Three cheers for Larry Flynt, whose crusade is exposing the hypocrisy of Republicans like Bob Livingston and Bob Barr.

The Republicans outraged at Flynt for exposing the affairs of their members are the ones who gleefully published the salacious details of the president’s sex life on the Internet for the world to read.

Was Congress concerned about privacy when it reinstated anti-gay sodomy laws in the District of Columbia or when it refused to reconsider making private homosexual conduct a disqualifier for military service? Has anyone in the Republican leadership ever voted against a sodomy law, for that matter, or expressed outrage that in September two Houston men were dragged from the privacy of their own bedroom and convicted for violating a Texas sodomy statute?

On the contrary, Republican politicians have escalated their attacks on private sexual conduct in a calculated bid to energize support from the fundamentalist zealots of their party’s right wing.

Yes, it would be better if we all agreed that sex is solely a matter of personal conscience and resolved to respect the private sexual conduct of everyone.

Unfortunately, I would wager that not one of the Republicans Larry Flynt will expose will have agreed to that proposition.

Until they do, I say let’s bring them all to the fun house.

After Hustler magazine makes centerfolds of their sex lives, the Republicans may consider withdrawing from the private lives of others.

William C. Stosine

Iowa City