Berkley finds Flynt tactics disgusting

Mark D. Preston

Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 | 12:11 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Allegations charging Rep. Shelley Berkley with unethical business practices this past summer nearly sank her fledgling congressional career.

Eight months later, the freshman Democrat says she is disgusted with pornography publisher Larry Flynt's crusade to destroy some politicians' lives and describes his actions as modern day "McCarthyism."

"All of this is good sport unless it is your life being interrupted and your family being hurt," Berkley said.

Flynt successfully forced Rep. Bob Livingston, R-La., to abruptly announce his retirement last month before he became House speaker. Flynt accused, and Livingston acknowledged, to conducting adultery on numerous occasions during his marriage.

Earlier this week, Flynt released damaging personal information about frequent Clinton critic Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. Flynt charges that Barr, a pro-life conservative, helped his second wife have an abortion in 1983 and later cheated on her before getting divorced in 1986.

And Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine, said he plans on releasing more damaging information about politicians in the future.

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said he find's Flynt's actions distracting, especially since the Senate is deliberating on whether or not to impeach President Clinton.

"I must say, I don't think this is helpful," Bryan said. "I think most people believe this kind of takes politics to a new low."

Berkley did not face the same salacious allegations that Flynt is now peddling about other politicians. Instead, questions about Berkley's ethical character regarding her business dealings surfaced during the campaign.

In June, it was revealed that Berkley had once urged former boss Sheldon Adelson to do favors for local politicians to gain influence. Afterward, the campaign of her Republican opponent, Don Chairez, came to life and he almost defeated the heavily favored Berkley, who barely won by three percentage points.

Berkley said she believes her attackers were bent on "personally destroying" her life, but still thinks the public is entitled to know about a politician's background and character.

Flynt's activities have crossed the line, Berkley says, highlighting "how unseemly and bizarre the American political process has become."

Berkley's thoughts are echoed by many Capitol Hill lawmakers who are growing weary of personal investigations and attacks into their private lives. After Livingston announced his retirement, most Democrats and Republicans immediately agreed that there needs to be an end to the personal attacks.

"We have sunk to a new low in this country with Mr. Flynt's actions," Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said. "It is difficult and challenging enough for people to desire to get in politics today. This only denigrates the whole public service challenge for ordinary people to get in."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he does not favor instituting a benchmark for people to serve in public office, and thinks the country must be careful when investigating people's personal lives. While Reid expressed disappointed with Flynt, the senator said some good might come out of the pornography publisher's actions.

"What Larry Flynt has done is to articulate what some of us have been asking: 'Why do we need to do the examination of people's private lives like this?' " Reid said.

MARK D. PRESTON writes for States News Service.