May 1, 2004

  • I opened up my mailbox tonight and got a surprise.  A large, full color, four page flyer with a large picture of a young Indian girl and an unflattering photo of LARRY FLYNT  inset in the top right corner.  The bold caption reads, Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt is trying to break the state's agreement with California Indian tribes so he and his gambling cronies can make billions." 


    I don't know that much about the specifics of the "Flynt Gambling Proposal" but from what I gather from the flyer, Flynt is backing an effort to permit slot machines inside of California card clubs.  What was most interesting to me was the shameless way the Indians try every trick in the book to smear Flynt and thus the proposal by association.  At the same time, they tug on our heartstrings with tried cliches, conveniently ignoring the realities of the Indian gaming monopoly they are trying to protect.



    Over and over the Indians dwell on Flynt's porn background, calling him a "Smut King" and mentioning Hustler Magazine and other Flynt publications numerous times.  They also dreg up a lame quote from kooky, radical feminist Gloria Steinem.  Steinem is quoted as saying "Flynt publishes pictures portraying brutal violence against women.".  Never mind that porn has absolutely nothing to do with this gambling controversy.  Never mind that former Playboy bunny Gloria Steinem, now nearly 70, ceased to be relevant decades ago and now seems as out of step as the AMC Pacer from the same era.  Never mind that the majority of photos Flynt has published over the years are simply nude girls posing alone.  How any reasonable person could see that as "brutal violence" I will never know.


    The hypocrisy is amazing.  The Indians write, "The Flynt Gambling Proposition would put huge Vegas style casinos in family neighborhoods.  Under current law, ... slot machines are limited to Indian casinos which are mainly in rural areas."  Now wait a minute.  This flyer was funded by the United Auburn Indian Community.  It seems to me this is precisely what they have already done! 


    This tribe is the one behind the new Thunder Valley Casino just outside Roseville and not far from Sacramento.  In fact Thunder Valley is just minutes away from a gigantic new shopping mall called the Roseville Galleria.  So much for building Indian casinos in "rural areas".  It gets worse, Thunder Valley is professionally managed by Station Casinos of Las Vegas.  It's very similar to Station's Green Valley Resort in Henderson.  Still not convinced?  Take it from the United Auburn Indians then.  Here's what they say on the Thunder Valley homepage.



    Everything you love about Las Vegas casinos is yours at Thunder Valley Casino.


     


    Thunder Valley offers a truly unique opportunity for fun and relaxation. From the dramatic entry to the spectacular Falls Bar. Thunder Valley means Las Vegas excitement, glamour and action. Add it’s convenient location, 3,300 lighted parking spaces plus thousands of the newest games, and it’s easy to see why Thunder Valley is the most exciting entertainment destination Northern California has to offer.


    The flyer also panders illogically to racism fears, asserting that Flynt publishes "racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic cartoons" and smearing numerous other unnamed "gambling promoters" who are described as "foreign", "billionaires", "reclusive" and people who "meddle in Middle Eastern politics" and "with a history of making racist remarks about Latinos and African-Americans."  They accomplish all this in one brief paragraph!  Again, it strikes me as being very far removed from the merits of Flynt's gambling proposal.


    I hope the public is not swayed by this inflammatory and irresponsible flyer.  Voters deserve to hear a real debate on this issue, not scare tactics and innuendo.  Ironically, I predict that if "Smut King" Larry Flynt publishes a response, he will stick to the issues 1000x better than the Indians do here.  And, from what I have been reading, there are many things Flynt can write about the dark side of Indian casinos.  For starters there are environmental concerns, lack of legal protection for patrons and workers, allegations that the profits do not trickle down to the poor tribal members and the list goes on and on.


     -- Snowman 


    For further reading on this topic:


    "A Major Gamble on a Pair of Plan" - Sac Bee article 04.17.04
    "California Slot Backers Submit Million Signatures - Bloodhorse.com article 04.17.04
    Special Report - Larry Flynt Takes on the Indians - The Vegas Guy article 03.02.04

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