A family foundation paid to have 145 billboards erected in Ohio and Wisconsin proclaiming that “Voter Fraud is a Felony.” This, like “look both ways before proceeding through an intersection” is pretty much common knowledge, but it never hurts to be reminded of the fact.
Groups of liberal activists feel differently. They argue that the billboards amount to “voter suppression.”
During the last year, whenever conservative groups and state legislatures attempt to tackle the problem of voter fraud, liberals cry “foul” and claim any such attempt amounts to voter suppression.
Their argument is a weak one when applied to the various states’ voter-ID laws recently enacted. The courts have generally upheld them in all but a very few instances. But this is ridiculous — the billboards merely make a statement of fact. What’s more, even if the billboards stated an opinion, there’s the matter of the exercise of our First Amendment right to free speech that comes into play.
So what was the upshot? According to the National Review:
“Beginning this week, the billboards’ owner, Clear Channel, will start to remove the signs. For a few days, Clear Channel had withstood the pressure, claiming it didn’t have the right to censor political speech.Then it claimed it “made a mistake” by signing a written contract to rent the billboards without forcing the sponsor to identify itself. Then it knuckled under completely by saying it would insist the sponsor either reveal itself — thus shifting all the protests and intimidation toward the sponsor — or remove the billboards. The sponsor declined to become a piñata, so the message will disappear. As penance, Clear Channel will donate ten signs of its own in the Cleveland area that read “Voting Is a Right. Not a Crime!”
Conclusion? Conservatives are juyst too nice. Read further at The National Review.
The following is a TV report of the controversy:
About Michael Dorstewitz
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“HEY! We don’t like being reminded that we’re a bunch of crooks! You’re interfering with our right to vote 100 times in this election! Knock it off!” —
OK, you got signs telling you to buckle up when you’re in the car, driving or passenger. I don’t like ‘em, I find ‘em wasteful. But they’re still a fact. If they were telling you that you have to have insurance in order to drive, would you be offended? No, but you might be miffed at the waste. Don’t claim racism or voter suppression where none exists. It just shows you to be a fool!
What if the sign said “Eligible voters may vote only once in each election.”? I wonder how they’d react to that? Change the wording…see what the asses say!
I agree. I received a flyer on my front door that said “vote early,and often”
” But this is ridiculous — the billboards merely make a statement of fact.”
Since when do LIBERALS like FACTS???
The liberals who can’t stand the truth should be ashamed. People in this Country used to be proud of the fact we were a nation of laws. Now for many it is about how to avoid obeying the law. If the family foundation that paid for the signs did not have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to aggressive liberals they should never have put the signs up. Shame on you for not being willing to stand your ground for your well held beliefs.
Well said , Linda. I completely agree.
We neeed these in Florida
If the billboards said “Murder is a felony”, would criminals, murderers and “liberals” also be in a “frenzy”?
actually you do not have a “Right” to vote in a Presidential election…it is your patriotic duty but not a Constitutional Right.
How the hell is this voter supression? That’s like saying the signs that say, “If you steal you will go to jail” is effecting the economy. The only people that should find them intimidating are the people likely to commit voter fraud. Also, I find it funny that someone said it was more likel you would be hit by lightening that find someone taking part in voter fraud. Wasn’t it liberals that screamed voter fraud 12 years ago, claiming it was everywhere?