QUESTIONS FOR MARION S. BARRY JR.

Out But Not Down

Q: You've had a pretty rocky political career. While you were mayor, you
were convicted of cocaine possession and served time in prison. Then, in
March, you announced you were planning to run for City Council. But you
dropped out after the police said they found traces of drugs in your car.
After everything you went through as mayor, why did you even want to run
for office again? And wouldn't it have felt like a step back returning to
City Council?

A: Well, first of all, public service is honorable service, and even my
most ardent critics would say I was an excellent legislator. So I didn't
see it as stepping up or stepping down. And you know, John Quincy Adams, he
went from being president to what was it? Congress? And Hillary Clinton
went from being the first lady of the United States of America to being a
senator in New York. And some people would say that's a step down, but it
wasn't. It's a step over.

Q: So is this it for you in politics?

A: You never know what opportunities may lie ahead. I mean, I'm still loved
in this town. I could have won the election. I didn't find hardly anybody
who didn't want me to run.

Q: Then why drop out? You weren't arrested this time. Wouldn't this
incident have blown over?

A: It would pass, but the damage would have been done. A story a day about
this, about that, allegations and gossip and just a whole bunch of stuff
that I don't need, that the city doesn't need.

Q: What had you missed about politics?

A: Not much. I was happy relaxing and working as an investment banker and
doing community service from time to time.

Q: Why did you want to come back then?

A: When I looked around in Washington and I would go to the supermarket to
shop, everywhere I'd go people would say to me: "We don't have anybody
speaking out for us down there. You got to go back and speak out for us."
For the last four or five months, that's all I've been getting. I can't
even shop in the grocery store without spending an hour or two with people.

Q: Isn't that irritating?

A: I like it. I'm a former public official -- it comes with the territory.
One time, I came out of a restaurant and this one homeless guy just hugged
me. And I said: "Man, will you let me go? You know? Chill man!" He is
going, "Hey, Mr. Barry, arrrrrhhhh." He was half drunk too. I said, "Look
man, I got to go."

Q: But he's what you've called "the least, the last and the lost." That guy
is part of your constituency.

A: I love them. But sometimes you've got to get a little firm. I mean, I
don't mind hugging guys. I'm secure in my masculinity. But sometimes my
mind is on shopping.

Q: So tell us about this recent run-in and the drugs that the police said
were found in your car.

A: That's all lies, all made up. First of all, I'm drug free, and I've
worked hard at that. And I maintain that situation. And two, they were lying.

Q: Why would they lie?

A: Well, they had to figure out a reason to stop me and question me. So
they said I had powder on my nose, and that's bull. I wasn't using any
cocaine. I don't use it. And secondly, to embarrass Marion Barry, that's a
big thing. The good news is that most people didn't believe it.

Q: Why don't you think people believe it?

A: Well, first of all, people see me. I don't look like a typical addict
looks. I look good. I'm 66 years of age, but I look about 50 probably. And
I carry myself in a very respectful manner.

Q: But can you really expect people to believe you when you have been
arrested for cocaine in the past? I mean, the F.B.I. caught you on tape.

A: That was 12 long years ago. And let me just say this: The government did
not prove that there was cocaine in what they gave me. My lawyer maintains
it was something we don't know what the hell it was.

Q: For someone who has worked to keep himself on a spiritual path, you seem
to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time quite a bit. You
never hear about the Dalai Lama getting in trouble like this.

A: There's no analogy with that. The Dalai Lama is probably up in the
mountains. I don't know where he is, not around this environment that can
sometimes tempt you to do things. That's how I see it. He's up there
praying, I guess.