February 7, 2008
Marion Barry Endorses Obama
Marc Fisher reports that Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry plans to endorse Sen. Barack Obama in next week's Democratic presidential primary. The controversial "mayor for life" had been a longtime supporter of President Bill Clinton, but told Fisher that he has concluded that Sen. Hillary Clinton represents older and less flexible forces in the Democratic party.
The City Paper's Mike DeBonis (aka Loose Lips) provides a handy roundup of endorsements so far by city officials. Other Obama supporters include Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ward 4 Council member Muriel Bowser, Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells and Ward 7 Council member Yvette Alexander. In the Clinton camp are Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham, Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans, Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh and Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr.
How influential is the Barry endorsement? The former mayor did endorse Adrian Fenty over the Anthony Williams-approved Linda Cropp in the last mayoral election -- though obviously, it's impossible to tell how much of a role, if at all, the endorsement played in Fenty's victory. Still, despite his obvious flaws, Barry remains rather popular in Ward 8, and we predict his endorsement will only help ensure the District's delegates go to Obama.
Photo by Kyle Gustafson
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Is that a recent picture MB? He's looking kind of rough.
I know I only vote for candidates endorsed by Marion Barry, so Obama gets my vote!
I bet Hillary's pissed.
How influential is the Barry endorsement? The former mayor did endorse Adrian Fenty over the Anthony Williams-approved Linda Cropp in the last mayoral election -- though obviously, it's impossible to tell how much of a role, if at all, the endorsement played in Fenty's victory.
Yes, the endorsement of a city's mayoral candidate by a popular former mayor of that same city is identical to the endorsement of a presidential candidate by a man whose national claim to fame is being the crack-smoking mayor who got set up by that bitch.
Barry endorsed Fenty a few days before the primary, when it was pretty clear that Fenty would do very well against Cropp (although no one was predicting he would sweep all precincts). It was hardly a bold political move. He saw which way the wind was blowing, and tacked the appropriate direction. And now he can say how strongly he supported the mayor and how disappointed he is that the mayor has disrespected him by [ fill in the blank ].
Barry sees that Obama is going to win DC by large numbers. So he's gonna bet on the winning horse so that he can try to claim some glory ("Wards 7 and 8 went for Obama because I supported him").
Look at Barry's actions on the school closings. He rants up a storm about this latest outrage of disrespect by Fenty and Rhee. He introduces a bill or two that won't go anywhere. He leads the "People's Protest." And then when Fenty announces the final list of closures, he's right behind Fenty nodding his head in agreement and saying that the mayor has made the right decision. Marc Fisher quoted Rhee as being "amazed" at Barry's total bullshit routine and how he just did a complete 180 without even batting an eyelash or the least bit of shame.
If you watch channel 13, Marion Barry is not the joke of the DC Council that you might expect him to be. I'm not sure if that's saying something about Barry or something about the rest of the Council.
(Plus what other councilmember could pull this off?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxj61gOBLjs )
I'm drinking the Obama kool-aid in any case.
As has been said, Barry is just reading the political winds and trying to pretend that he still matters.
I think Barry overheard people supporting "b'Rock" and thought to himself: "Shit, I like to smoke big rock, too!"
what's up with that video, suances?? i didn't know crack could actually destroy your rhythm! time for me to put that stuff down before it's too late!
I hope this endorsement does not tarnish Obamaa and harm his campaign....
"I hope this endorsement does not tarnish Obamaa and harm his campaign...."
That's what I was thinking.
No, this is totally fitting. Barry has long run campaigns of hope and change. Like, I hope they change the law so getting busted in a hotel with a bitch and some crack doesn't put you behind bars.