Porn industry seeks federal bailout
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Another major American industry is asking for assistance as the global financial crisis continues: Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis said Wednesday they will request that Congress allocate $5 billion for a bailout of the adult entertainment industry.
“The take here is that everyone and their mother want to be bailed out from the banks to the big three,” said Owen Moogan, spokesman for Larry Flynt. “The porn industry has been hurt by the downturn like everyone else and they are going to ask for the $5 billion. Is it the most serious thing in the world? Is it going to make the lives of Americans better if it happens? It is not for them to determine.”
Francis said in a statement that “the US government should actively support the adult industry's survival and growth, just as it feels the need to support any other industry cherished by the American people."
“We should be delivering [the request] by the end of today to our congressmen and [Secretary of the Treasury Henry] Paulson asking for this $5 billion dollar bailout,” he told CNN Wednesday.
Flynt and Francis concede the industry itself is in no financial danger — DVD sales have slipped over the past year, but Web traffic has continued to grow.
But the industry leaders said the issue is a nation in need. "People are too depressed to be sexually active," Flynt said in the statement. "This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex."
"With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind. It's time for congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America. The only way they can do this is by supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly."
So far, there has been no congressional reaction to the request.
–CNN’s Chloe Melas contributed to this report
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LOLOLOLOLOLOL
I suppose Larry Flynt would argue that some of the porn stars are "too big to fail..."
Ok, this is classic. I actually applaud them for putting in their request. While I would in no way support them being given a bail out it's a great way to make a very valid point. I think it is a sarcastic way of making a statement. I firmly feel this is being done as patriotic duty to show the lunacy of the government in handing out all this money to the incompetent criminals running the companies that are in need of bail outs.
They don't believe they will get a bail out, it's their way of saying "Stop bailing out morons who don't know how to run a business".
Wow...just Wow...
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON THE SOULS OF THIS EVIL GOVERNMENT IF THEY GIVE A BAILOUT TO THIS OUTFIT. tHEYre sick and if we give them a baiilout we are sick too. I had rather see all of our money if we had any to spare go to any other ovil outfit such as Hamas of the Iraq outlaws. At leaset they would not be of our people like this sick outfit is. Get a break, porno dirt, Larry Flynt.. We have laws against porno so why shoulkd we tax payers have to pay for this piece of dirt's problems. they are the ones who work to make life miserable for those who are against porno. Take that and bail out
Well, well...what do we have here? The porn industry asking for help?? First of all, I have a couple of questions and no, is not your sexual ambitions...
Did California tax you guys? Because if they didn't, I'll be ticked off. Second, Congress is not a place to look for "pleasure" is a place for business(at least, that's how is portrayed) . And I don't know if they wanna pay you for...well, you know, this.
Boy, you guys sure are horny people...
Why not Larry this is a vital part of human life. Way to go.
How many "moralistic thought police" Republicans are gonna support this one???
Sure, why not! We knew everyone would be lining up with hat in hand, so try to leave room for astonishment here.
It had to happen .I love it.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING. PORN IS TRASH... SO OOO- THERE MY ANSWER. INTO THE TRASH YOU GO.. AND STAY THERE.
I hope this is a joke. If not, I just can not believe what this world has gotten into.
Now I would support this. I say give them what they want and no oversite. Let's show the world what's really important to Americans.
Are you kidding me? Please tell me this is not even possible.
Why not, we have already been screwed by the automakers and I like porn better than I like Chryslers
OMFG! Are you KIDDING ME?? ROFLMAO!!! The mainstream media should have a field day with this one!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Is this how you Pimp the Government?
One would think porn would be the only industry unaffected by the economic crisis.
with their fringe benefits they don't deserve a bailout.
This will make more sense than anthing else that has come out of the Bush Admin.
is bailout a joke?. some people are trying to steal money from the government.
RealityKing January 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET
Change you can believe in..
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Don't go there, idiot, this has nothing to do with Obama.
Joe Francis said "...Is it going to make the lives of Americans better if it happens? It is not for them to determine.”...
I think that is the very nature and purpose of congress and our federal government; to do those things that protect, preserve and make better the lives of all Americans from the national perspective.
The porn industry is not a necessity. Bail funds should only be used for industries that are a necessity and only in ways that would make them more efficient and viable again. The financial bailout was a scam and their should be an immediate demand for repayment. That would cause all those that part took of it to increase their profit margins are be taken over by the Federal Banks and all their executive salaries gone. As a result they will get back to their business – loaning money and providing secure financial instruments.
I think porn is horrible, degrading, and damaging...that said, I think this was absolute brilliance by porn industry leaders, since it highlights the absurdity of these government bailouts ("we want small government–until we need a handout for our big corporate friends!")
This is funny and why not? No one should have been bailed out. Larry is not out of line with this request.