"Voter Fraud" billboards will come down

http://mobile.cleveland.com/advcleve/pm_32033/contentdetail.htm?contentg...

Remember this?

That's the first of a slew of billboards erected in poor and minority neighborhoods in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and cities in other key swing states, courtesy of an anonymous coward who thinks poor minority folks should be scared out of voting.

Clear Channel had said it could not remove them because its client, a private, out-of-state family foundation, has a contract that keeps them in place through Nov. 6, Election Day. The contract also has a clause keeping the name of the family foundation anonymous.

The company has said it has a policy against putting anonymous political messages on its billboard and that it erred in agreeing to that contract.

Well, that's sort of weasely, but at least they are taking them down.

These intimidating billboards were put up in neighborhoods where less educated and informed voters might believe that many innocent errors might constitute "voter fraud," and they just don't need more grief. And Republicans have ginned up so much spin around "voter fraud," which barely exists, that anyone could be confused about what it is.

It's extremely rare, although it does exist. Here's an example:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/us/indiana-secretary-of-state-convicte...

Yes, more proven cases have voter fraud have been committed by Republican elected officials than by inner-city voters.

This is even better news:

Opponents had already negotiated with Clear Channel to have the company donate use of 10 billboards that will be visible Monday and carry the message
"Voting Is a Right. Not a Crime!" Cleveland City Council will pay for five more to carry the same message.

Thanks to Clear Channel and Cleveland City Council for doing the right thing.