CONVICTED FELON RONALD BEATY JR IS AN UNINFORMED JACKASS WHO APPARENTLY CRAVES ATTENTION. REGRETTABLY, HE HAS UNINFORMED AND UNEDUCATED FOLLOWERS IN HIS STABLE.
IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THIS PAGE IS A SEARCH FEATURE THAT PROVIDES A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE IRRATIONAL POSTS OF MR. BEATY. PLEASE ENLIGHTEN YOURSELF.
MR. BEATY'S COMMENTS ARE FREQUENTLY INACCURATE AND THIS AUTHOR LACKS THE TIME TO FACT CHECK AND FREQUENTLY FILLED WITH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS OR MISSPELLINGS DUE TO POOR EDUCATION.
County commissioner’s social media posts again spark outrage
Responses to Barnstable County Commissioner Ronald Beaty’s poll about civil war advocate violence.
BARNSTABLE — Barnstable County Commissioner Ronald Beaty Jr. ended the year the way he began it: posting to social media platforms and generating controversy and outrage.
“Would a ‘Civil War’ be preferable to allowing radical socialists to take over American society and the United States government?” he posted to Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday.
Beaty, a Republican from West Barnstable, is seeking reelection to the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners in 2020.
The Facebook post generated dozens of comments, many perceived as potentially inciting violence in the nation.
“It’s rope and lead time,” one response read. “In order to save America we must stand up for America and make war with the Leftist who are dedicated to destroying it.”
“Necessary vs. preferable,” posted another Beaty follower. “I would never prefer to have Americans killing Americans, however it may be necessary at some point.”
“Rather than seeing the republic destroyed a small bit at a time. It’s getting to the point that an example should be made,” another wrote. “Drag them from their homes and holds to the middle of the street and give them the 2 in the back of the heads they so richly deserve ...”
“LOCK AND LOAD,” was another reply to Beaty.
Beaty clicked that he “liked” those posts.
Responses on Twitter were not as pro-violence as those on Facebook but had been removed as of midafternoon.
Beaty told the Times the post was posed as a question and that he exercised freedom of speech while doing so.
“I’m not the first one to bring this up, and I think it’s healthy for people to have a conversation about political matters and this is a national dialogue going on,” he said. “This goes hand-in-hand with the presidential race, with radical left Democrats and conservative Republicans. There is a struggle for the heart and soul of our nation at this time.”
Beaty said the post did not indicate he was taking a position one way or the other on the matter and he would not condone a civil war.
“I’m not talking about an armed conflict, I’m talking about settling matters at the ballot box,” he said.
Beaty said any arguments that he was inciting violence were a “stretch.” He said he would have been notified if there was a violation of the Facebook or Twitter terms of service and “people have the right to ask questions.”
“Posting it as a question is so cowardly,” said state Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster, about Beaty’s latest social media controversy.
Whelan, a former Massachusetts State Police sergeant, and other members of the Cape and Islands legislative delegation called for Beaty’s resignation in February when he posted — also in question format — a poll of whether gay politicians were too “self-absorbed and self-centered” to fairly represent all constituents.
State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, and state Rep. Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown, are both openly gay.
“Given the recent examples of what we have seen across this nation of violence stoked by hate and misunderstanding, I find the commissioner’s words to be deeply troubling and unbecoming of any elective office,” Whelan said. “While I was serving our nation in the U.S. Marine Corps during time of war, the commissioner was serving time in federal prison for a series of felonies. I have no interest in anything that comes from his mouth.”
Beaty served a 14-month sentence in a federal prison for threatening to kill President George H.W. Bush and other politicians in the early 1990s.
“Politics aside, that kind of comment (post) is unnecessary,” Barnstable County Administrator John “Jack” Yunits Jr. said. “Within 36 hours of two hate crimes against religious groups by unstable persons, it’s hardly the time to call for violent responses.”
County commission Chairman Ronald Bergstron had not returned a call seeking comment as of late Tuesday.
Beaty’s comments about gays spark outrage
Polarizing county commissioner urged to leave post.
BARNSTABLE — A controversial elected Cape Cod representative’s comments about gay people has sparked an angry backlash throughout the community and on Beacon Hill.
