Larry Flynt is no stranger to religious freaks. He's been one himself — converted aboard his private jet, back in 1977, by Jimmy Carter's sister. Flynt spent that year as a born-again Christian, loading Hustler with new religion-themed content. Then came 1978 and Christian Identity follower Joseph Paul Franklin, who shot Flynt in the back for publishing photos of an interracial couple fucking in the pages of Hustler. After the shooting, Flynt renounced his newfound religious beliefs and became an atheist. Hustler stopped talking about religion, except, of course, to make fun of it.
With his brain unbound from religious rhetoric, Flynt was free to pursue other passion in life (besides pussy): exposing political charlatans. He's offered millions of dollars in rewards for information on misbehaving pols, and is credited for pressuring at least one resignation when he obtained proof of an affair.
His new book, One Nation Under Sex, takes it one step further and many steps back in time, to uncover the numerous US presidents throughout our nation's history who just couldn't keep it in their pants. We jumped at a chance to talk to him — our last chance, if some of his religious critics are to be believed.
WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT OPINION ON RELIGION? SPECIFICALLY, THE SO-CALLED RAPTURE THAT THE CHRISTIANS SAY IS COMING ON MAY 21?
Religion is for people who don't get enough sex. These people should get on medication and get their "rapture" another way.
WHAT BRINGS SOMEONE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO FLOAT UP INTO THE SKY AND MEET WITH JESUS?
Most probably too much lithium. Or, maybe an LSD flashback.
YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN A GOD. BUT LET'S SAY GOD DID EXIST: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM?
"Would you like a subscription to Hustler magazine?"
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS AFTER YOU DIE?
You are in a perpetual state of sexual fulfillment, and none of the politicians are hypocrites.
YOUR NEW BOOK, ONE NATION UNDER SEX, FOCUSES ON PRESIDENTIAL SEXCAPADES. WHAT DRIVES YOUR NEED TO UNCOVER SEX SCANDALS? WHAT PURPOSE DOES IT SERVE?
It's important to know that there's nothing new about today's sex scandals. These have been going on since the beginning of time and since our Founding Fathers signed the Constitution. Our sexual behavior and the way we conduct our lives, our jobs, our ideas, are separate, and when they converge the result can be fascinating, like with many of the people we discuss in our book. It's time to level the playing field and take down all the hypocrites. It's also time to start seeing sex and sexuality as a basic human need and not a perversion.
WHAT SORT OF JUICY MORSELS ARE DIVULGED IN THE BOOK?
We have great juicy morsels on Abraham Lincoln (he liked to sleep with men); interesting and unknown information on FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt — they each allowed one another their sexual freedoms, he with his girlfriend and she with her girlfriend . . . Dolly Madison ran the White House like a brothel; President Kennedy wasn't the only one fooling around — Jackie had a good time, too.
WHICH PRESIDENT IS THE BIGGEST STUD?
Probably President Clinton — he was a lovable rogue.
THINK YOU'LL EVER CATCH OBAMA WITH HIS PANTS DOWN? IF SO, WHAT'S HE PACKING?
A warning from Michelle, that he better not ever got caught with his pants down.
>> READ: more rapture articles in the May 20, 2011 issue of the Boston Phoenix <<
Scott Fayner can be reached at fayneralmighty@gmail.com.
