Marion Barry [47 cents]

I was a supporter of Marion Barry during his first two terms as D.C. mayor. I thought he did a very good job bridging all portions of the city, from the poor to the business community. Then, he got caught in his own drug and sex addiction problems, and his performance was drastically affected, but I felt for him, because addictions are just that, and not always controllable. I did think that he was entrapped, and that his prison sentence was not necessary.

After he came out of prison, he announced he was "clean" and eventually, after a bout with prostate cancer and some domestic turmoil, announced he would re-run for his old Ward 8 city council seat. It was clear that he would win, because his popularity in Ward 8 has always been extraordinary.

So, now he is again on the council.

But it turns out that he has not filed federal or DC tax returns for 4 or 5 years, that he has been in negotiation with (at least) the feds for a year or more [I think I remember my facts here], that a plea bargaining agreement that would have most likely kept him out of prison was not completed, and that the entire matter is now unresolved. He also has reportedly stated that his personal problems have kept him from concentrating fully on his legislative responsibilities. He apparently, by the way, does not deny his failure to file his tax returns.

This is outrageous. This is not addiction, and I have found no reason at this point to have any sympathy with him whatsoever. My question is:

1. Why is he still on the council? How can someone who has admittedly not filed DC returns for years be permitted to serve as a legislator?

2. Why is there not a groundswell for his resignation?

3. What is wrong with the rest of the council? Why aren't they, at the very least, censuring him?

4. Why has the press, after a flurry of reports over a period of a few days some weeks ago, grown silent?

5. Why is there not a legitimate voice coming from Ward 8 asking these questions?

6. Why is he still considered a celebrity? Why, for example, was he a keynote speaker at the Millions More March last week, speaking as a role model, and on behalf of the people of Washington DC? How could the organizers permit that under the circumstances?