened to Randi Rhodes (for some inexplicable reason), she stated that she has no problem with Hustler. She even said they published a photo of her – fully clothed, thank goodness.
Thanks for proving my point that conservatives are blatantly exploitative and disgustingly devoid of reason. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has nothing to do with this and your comment juxtaposing her name with Flint’s is typical of a right-wing smear job.
No Democrats have supported what Flint did – NONE. The only positive response I have heard from anyone is from Cupp.
Let’s get something straight. S.E. Cupp is not making a positive response. She is simply pointing out the fact that Larry Flynt is being totally honest about what a total dirtbag he is.
By the way, Debbie has never hesitated to point out the things said by Ted Nugent, Rush Limbaugh, etc. But will we ever hear her utter a peep about Larry Flynt’s latest stunt? I doubt it. FNC’s Martha McCallum challenged her about her non-response to Jimmy Hoffa’s SOB comment, and she totally dodged the question. And considering how she was even on “Real Time with Bill Maher” last year, it’s clear that she no credibility lecturing anyone about hate speech.
I think that expressing gratitude and commending Flint is fairly positive.
As for DWS, I hope she doesn’t respond to Flint. He doesn’t deserve a response. The only thing that Cupp and Beck did by raising this issue was to raise Flint’s profile and make it known to millions more people outside of the small group of pervs who subscribe to Hustler Magazine.
FYI: S.E. Cupp is a frequent guest on Bill Maher’s show.
Really Scott? Going on a show hosted by someone with whom you disagree reduces your credibility? If anything, it shows that Maher is willing to openly debate, and so is Cupp. I’d LOVE to Rush EVER openly debate someone from the opposition. It won’t happen because he is a coward.
She and Beck are also being totally honest about being grateful to Flint for this piece…..
On the grounds of using it as a hit piece to play the “oh-look-what-we-have-here,-a-piece-of-liberal-hypocrisy” on people they perceive (and will make a big fuss about) as “not opposing Flint”
Seriously though the reason why the left have no real reason to apologize for Flint is because he’s not someone they sponsor, endorse or acknowledge as being someone of prominence or being an icon of leadership. Asking them to apologize for Flint is like asking for an apology from the left to the right whenever ANYONE insults any figure on the right.
Limbaugh on the other hand IS a prominent figure in politics, IS a figure which is “looked up to by the right” (he has the bust to prove it), has acknowledged himself as the head of GOP with no opposition from anyone on that side, and even had prominent right wing politicians come to him to apologize for going against his position.
BTW I thought the right were against the concept of apology? The certainly seemed to think that America apologizing to other nations is a sign of weakness….
well all I can say is I resent the fact I’ve ever heard of her. Flint has a lot of nerve elevating her already unwarranted celebrity.
Larry Flynt must obsess about the male member. Makes you wonder how he fills his day.