Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

See what happened when this attacker brought a knife to a gun fight

Politics

Judge Reportedly Orders Pro-Obama Mural Be Covered Up at Philly Polling Station

Nov. 6, 2012 12:40pm Billy Hallowell

Pennsylvania has become a hot-bed of electoral controversy, as numerous polling-related issues have been reported. TheBlaze covered the New Black Panthers’ presence at the same polling location they attended back in 2008. And there was also a judge’s order to reinstate Republican election officials who were purportedly kicked out by Democrats. And now — there’s a photo floating around social media of a Philadelphia polling station with a massive pro-Obama mural (one that a judge has now reportedly ordered be covered up for the duration of the election).

The image, which is apparently directly behind the voting machines at Franklin Elementary School (Philadelphia’s Ward 35), is allegedly positioned in such a way that those waiting to vote are looking directly at it. The giant mural, an image of which quickly spread across Twitter, shows the president holding a microphone along with the words “hope” and “change.” A quote from Obama is also included:

Judge Orders Pro Obama Mural Be Covered Up at Philly Polling Station

Photo Credit: Twitter

While some may dismiss the image or downplay its ability to impact voters, it appears to be a violation of Pennsylvania state election law. According to FOX News, the state’s electoral law states that, ”no person within a polling place may electioneer or solicit votes for any political party, political body, or candidate, nor may any unauthorized written or printed materials be posted within the polling place.”

Now, it could be argued that the mural was painted long ago and that it doesn’t constitute a “person” (we do not, in fact, know its history) and, thus, is not a violation of the law. However, Tim Miller, deputy communications director at the Republican National Committee, tweeted the following message after the picture made its rounds: “Election Judge in PA has ordered Obama mural in polling place covered up.”

Here’s an image of the judge’s order:

Photo Credit: Twitter

A timeline notation by PoliticaPA.com corroborates the judge’s actions, writing, “12:27 p.m.: A PA election judge has ordered an Obama mural in a Philadelphia polling place to be covered up.”

TheBlaze will share new details as they emerge.

Update: FOX News has posted the following series of pictures showing the mural being covered up:

Photo Credit: FOX News

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (48)

alinskythis
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 3:21pm
Big Brother meets Ru Paul.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
petemg
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 2:45pm
I do not even think something like this should be on any school. It reminds me too much of how Hitler indoctrinated the children at a young age. Allow the people to form their own opinion.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 2:37pm
I’ll help him out, I got blankets and tape in my car

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ErinLindsey
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 2:49pm
  It looks like they only covered his face in the pictures I’ve seen of it since it was ordered covered. They left that stupid Obama emblem uncovered, and the quote attributed to Obama is also uncovered. They should have covered the entire wall.
  
  Report this comment
- ocelot113
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 3:39pm
  I do believe that “… in its entirety…” means everything. They should have officers over there to see to it.
  
  Report this comment
truthsurfer
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 2:18pm
Paint a big turd in its place. Oh wait thats still a picture of obama.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DIMITRIINPA
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 2:12pm
I’ll echo what someone else said whom I presume to live here in our benighted Commonwealth:

“Don’t blame all of us; it’s really Philly and Pittsburgh where the real lunacy rules.”

Because of the heavy union influences both in mining and manufacturing, there is a real leftward bend. This is slowly being overcome and I’m very proud of the judge for having the sense and the strength to order it covered.

I hope tonight gives me reason to be proud of my home state as we bring in a Romney victory!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Lloyd Drako
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:40pm
I voted in a school lunchroom whose walls were covered with posters extolling diversity and healthy eating. How blatant is that?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PlanetReality
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:28pm
Justice finally in phiadelphia!! Now take out the trash black panthers!!!
What is their affialtion or right to monitor voting polls???? NONE!!!!
Enough ever wonder why america is feed up with this poltical bull WAR ON BRAINS from this admin!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Female
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:26pm
If it had been my mural, I would have covered it to protect it from the electorate.

Some unemployed (especially coal industry dependent) might bring some rotten foodstamp purchased veggies, might destroy it. The middle class pump their own gas, buy milk, cereal, and bread. Regardless, of race, nobody likes to be paying a lot more for less product! The children might be influenced but the parents are poorer and pissed.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- canadianlady
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:33pm
  This mural has NO business being in a public school.
  
  Report this comment
republitarian
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:24pm
Wow. Just wow.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- mtcountrygrl
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:27pm
  Just change the “hope” to “nope”, and I am cool with it!
  
  Report this comment
Beachmastermax
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:22pm
Just another Marxist Mural such as Lenin, Stalin, Che Guevarra, Hugo Chavez, Castro painted on a government building wall. BUT HE’S NOT A SOCIALIST!!!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Whiteinfidel
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:31pm
  So right! If this doesn’t have “Dear Leader” written all over it I’ll vote democrat.
  
