Reply to Anyone been here since the 80s / early 90s? How did smart locals react to Marion Barry

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m black, moved to DC recently, and also wonder about this.  I recall him being seen as a joke in national news growing up.  Also don’t understand his appeal among DC natives, and their willingness to excuse his major indiscretions.[/quote]

When he was first elected, black people had no power.  He finally gave black people a voice here.  He had his demons, but was a really smart guy.  As time went on, the power got to him.  This is not unlike many other cities. [b] If the feds had not gone after him, I don't think he would have been re-elected.  I think it was a protest vote.  [/quote][/b]

It was a protest vote. People who had soured on Barry at that time would have never reelected him for a fourth time, but for the police entrapment. Yes, he smoked the coke. However, if you look at the video, Barry wanted putane and not coke. He kept pushing the drugs  away, reaching for her. She kept offering the drugs first until he acquiesced. Bam, the FBI breaks in through the door as soon as he says "ok, give it to me", and takes the drugs. Yes, his fourth election was a protest vote. And, from that protest vote, over objection, Barry insisted on placing the Reeves Center on 14th and U to begin the revitalization of U Street. He increased the hiring of MPD and FEMS. And he hired the guy who replaced him when he decided not to run for a fifth term, Anthony Williams. Barry could have been like so many of our politicians and became filthy rich, but he was not in it for the money. He really was in it for the people. Other people around him got rich, but not him. Like many on DCUM, Barry had his demons. However, because of his public position, his demons were splashed all across the Washington Post. [/quote]

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