Marion Barry’s Negative Press Strategy - FishbowlDC
Marion Barry, former D.C. Mayor, current (and recently reelected) City Council member and noted geologist (okay, maybe not, but he is known for fancying certain types of rocks), just can’t help but make himself a liability where the media is concerned. He represents Ward 8, the part of the District most resembling Detroit.
To celebrate his victory Tuesday night, Barry took to the microphone…to attack Asians. Yeah, I don’t get it either. Actually, I do. A microphone and cameras only capture stupidity, they don’t create it.
Barry said, “We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. They ought to go. I’m going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.”
Those damn Asians just come into town, open stores where no one else is willing, to employ people and sell things people need. It’s like Pearl Harbor all over again, if Pearl Harbor were economic growth in an area of depression. Diabolical!
But this is what the voters of Ward 8 wanted, a dude with a history clouded in crack smoke and hatred.