A political WTF?: The city councilman who refuses to pay 11 years of taxes and stays out of jail.

[Stinky The Clown]

The Honorable Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), a Washington, DC city councilman, former crack head, and convicted ex felon who whined on tape that "the bitch set me up" manages to stay out of jail ....... how, exactly?

He fails to pay his taxes for 11 years. Didn't even file, most years. Is on probation. And he gets more probation.

What

The

Fuck?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/22/AR2009052202407.html

[east texas lib]

1. At least he dresses well...nt

;-)

[Canuckistanian]

5. He looks like the mayor in a blacksploitation film

I'm not going to mention WHAT ELSE he looks like.

[cloudbase]

2. He thought it was the District of 'Colombia.' nt

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Honorable huh?

Is that like military intelligence?

[Ocracoker16]

4. I can't believe all the breaks he gets

He needs to be thrown in jail. He doesn't add anything to city council. He is just always confused about what is going on. Crack definitely messed with his head.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Cause he's pimp like that.

[Ian David]

7. He has to star a free man to protect the sanctity of his third marriage from teh gays. n/t

[freelancer3072]

8. First of all, no DC resident should have to pay taxes, as we don't have any representation

Every resident of the District of Columbia is being taxed without representation. So as far as I'm concerned, my former Mayor has done nothing wrong.

Councilman Barry has done a lot of good for this city.

And, he's recovering from complications from his kidney transplant.

I'm very offended by some of the comments towards him in this thread.

[prolesunited]

9. There are plenty of good people

who have health conditions and they pay their taxes. Why shouldn't he?

[freelancer3072]

10. Because he's being taxed without representation, that's why.

I don't think people really "get" it.

You know all of those commericals that various interest groups run saying "contact your Congressman" about this or that issue? Well, residents of the District of Columbia don't have that option, because we don't have any members of Congress representing us. We have one Delegate who is not permitted to vote on final passage of legislation. Never mind that the legislation that Congress passes still affects us; just like it affects every other American.

It's called taxation without representation. If the US government does not want us to have any representation in the Congress, we should not be paying federal taxes. Plain and simple.

[norepubsin08]

12. Good for you...just like..

any convicted felon who is denied the right to vote in their state after release from probation and prison shouldn't have to pay any taxes either...

[donco6]

13. Ha! That's laughable.

DC has such a positive cash flow of tax benefits, representation would only DECREASE their winnings.

[freelancer3072]

14. What part of taxation without representation don't you understand?

For me, nothing is "laughable" about the fact that DC residents pay federal taxes just like every other American, and yet we have no representation in the U.S. Congress.

This is not a "laughable" issue, my friend.

I don't think that people who live outside of DC truly have a grasp of this issue. The laws that the United States Congress passes affect us, just like they affect every other American. However, unlike most other Americans, we really have no one in Congress elected to work and vote on our behalf. Delegate Norton cannot vote on final passage of legislation. Meaning, she really doesn't have a say in legislation that affects her constituents.

[donco6]

15. Yeah, I know. You all have it so hard.

Snort.

[freelancer3072]

16. Grow up and get a clue. It's apparent you have no grasp or understanding

of this issue.

Please educate yourself.

[donco6]

17. Right.

So the DC resident is telling the westerner about lack of representation. About how you're so slighted. About how you're taxed without representation. Boo effing hoo.

Here's a proposal. I'll support representation, if your federal tax support drops to an amount equivalent to your population. How's that?

[votingupstart]

18. well tough luck - i am usually all for second chances however

you moved there knowing the deal - you deal with it - no pity here, trust me i would love for you to pay - less i have to

including smoking crack on camera, fraud, tax evasion how is that an honorable servant of the people?

half of america has medical issues - if they are to much for him then step down and concentrate on getting well not avoding the IRS

get thicker skin - when you put your name besides a convicted felon who is a laughing stock - you are going to get made fun of

[freelancer3072]

19. What do you mean "you moved there knowning the deal". Believe it or not

Some folks were actually born and raised here.

And what does Councilman Barry's past addiction have to do with this conversation? Not a thing.

Lastly, he is not some laughing stock. Councilman Barry still commands a lot of respect among the residents in DC. Why? Because he made sure that people worked. There are a lot of people who, when growning up, had a summer job every time they wanted one, because then Mayor Barry made sure that everyone who wanted to work, was able to. That's why people still love him. Because they realize that whatever sins he had were personal ones. But that when it came to running this city, he put the citizens first. There are past students of the University of the District of Columbia who remember him protestin right along side them when the University was being threatened with being shut down.

Bottom line: unless you have lived in this city, you have no clue about the good things he has done and why people here love him so much.

[donco6]

20. Hmm, with that logic . . .

. . . no one should ever have a thought about anyplace they've never lived.

Oh, and BTW, the reason Barry was able to employ everyone was because he was SPENDING THE CITY INTO THE GUTTER!

[votingupstart]

22. here is what i mean

You CHOOSE to still live in DC so you deal with the complications of YOUR CHOICE - no sympathy

did you not read the OP (original post) - let me QUOTE "former crack head" that what his "past addiction" has to do with it know what you are talking about before you hit the submit button (now you look like an idiot for bringing it up - better yet, stay stupid and ignorant)

Yes he is constantly made fun of, "that bitch set me up" seriously?, he only retained his position because of the strong support his wife gave and no serious political figures will continually join his initiatives (because he has NO CREDIBILITY on anything larger than the LOCAL stage). not to mention he has SPENT DC INTO THE GROUND.

I have lived in the City, and he is one of the reasons i moved to NOVA - so yea - i know what I am talking about - obviously you don't

[donco6]

21. And since I forgot to mention it:

Marion Barry is a dick.

"All hell is going to break loose," Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) told reporters after he cast the lone vote against the bill this week. "We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this." Mr. Barry says the "civil war" comment was said in jest, but that doesn't erase the harm of his words. No doubt there are many African Americans who, for religious or other reasons, are opposed to recognizing marriage between people of the same sex. The same can be said of a lot of white people, but it's a certainty that there are people of all colors who see the right of gay men and lesbians to marry as a matter of justice and fairness.

[graywarrior]

11. Pne of our republican selectman just got slapped with a tax lien of $427,000

Crow Dickinson. The guy is a total idiot.