“I’m calling for Commissioner (Ron) Beaty to resign, I’m that upset,” said state Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster. “I don’t even know what else to say.”
Beaty has made a reputation for himself for inflammatory and controversial comments. On Tuesday, he posed a question on Twitter that many believed to be homophobic.
“Generally speaking, are gay politicians too self-absorbed and self-centered to adequately represent ALL of their constituents in a fair and equitable manner?” Beaty tweeted. .
The post comes less than a week after two openly gay elected officials who represent the Cape and Islands — state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, and state Rep. Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown — were named to leadership positions on Beacon Hill.
“I am disappointed to hear that Ron Beaty made such an uninformed statement regarding the value LGBTQ people bring to Cape Cod and our commonwealth,” Cyr said. “It appears he would prefer to spend his time as an elected official causing division and spreading disrespect.”
Cyr invited Beaty to work with him to address the Cape’s challenges and priorities.
State Sen. Viriato “Vinny” deMacedo, R-Plymouth, who represents the Cape with Cyr in the Senate, said he was shocked when he read the tweet. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” he said.
Peake, who has served in the House since 2007, did not want to “dignify Mr. Beaty’s statement with a response, other than to say it demonstrates the depth of his ignorance and homophobia.”
Dennis Selectman Robert Mezzadri also expressed his displeasure with Beaty.
“As an elected official who happens to be gay, I find that comment appalling and baseless,” he said.
Beaty, who has modeled his politics and style after President Trump, said he was not referring to any particular person in the tweet, but he “had people make some statements to me in recent weeks, so I thought I’d look for other people’s opinions on the matter.”
“I’m not picking on anybody in particular,” said Beaty in a voicemail message to the Times. “Regarding Julian Cyr, although I don’t necessarily care for some of his more liberal politics, I think he does a good job representing the district and constituents. Sarah Peake, I don’t even know her.”
Beaty did say he takes issue with Cyr and Peake on what he perceives to be a lack of action on “the shark and seal” matter, fearing there could be another tragedy this summer.
In his message to the Times, he did not address Whelan’s call for his resignation.
Ronald Bergstrom, chairman of the three-member Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners, expressed concern that Beaty’s comments are damaging relationships with politicians locally and at the Statehouse — connections the county needs to be successful, he said.
“All I can say is that he doesn’t represent the view of Barnstable County and that we have a good working relationship with all of or delegation — gay or straight — and they are always available for us,” Bergstrom said. “I don’t think someone’s personal life has anything to do with working with their constituents.”
Leaders of the state’s major political parties were quick to respond on Tuesday.
“There is no place in the public arena for this kind of talk, and we cannot condone such outrageous behavior,” said James Lyons, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
“Ron Beaty’s comments on Twitter are abhorrent, and just the latest in a pattern of bigoted, sexist, xenophobic rhetoric, ” said Veronica Martinez, executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
“Unfortunately, Beaty and others like him have been emboldened by a state GOP that recently elected an anti-LGBTQ champion as its Chairman, and by a president who routinely advances discrimination and intolerance from the White House. Such hateful language has no place in Massachusetts or anywhere else,” Martinez continued.
Deborah Shields, executive director of Boston-based MassEquality, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group, called Beaty’s tweet “mean-spirited and unnecessary hate speech” that could affect the Cape’s reputation as a LGBTQ-friendly tourist destination and hurt the local economy.
“There’s no reason for this type of discourse from a politician,” she said. “Given all that Julian Cyr and Sarah Peake have done for the Cape, it’s horrifying.”
Beaty, who served a 14-month stay in a federal prison for threatening to kill President George H.W. Bush and other politicians in the early 1990s, is a prolific generator of contentious content on Twitter.
On Tuesday alone, he tweeted that climate change was fake, that the Democratic Party “spawns deviant hate-filled persons who need to find their way back to God before their souls are condemned to hell for all of eternity,” and that former Gov. William Weld was a “much bigger drunk” than current Gov. Charlie Baker.
Since taking office in 2017, Beaty has created controversy over disparaging social media commentary about the #MeToo movement and Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg. He has also received national attention by advocating the use of baited drum lines to catch and kill great white sharks.
