By Kevin McCauley
FitzGibbon Media is spreading word of Bain Capital’s Clear Channel Outdoor unit’s decision to replace “Voter Fraud is a Felony” billboards in minority neighborhoods in Cleveland, Columbus and Milwaukee.
FitzGibbon's ColorofChange.org client complained to Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman and CCO CEO William Eccleshare that the billboards were “clearly designed to intimidate voters of color and keep those communities away from the polls.”
The black civil rights group also noted that the offending billboards were not placed in suburban neighborhoods, which it views as “proof their discriminatory nature.”
An anonymous group paid for the ads. In deciding to take down the 140 signs, Clear Channel said they violated its policy of putting up anonymous political ads. It asked the backer to go public with the signs, but it refused.
A Clear Channel spokesperson said the client believed the best solution was to take the boards down.
CoC’s next target is Norton Outdoor, which has placed similar billboards, in Cincinnati.
Bain Capital is Mitt Romney’s old company. |