D.C. Councilman Marion Barry and radio host and political commentator Chuck Thies got personal with each other during Thursday morning’s broadcast on a day when the councilman was under fire for a derrogatory comment about Asians in the city.
In short, Barry kicked off the program on WPFW-FM by accusing Thies of calling Ward 8 residents dumb. Later on he was asked to explain his negative comment about Asian business owners and told Thies, “You don’t know any better. You don’t know my history with the Asian community.” Barry didn’t saying “We’ve got to do something about these Asians coming in,” but said he wasn’t talking about all Asians.
Barry also cited his long history of bringing people together. Especially during his first term as mayor in the 1970s, Bary was known for his ability to speak to any crowd — black, white, rich or poor — and find a middle ground for compromise.
But then this dialogue ensued:
Thies: But shortly after your election you made this divisive statement about Asians and then this morning you – (Barry tries to interrupt) hold on a second – you started this program by saying I feel that Ward 8 residents are dumb and stupid. That is DE-visive. That is divisive (repeats as Barry tries to interrupt agian).
Barry: I’m not interested in bringing everybody together. I’m not interested in bringing [together] naysayers and negative-thinking people and wishful-thinking people. I’m interested in people who work hard to make this community the best that it can be —
Thies: — And are you the judge of that?
Barry: — Yes. Absolutely. For me, absolutely.
Thies: Then in what way have I ever intimated that a Ward 8 resident is dumb?
Barry: First of all in the delegate [to the Democratic National Convention] race, you castigated me …
Barry goes on to say the people chose him as a delegate to the convention despite Thies’ columns pleaing with voters not to choose him. But the councilman never does back up his initial accusation.
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