Just hearing the name of Luther Campbell (pictured right) makes me smile.

Way back in the 1980s, before silly debutantes like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian could make millions after starring in their own sex tapes and other nobodies could become rich somebodies thanks to reality television, rapper Luther "Luke" Campbell was the king of party time fun.

The nasty (and I mean this in a good way) party videos from his rap group, "2 Live Crew," straddled the line between serious rump shakin' and straight up soft porno and were "must see" viewing for my social set.

They seem almost innocent now, with all the sorts of debauchery available on televisions, computers and smart phones, but at the time, Luke was the man.

That is why the news that Campbell, 50, is considering a run for mayor of Miami-Dade County thrills me to no end.

If Arrrhhrnold Schwarzenegger can get elected California governor and former wrestler and biker Jesse Ventura can get elected Minneapolis governor, why can't Luke get his piece of the political pie in sunny South Florida?

The idea isn't as silly as one might think.

Something interesting happened to Luke, the writer of classics like "Me So Horny" and "As Nasty As They Wanna Be," while he was making hit recordings and spicy videos.

Luke became a serious spokesman for freedom of speech when the conservative right and their stormtroopers, The Moral Majority, tried to censor Campbell's raunchy but Constitutionally protected speech.

As a first-year newspaper reporter in New Jersey, it seemed odd that I would have much in common with a superstar rapper from Florida, but in a real sense, I felt his plight.

If the Reagan-era sensibilities of the time could force Luke to censor his lyrics and videos, where would the censorship stop?

Though his recording was ruled obscene by local Florida lawmakers, Luke eventually won a court decision upholding his right to make his music and videos. He also established himself as a defender of First Amendment freedoms.

For that alone, I would be interested is hearing Campbell's platform for office to see if he is serious about running, but I know on thing for sure, there is a lot more to Luke Campbell than rump shakin' videos.