Progressive Democrats pride themselves on being sensitive and concerned when slurs are made against members of our collective community. Progressives often are the first to speak out when slurs are made against any group, whether the slur was aimed at people based upon their nation of origin, ethnicity, or sexual preference.
As a fellow Democrat I’m proud of the sensitivity and passion of my fellow party members.
But in the last month, I and many other others have been stunned by the silence of the press (except for a few local outlets) and the political establishment regarding the alleged (and witnessed by many) behavior of Everett City Councilor and now Rep. Wayne Matewsky who was reported to have spent several minutes publicly insulting a 7-year-old girl with special needs out celebrating her 7th Birthday at the Everett Texas Roadhouse restaurant with her dad and a friend.
According to the dad and other eyewitnesses, Matewsky insulted and yelled at the waitstaff who were unable to satisfy his demands to be moved away from the girl and her family. According to witnesses, Matewsky then left the Roadhouse without paying his bill. For folks who aren’t City Councilors or soon to be state legislators, that likely would have gotten them arrested, but apparently not in Everett.
Oddly this happened before Matewsky’s election to the Massachusetts House and apparently didn’t deter Everett residents from electing him on April 2nd, thus Matewsky, who claims the incident is just a political smear, is now up on Beacon Hill preparing to offer his first votes this next week.
Everett’s city ethics committee is said to be looking into the matter. I’m looking forward to reading their report.
But just the same, if any other elected official had allegedly made slurs against people of color or against people based upon their sexual preference, the media and the political establishment would be demanding that person’s resignation and censuring them from high office or any political future. But judging by the silence of the general press and the political establishment and if the allegations are true, it appears that insulting and slurring a person with a disability is ok.
Some of the citizens of Everett have said let this incident pass because Wayne’s a great guy.
It’s hard to let this pass and this is a moment for progressives to demand accountability for an outrageous act.
I’m not a fan of regularly scheduled denunciations or resignations over saying something stupid, though he should pay for his dine and dash if that is what happened. Definitely file under withholding judgement until I hear both sides.
The family and friends have said it really happened; the now state rep says it didn’t. Rep. Matewksky did, however, apologize to the management of the Roadhouse, but not the family. Interesting.