Free Republic

ETROIT (AP) -- Some members of the Detroit City Council say they're unhappy with billboards throughout the city that boast Colt 45 malt liquor "works every time." The council spent part of Tuesday looking at ways to regulate such advertising after residents complained they were offended by the billboards featuring a cartoon representation of actor Billy Dee Williams. Councilwoman JoAnn Watson says, "This is killing our community." Watson says she's worried the billboards are targeted specifically at Detroiters, calling it "an issue of racism and perversity."

If Gov. Eliot Spitzer thought his illegal immigrant license plan drew heavy opposition, wait until he gets a taste of Billy Dee Williams. It’s likely Williams will taste bitter, too, since he, once a famous actor and malt liquor spokesman, was cast off as a has-been nearly 20 years ago. In fact, after landing an almost insignificant role in Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, many thought he would never get serious work again. That was before Spitzer announced this week a plan to raise taxes on malt liquor as a source of revenue – $15 million worth in the next...