“I pretty much only do what President Donald Trump does relative to his social media postings,” Beaty wrote in a follow-up email Tuesday night. “If it is good enough for our president, whom I support 100 percent, then it is good enough for me as well.”
Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates approves resolution condemning hate speech
BARNSTABLE — The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution Wednesday that “strongly condemns any form of hate speech,” especially from county employees.
The resolution affirms existing county non-discrimination policies and passed 73.85 percent to 25.22 percent.
The assembly is the regional government’s legislative branch and is comprised of 15 delegates, one for each town on Cape Cod. The weight of each delegate’s votes is proportionate to town population.
Only three of the 15 Assembly delegates voted against the resolution: Linda Zuern of Bourne, Thomas O’Hara of Mashpee and James Killion of Sandwich.
Deborah McCutcheon of Truro, who controls .93 percent of the vote, was absent.
The resolution, a matter of opinion that requires no action, was introduced by delegate Brian O’Malley of Provincetown in the aftermath of a controversial tweet last month by Barnstable County Commissioner Ronald Beaty Jr.
A prolific Twitter user, Beaty asked whether gay politicians were too “self-absorbed and self-centered” to fairly represent all constituents.
Beaty contends his comments are protected under the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and says he has no intention of apologizing or stepping down, despite calls for his resignation, including by six of the eight members of the region’s legislative delegation.
“It needed to come out,” O’Malley said Thursday. “It’s not a win and it doesn’t change anything, but it goes on record as something commented on. The intent was to say ‘we have some standards here.’”
At the outset of the resolution discussion, O’Malley amended it to remove the words “and censures” following “strongly condemns” based on a memorandum issued by county legal counsel.
“Censure,” according to the memo, refers to a legal process that some federal and state governmental entities are empowered to utilize, but the county charter does not grant that authority.
Assembly Speaker Suzanne McAuliffe of Yarmouth, often reminded delegates to avoid mentioning anyone by name, as the resolution was generic and not specific to one person.
Zuern referred to the resolution as “totally unconstitutional” and said “hate speech” could mean different things to different people.
“I consider (someone saying) ‘President Trump is evil’ to be hateful,” she said.
Elizabeth Harder, the delegate from Harwich, argued that free speech doesn’t necessarily mean there are no consequences for statements.
“This has nothing to do with politics,” she said, suggesting elected officials debase their office when they attack groups within their constituencies.
While the delegates steered clear of references to Beaty, the eight people who offered public comment at the meeting did not.
Chris Bartley, a gay man, spoke in support of Beaty and his rights when communicating through his private Twitter account.
“I think it’s absolutely a stupid thing that we are going after Ron Beaty right now and not focusing on challenges (facing Cape) Cod,” he said.
Shira Kavon, of Provincetown, said she has no argument with First Amendment free speech rights, but questioned whether the tweet was an expression of freedom or essentially an attack. She also expressed concern that Beaty defends his free speech rights but squashes others by blocking them on Twitter when he does not like what they say.
“As a Jewish Barnstable County resident, I fear who he might choose as his next target,” she said.
Beaty was quick to respond to the assembly vote Wednesday night.
“Under the Barnstable County Home Rule Charter, the Assembly of Delegates has no legal authority whatsoever to ‘censure’ anyone!” he wrote in an email. “To be brutally honest, the resolution itself was a politically motivated stunt drafted and promoted by a delusional and self-righteous petty local politician, and has about as much real world significance as a fart in a windstorm.”
In an email on Thursday, Beaty said he was going to contact the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts “regarding both this episode, as well as the letter signed by the Cape Cod and islands legislative delegation which attempted to coerce me into resigning my position as a county commissioner.”
Beaty a no-show at meeting after controversial Twitter post
Largest crowd to attend a Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners meeting in recent memory turned out Wednesday, but the man they came to see was absent
BARNSTABLE — The largest crowd to attend a Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners meeting in recent memory turned out Wednesday, but the man they came to see was conspicuously absent.
