Originally published in Time Magazine on January 31, 2005
Copyright 2005 Time Inc.
By: Perry Bacon Jr.; Marion Barry
The
former Washington mayor, who left office in disgrace and spent six
months in jail after being caught on video smoking crack, is back. The
newly elected city councilman boycotted last week's Inaugural because
the Federal Government made the city of Washington pay part of the
security costs. Earlier, TIME's Perry Bacon Jr. spoke with Marion Barry
about his improbable comeback.
WHAT MADE
YOU DECIDE TO GET BACK INTO POLITICS? I couldn't take it anymore. I
couldn't take seeing the hopelessness and the frustrations and the kids
being miseducated and not doing something about it. I prayed on it,
talked to a couple of people about it and decided to run. I could win
politically because I know how strong my base is out here.
SHOULD
RESIDENTS WORRY ABOUT THE DRUG PROBLEMS THAT DROVE YOU FROM OFFICE IN
1990? They know my recovery is my recovery. But it's been 14 years.
I've been on city council before and been mayor since then and
performed well in both jobs.
WHAT ABOUT
YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS? YOU HAVE HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES,
PROSTATE CANCER AND ANEMIA. I don't have any health problems. I have
health issues. My diabetes and high blood pressure are under better
control than they've ever been. I take my medication on time, watch my
diet, eat sugar and sweets in moderation. I'm not going to be as active
as I was. I'm 68 years old. I can't run as fast as I used to run, but
my mind is as good as it's ever been.
HOW
DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIRING YOUR CITY TO USE SOME OF
ITS HOMELAND-SECURITY FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE INAUGURATION SECURITY? It's
outrageous. It's ridiculous. The Federal Government has picked up the
tab every other year. Why should the taxpayers of D.C. pay? The Bush
Republicans are terrible.
ARE YOU HAPPY
THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS COMING TO WASHINGTON? Yeah, I'm happy,
but I'm not happy that the public is going to have to finance it. This
is the biggest stickup since Jesse James and the Great Train Robbery.
We've been bamboozled. It's not fair to ask the taxpayers to subsidize
billionaires. Why should we do that, with the housing needs here? Some
of our schools are falling down.
WHAT DID
YOU THINK WHEN YOU WON THE ELECTION? Without being egotistical, I knew
I was going to win. I'm one of the best political strategists in the
country. God blessed me. I wasn't surprised. I knew I was going to win.
ANY
CHANCE YOU MIGHT RUN FOR MAYOR AGAIN? I'm not even thinking about it.
I'm thinking about Ward 8 right now. I'm not interested in being mayor.
I like what I'm doing.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
ABOUT PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM NEW RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, WHO KNOW YOU BEST
FROM THE VIDEOTAPE OF YOUR SMOKING CRACK AND YOUR REACTION--"BITCH SET
ME UP"? I don't try to do anything about that. You can't get everybody
to like you, but I've got a lot of support in this town. People are
trying to marginalize me. I won't be marginalized, and I won't be
demonized. God gave me a gift to inspire people. It's not how many
times you get knocked on your butt, but do you get up? I got up 14
years ago.
I HAVE TO ASK THIS: DO YOU USE
DRUGS ANYMORE, OR ARE YOU IN A DRUG-REHAB PROGRAM? My recovery is my
recovery. You can ask me that again, but that's what I'm going to say.
WHAT
DO YOU THINK NOW ABOUT THAT PART OF YOUR LIFE? It was a snapshot. It
wasn't the whole picture. I honestly wouldn't wish this on me or
anybody else. But that's in the past, and I've asked God for
forgiveness. You hardly hear anything about Bill Clinton or Robert
Downey Jr. There's racism in the downfallen community. If
you're white, people forget about it in a year. Now, 14 years later,
you find the Today show showing the clip. It's all right, but it's racism. *
"It's not how many times you get knocked on your butt, but do you get up?"