  Report this comment
Sharon Rose
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:17pm
Good for that common sense Judge.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
stealthyk9
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:10pm
Editorial Correction: Franklin Elementary Indoctrination Center was incorrectly reported to be a “School.”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Living In NYC
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:20pm
  As taxpayers we own that building!
  
  It should not have Obama campaign materials painted on the walls It’s OK to have a picture of the prez on the wall ! But it’s not OK when it has his “talking points”, “slogan” and “the obama crest”! It’s like the Prez “tagged” one of our buildings!
  
  Report this comment
- stealthyk9
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 4:00pm
  LIVING IN NYC: It is also both sad and ironic that this “school” includes the name Franklin, our nation’s outstanding founding father who is attributed with the famous quote which acknowledged that we have “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
  
  Report this comment
Carlinpa
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:04pm
It’s one thing to pt PAST presidents in a commemorations and a whole OTHER to put a 3rd world dictator style mural of a sitting president who is up for reelection. Note to whites, Asians, Hispanics, this is the type of governance you can expect from blacks if they become a majority.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- OutlawJM
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:19pm
  Are you out of your mind????? This election is about FREEDOM and FREEDOM ONLY!!!!! I am an American whose body happens to produce melanin (making me BLACK) and I DO NOT want to subjugate anyone nor do I want anyone to subjugate ME. This is what Americans believe: “If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; may your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countryman.” Samuel Adams. And most importantly; “The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves
  
  Report this comment
- girlnurse
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:36pm
  Right OUTLAWJM! Lets be honest here, we are ALL slaves to this government. It’s already happened..the only question is; “Can we reverse it if enough people wake up”?
  The government knows how to “divide and conquer”. They have us all divided into groups, but make no mistake…they are enslaving us ALL.
  
  Report this comment
winston.smith_84
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:00pm
Absolutely pathetic…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bigmac1947
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:00pm
Spray a picture of a jackass over it. That’s what he is to all non-liberals.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HKS
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:59pm
Since all the votes cast for that candidate during the time of the illegal electioneering are now part of the corrupted fruit, they must be discarded forever. Problem solved and they will think before they try that cheating stuff again.

“Remember Benghazi”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:58pm
Does it really matter, except the fact the poll workers kept losing their lunch. It would have two effects, either really make those who are disillusioned by Obama mad enough to vote against him, or make those Obamaites so worked up they faint, and don’t vote. Either way, the country wins.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bigmac1947
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:56pm
Spray some graffiti all over it. It’s illegal.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:26pm
  Are you sure that’s not James Brown ?
  
  Report this comment
momrules
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:51pm
First of all why was that mural in that school? A picture of the president is understandable but this mural is over the top.
Remember when Obama had the cross covered up before he spoke at Georgetown back in 2010?
Here’s a reminder if you have forgotten.

http://www.nairaland.com/487126/white-house-asked-georgetown-cover

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
FEMALL
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:51pm
It’s enough to make Cezar Chavez Obama weep..but only from one eye. Now, can’t wait to paint the Romney mural in the local federally funded public school,get sued and watch the commie teachers have to paint over that POS mural.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:49pm
Pennsylvania is pathetic. They do not seem to have a handle on anything regarding simple rules of an election. They are cowards.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Halgar
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:54pm
  Well I wouldn’t blame all of Pennsylvania, just the eastern “Philly” half.
  
  Report this comment
- Phreqguru
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:59pm
  At least there was a “sane” judge following the law and not making it up as he went along. The mural was in bad form for any occasion.
  
  Report this comment
handykeith29
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:48pm
i hope heads roll for all this crap

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HKS
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:48pm
Well, now let me guess, still no punishment. Do all the cheating you want there is no repercussions, its a freebie, like Obama’s presidency, get by with anything.

“Remember Benghazi”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- girlnurse
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:31pm
  Remember “Fort Hood” that they label “work place violence” and 13 of our brave military were mowed down on their base by a terrorist that our own government (Obama) fails to call a terrorist!
  
  Report this comment
toiletclogga
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:46pm
Forget Philly. The rest of the state is going strong with Romney. The polling places in mid-state are packed, and voters are enthusiastically going Romney. Obama shouldn’t have declared war on coal!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
william23
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:45pm
Thank Goodness the UN sent the Election Observers.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- cubber
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:48pm
  lol
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:50pm
  I just heard that two European observers arrived in Alabama last night. Have no idea where they are now, but I live out in a rural area. Our polling station is only about two miles from here, so I doubt they will show up out here. More than likely they would stay either in Birmingham, Montgomery, or some comfortable bar.
  
  Report this comment
- Unbelievable
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:57pm
  HA!! I’m sure they are standing right outside next to the New Black Panthers.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.