Last week, far-right blog E City Beat was seemingly shocked to discover that nobody considers them a legitimate news source. The blog’s history of unethical and misleading “reporting” is too numerous to list, but you can check out one recent example here.
WTF has highlighted Commissioner Tryon’s lack of journalistic ethics, and many candidates have long steered clear of promoting the hate-mongering of ECB’s authors. Now, the blog’s Republican base is realizing that aligning with extremism may not be the most electable course of action.
As pro-choice sentiment permeates the nation, Great Falls’ Republicans are afraid of losing their seats. Luckily, we already know where Republican incumbents stand on abortion. Every Great Falls’ Republican voted AGAINST choice last session, and we have no doubt they’ll do the same if elected again.
Now, the same Republicans that have benefited from ECB’s radicalism are refusing to answer a candidate questionnaire. A screenshot from ECB’s resulting temper tantrum confirms that R candidates don’t want voters to know their real stance on abortion. Luckily, we don’t need any survey from a mediocre hate blog to know where these candidates stand. A total abortion ban is a top priority for Montana’s GOP. If we want to protect privacy in Montana, we need to vote Democrat down the entire ticket.
As for ECB’s hilarious “demand” for local candidates to respond to their survey, I can’t help but enjoy the obvious sense of entitlement. I suspect were WTF to make similar demands, we’d quickly be called “snowflakes” and reminded that nobody owes us anything. I have no doubt that Democratic candidates will respond to questionnaires that come from actual journalists and news sources. In the meantime, we’ll continue to spread the word about where Republicans really stand on abortion. Truly, we never needed ECB for that.
Screenshot of Republicans’ response to ECB and resulting tantrum
Earlier this month, Great Falls held its annual 4th of July parade. As usual, Republicans, Democrats, and many individual candidates marched with signs vying for votes and support. A new message was present this year as well- a demand for Reproductive Rights. Around 50 Great Falls citizens carried Pro-Choice signs and peacefully marched to demand bodily autonomy. Unlike the graphic and misleading Pro-Life signs showing dead babies, the Democrats kept it classy. Signs did not contain graphic images or profanity.
Unsurprisingly, E-City beat took offense to this peaceful demonstration. But what exactly IS E-city beat? Wonderful question. It’s an extremist political blog that likes to pretend it’s legitimate journalism. Run by Phil Faccenda, local architect and hatemonger, and Rick Tryon. E-City Beat constantly harasses both public figures and private citizens alike. This objectionable behavior is made more concerning considering one of the extremists behind the keyboard, Rick Tryon, is also a city commissioner. In response to the parade demonstration, they published a tenuous argument that the parade was not an appropriate venue to protest. Perhaps Phil and Rick need a reminder of American history? The 4 th of July celebrates the United States’ independence from Britain. Facing unfair conditions from their government, revolutionaries first launched a protest (remember the Boston Tea Party?) before later declaring Independence. The celebration itself honors fighting back against government tyranny. Peacefully exercising our 1 st Amendment right seems a befitting tribute indeed to the ideology of Freedom.
(Please note that July 4 th itself is problematic, ignoring both Indigenous Genocide, slavery, and the alarming and outdated definition of who our Founding Fathers considered a person. But that discussion merits a much longer article. Today we’re just gonna cover the blatant hypocrisy of anti-protest sentiments).
Far more questionable than any protest is the conduct of E City Beat in both their writing and their online response to pushback. After attempting to downplay the number of participants, claiming only a dozen or so were present, E City was quick to block and delete comments from anyone that disagreed with them. In typical bully fashion, E City Beat’s authors continually target Great Falls citizens, but whine and cry when anyone calls them out on it.
These scared little men are becoming increasingly fragile. Although many comments were indeed about the content of the article, E City posted the included screenshot threatening permanent bans for those that disagree with them. Quite funny, considering the blogs history of targeting both public figures and private citizens alike and engaging in “childish” name-calling themselves.
In honor of the growing citizenry finding themselves blocked by Phil Faccenda and Rick Tryon, we’re starting a new re-occurring segment. We at WTF would never encourage the kind of bullying we see from right-wing hate blogs. However, if you’ve made a perfectly valid comment and it got you blocked, be sure to screenshot, and message for the chance to receive your own “I pissed off ECB” Club Member pin. Haven’t been blocked but would like to share your experience or opinion of E City Beat with us? Hit us up! You could be featured on “E- City Beat Watch.”
