Photo by pollyesther.

Talk about a way to squander what could otherwise have been a great week.

After cruising to an overwhelming re-election victory last week, Councilmember-for-life Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) made national news when he criticized Asian business owners in his ward for running “dirty” shops and taking jobs from African Americans. Barry eventually apologized, but not before digging in and claiming that he was just being misunderstood. (This certainly wasn’t the first time Barry said something that offended a particular group.)

Well, it looks like he tried to make amends on Friday, visiting with a Korean business owner in his ward—a “good Asian,” as he said. The Post’s Robert McCartney reported on the incident:

“This is an example of a good Asian,” Barry said. “Even in the black community, we’ve got businessmen who don’t do their share.”

Barry also resisted saying he’d misspoken and suggested he’d been right all along.

“I could have used a better set of words, but the meaning is the same,” Barry said.

Looking back on Barry’s comments, many Asian business owners who have been interviewed admit that he wasn’t necessarily wrong in saying what he did. But they add that singling out Asians in particular made what could otherwise have been a productive discussion of development in a needy part of town a divisive debate over race.

Still, Barry only seemed so phased by last week’s controversy. In an interview with the Examiner, he claimed he was doing “God’s work” and remained as important today as he did decades ago. “I’m a big thinker. I’m bright. I’m probably one of the most courageous, committed, get-things-done people … I’m always fighting,” he said.