Most were there to protest a recent tweet by County Commissioner Ronald Beaty Jr. that questioned whether gay politicians are too “self-absorbed and self-centered” to adequately represent all constituents fairly.
“Due to a significant medical problem that has arisen unexpectedly, I will be unable to attend the County Commissioners’ Meeting today,” Beaty wrote in an email to County Administrator John “Jack” Yunits Jr. and an executive assistant approximately 35 minutes before the start of the session.
An overflow audience of nearly 75 people attended the meeting, which typically attracts just a few county employees and other interested parties.
Despite Beaty’s absence, 15 people addressed the board during the public comment period as the other two commissioners — Chairman Ronald Bergstrom and Mary Pat Flynn — listened stoically.
None of the speakers defended or supported Beaty, but many recognized his First Amendment rights to free speech, a defense he has reiterated in an effort to counter calls for his resignation. The general consensus among the speakers, however, was that an elected official should be held to a higher standard and be more responsible and appropriate in his or her comments and remarks.
“I think it’s very coward-like for him not to be here today,” said Benten Niggel, the senior class president at Nauset Regional High School.
Niggel, who will be studying political science at Harvard University in the fall, said he was blocked from Beaty’s Twitter account after replying to the controversial tweet, leading him to question Beaty’s commitment to the free speech rights of others.
“I’m a constituent,” he said. “For him just to block me like my voice doesn’t matter is sad and kind of horrifying.”
Erin Andrews spoke to the commissioners while holding her 19-month-old daughter, Margot.
“It is (Beaty) who is self-centered,” she said. “His comments take valuable attention away from issues that all Cape residents deem important — the health and safety of our community.”
Elizabeth Young, of Marstons Mills, addressed the board along with her husband, James.
“While it is true as an American citizen, we do have our rights to free speech, as an elected official you have the duty to serve all of your constituents, whether they are black, white, brown or blue, gay or straight, transgender or gender neutral,” said Young. “Because you have made such a discriminatory statement, it is I who question whether you, Commissioner Beaty, can adequately represent all of your constituents in a fair and equitable manner.”
Young also referenced a handbook for county committees that states the county is committed to provide a working environment that is free of all forms of abuse, harassment or discrimination, including offensive or discriminatory messages sent through electronic communications.
Paul Rifkin, a political activist from Mashpee, suggested hurtful and harmful comments from people who are “insecure, not very intelligent and don’t get enough attention” should be ignored.
“It’s not necessary to publish every stupid thing that every stupid person says,” said Rifkin, turning around to look at a Times reporter in the audience.
Beaty, when contacted by email for comment, said he had not yet viewed the meeting video but again insisted he would not apologize and would not consider resigning.
“As said previously, in November, 2020, at the same time the country decides to re-elect our great President, Donald J. Trump to another four years, Cape Cod voters will be the ones to decide whether or not I shall be reelected as County Commissioner as well,” Beaty wrote.
Until Wednesday, Flynn had not weighed in on the controversy embroiling her colleague.
“I’m disappointed in his (Beaty’s) actions, temperament and the way he approaches his responsibility as an elected official,” she said after the meeting.
Despite appeals for a censure, Bergstrom said he would wait for a decision on a censure ordinance being considered by the country’s legislative branch, the Assembly of Delegates. If approved by the assembly, it would come to the commissioners for review and action.
“They were respectful of the process and there was a good representation of the community there,” Bergstrom said about the meeting attendees. “It’s too bad that Mr. Beaty couldn’t attend.”
Shoot from the Lip Ron Beaty !
Massachusetts isn't ready for Angry Clown Tea Party Wackos!
“I’m not legally allowed to own a gun,” he said, referring to his conviction — and 14-month stay in a federal prison — for threatening to kill President George H.W. Bush and other politicians in the early 1990s.
FOR MOST, WITH AGE COMES WISDOM.
IN THE CASE OF RON BEATY JR., IT SEEMS TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH IF YOU'RE TEMPTED TO VOTE FOR HIM.
RON BEATY CONTINUES TO BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
IN THE CASE OF RON BEATY JR., IT SEEMS TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH IF YOU'RE TEMPTED TO VOTE FOR HIM.
RON BEATY CONTINUES TO BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
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