The subhead on the news story Wednesday said "Group: Beard being used to divide city."
Well, yes. She is. But only by the group itself.
It's actually Commissioner Betty Beard's supporters who are trying to divide the city.
No one with any semblance of objectivity was divided on this issue before the protest behind City Hall Tuesday evening. The fact is, legitimate questions are simply being raised about Beard's involvement in channeling $20,000 from a developer doing business with the city to a city employee and friend of Beard's for a gastric bypass surgery.
No one has been convicted and sentenced. No one has been arrested. No one has been indicted on anything.
The naked truth is, no one yet knows whether a crime was even committed by anyone.
Moreover, if authorities do ultimately determine that the payment was criminal, it's possible Betty Beard wouldn't be the only one in trouble.
So, not only is no one being railroaded, but it's too early to even see the puff of smoke from an iron horse over the horizon.
Don't be fooled by claims of division and injustice. The facts haven't even been unearthed yet. This investigation has only begun, and could take several months.
Having a protest at this juncture is like a football coach demanding to see an instant replay before the ball is even hiked.
And the protesters' demand that the Federal Bureau of Investigation be brought in on the case is nothing more than nonsense: The FBI is involved, and has been from the very start.
Protests such as these -- baseless, reckless, scattershot episodes that attempt to throw the civil rights blanket of protection over any and all manner of conduct -- only serve to divide and set back the cause of true justice.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
At the rally, Ms. Beard said she can't understand why she has come under scrutiny for helping a sick friend. The back-and-forth allegations in the wake of the TEE center controversy are making the city look bad, she said. What? Are you kidding me? First, SHE didn't help a sick friend but the $20,000.00 that was given to Richmond County for use to better the county certainly did help her friend and she did so without the knowledge or approval of other commissoners. This is unethical and it is outreagous that any true Christian Pastor would support such unethical behavior, nor should any Christian Organization. If she wanted to help her friend she should have written a check, held a fundraiser or at the very least, asked the commisson to use the funds for such a manner. She absolutley knew that commissoners would never vote to give $20,000.00 to a single county empolyee for any reason, nor should they so she did so on her own accord and now should face the consequences for her actions to include personally being held responsible for the $20,000.00
I hope this same story isn't repeated again throughout the investigation. Two days in a row is enough.
Gotta keep ol' Fry's investigation out of public view, so a repeat of a non-story is in order. Why not a letter to the editor about ol' Fry? Let the citizens speculate about the possibilities of corruption and bribery, while having few facts. That model is OK for the Beard decoy attempt, but not OK for the attempted bribe of public officials. Where is the honesty in reporting the facts or informing the public? MIA! Ms Beard is on sound legal ground and nothing can change that, unless the Ole selective prosecution attempt is again employed, which would fail in this particular case. Yep, the ol' corrupted legal "system" is gonna take a pounding on this one, 'cause ol' Fry was caught red handed. Lets see how many so-called "upright" citizens can he drag into the mud because he should not take the fall alone.
At least no money changed hands in the Fry case - just some really dumb ideas. Beard "serves" a district that has no less than 3 community clinics that serve indigent patients who do not have access to the surgeries or even diagnostic testing. These clinics see patients for free or for discount. These are patients who have critical medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes and are in danger of dying. Too bad they are not the children of Beard's personal friends. What makes all of this so bad is her arrogance and the arrogance of the person who received the free money - looks like it was not effective as she is still overweight. Shame them for thinking that either of them have the right to use charitable money that way and only 5,000 went to an innercity youth program that people volunteer their time for and is always running short on funds. So much good could have come out of donating 20,000 to a non-profit that serves the people in her district - and not just one person who looks like she still can't stop shoveling food in her mouth.
I believe one of the problems is the doubt about the FBI involvement in the Beard and Fry cases. Honestly, I wasn't sure myself, even though this editorial says it is nonsense to think otherwise. Didn't the Chronicle say the FBI was only an observer? What would be reassuring to the Beard supporters would be a statement from the FBI as to the status of the investigations since you are so sure they are involved with Beard's. A simple statement from them that they continue to investigate the Fry and Beard cases would work wonders. Don't newspapers routinely ask the FBI for the status of investigations?
"No one has been convicted and sentenced. No one has been arrested. No one has been indicted on anything. The naked truth is, no one yet knows whether a crime was even committed by anyone." That is from the article. So you guys cover it everyday with no new news. But don't cover Fry who has been arrested and had contact with 4 commissioners. Now rather than cover and arrest and 4 commissioners and an arrest you cover one commissioner and no arrest. I know you guys agenda but don't call this a newspaper anymore. Just call is the Agenda Chronicle at least it name will be true. And to it all off you want even publish letter discussing the Fry situation.
They always have to make sure the "poor, mistreated blacks" image is promoted. Without it some people would have no job.
Riverman1, newspapers do. The AC stop being a newspaper a long time ago.
She can't help it if she's stupid. Don't get me started on that fat baby machine
lol concernednative a LONG, LONG time ago.
Forgiveness is easer to get than permission, expecially when race cards are plentiful and free of charge.
I don't think this is about race. This is about a double standard. Commissioner Betty Beard had agreed to give the money back. It was not her decision to do something different after she had agreed to give the money to avoid this seeming like an inappropriety. Now it has become just that because her arrogance enabled her to make a dumb decision when she agreed to do the opposite. It is hypocrisy for blacks to support her when they know she basically didn't do what she said she was going to do with the money and now she is crying because she got caught. This may not be a criminal matter, but this is definitely an ethical matter. She should have kept her hands clean and give the money back, but she chose to make herself look just like a common thief. She had years to tell the commission what she did and she did not, but now she proclaims she did the right thing.... THE RIGHT THING WAS TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK!!!!
At least Cparker is honest with himself. Concerned and jackfruit, unfortunately have taken their usual position.
I think the city should have kept the money but gave it to a organization but not an individual. My point is the ACES is running 3 letters on this and 0 on Fry. A much bigger case with a lot more people involved.
Justus4--Why is the FRY issue brought up in a discussion of the Beard issue? Can't you defend Beard on her own merits?
If only Ms. Beard had stuck the words "I'm sorry" in front of her offer to go to jail. She got sucked into a misjudgement, as can happen to any of us when engrossed by something we want. The employee's problem is solved, now she can safely beg forgiveness. She would be forgiven and the storm would end, just as it has for any number of politicians who came clean. Her present resistance is just spreading a stain over her reputation and driving another wedge into our city. Oh why do we have to be in the right all the time? To be human is to err.
What does the bible say about paying taxes?
Justass4, if you would get your head out of your posterior, you would know that Fry has been indicted and awaiting trial. Hopefully, blackmail Betty will be next.
Justus4 or Champ, whatever....why you stick up for any black person no matter what they have done completely baffles any educated person such as myself. No one is standing up for Fry, he did wrong and has been arrested and deserves everything he gets and if others were involved they they should receive the same and since both the FBI and the Sheriff's Office is investigating both situations, the facts can not be hidden as anytime you have various persons involved if a cover up were initiated it would come out. You however, stick up for Beard when she clearly did wrong and that continues to prove your ignorance.