Hayden Chided for Rally at Hustler Site

City Council candidate Tom Hayden was criticized by his opponent and others for scheduling a fund-raiser at the offices of Hustler magazine, but feminist leaders who back Hayden said Friday they don’t oppose his decision.

Jody Miller, the co-chair of the campaign of Jack Weiss, who is running against Hayden in the June 5 election, accused Hayden of applying a double standard. She said Hayden has unfairly criticized Weiss on the issue of women’s rights.

“For Hayden to criticize Jack falsely as lacking sensitivity on women’s issues--and then raise his champagne flute in Hustler’s penthouse suite--is award-winning hypocrisy,” said Miller, founder of the National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy.

Miller called on Hayden to cancel the fund-raiser.

Hayden said he agreed to hold the fund-raiser at the Wilshire Boulevard office of Hustler publisher Larry Flynt only after clearing it with supporters, including Shelley Mandel, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women.

“If my feminist allies had objected, it would have been another matter,” Hayden said. “They have said it is acceptable.”

Conservative activist Susan Carpenter McMillan, of the Women’s Coalition, also denounced the fund-raiser in the race for the 5th District seat, which represents an area that stretches from Van Nuys to Westwood.

“Anybody who is backed by Hustler magazine, the leading exploiter of women, would certainly not be good in an elected position,” said McMillan.

Hayden said he respects Flynt as a symbol of free speech, although he disagrees with the content of his magazine. “I respect what he has gone through, particularly his battle against censorship,” he said.

As for the pornographic content of the magazine, Hayden said, “I have argued with Larry Flynt about that. I have grave concerns about the content of his magazine.”

Mandel was blunt.

“I think it’s garbage,” she said of the content. “But regardless of who gives money to Tom or hosts a fund-raiser for him, Tom Hayden’s commitment to women has been proven time and time again.”