Front page of today’s LA Times had a story about Brian Bates, the self-styled Video Vigilante, who films prostitutes with clients in Oklahoma City and puts the footage on his web site at JohnTV. His aim is to disgrace both parties. Bates claims he is trying to clean up this Bible Belt town. But Bates also makes money from TV appearances ($250 for each clip on a TV talk show), selling YouTube videos and as an “exclusive” star on the Maury Povich tabloid TV show. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. But in this case also prurient.