by Nancy Shack, WBZ NewsRadio1030
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) -- An elected Cape Cod official has unleashed a fire storm on Twitter. Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty tweeted a poll last Tuesday asking “Generally speaking, are gay politicians too self-absorbed and self-centered to adequately represent ALL of their constituents in a fair and equitable manner?”
The question was posted a week or so after two democrats, State Sen. Julian Cyr and State Rep. Sarah Peake, who are both openly gay, were appointed to leadership positions on Beacon Hill.
Almost immediately calls for resignation began. First from Republican state Rep. Timothy Whelan who told the Cape Cod Times “I’m calling for the Commissioner to resign I’m that upset." James Lyons, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party issued a statement saying "we cannot condone such outrageous behavior," while the executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party called the post "abhorrent."
Commissioner Beaty has responded to the community outrage in a written statement saying the post was an exercise in Free Speech and since he has done nothing wrong, he will not resign and he owes no one an apology:
"In this country, we have something called the United States Constitution, which includes our First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech!
I happen to be an elected public official who frequently asks questions, and chooses to exercise that God given Right from time to time.
Moreover, in speaking my mind, I am not politically correct and hope others will speak their minds in an equally candid fashion as as well.
Since I have done nothing wrong, then I have absolutely nothing to apologize for, and most assuredly will not consider resigning from my position as Barnstable County Commissioner!
Thank you.
Ron Beaty"
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports