A Call for the Resignation of Councilman Marion Barry

This morning, the Washington Post broke the story that D.C. Councilman Marion Barry tested positive for drugs, most likely cocaine, this past fall. The time for patience or sympathy has long since passed. Mr. Barry must resign-- or be recalled.

Barry's latest moral bump was discovered only because the drug testing was a condition of his being released pending his sentencing for pleading guilty to tax fraud. In October, Barry pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from his failure to pay federal and D.C. income taxes for six years following his fourth term as mayor in 1999. Barry failed to report income of $530,000 during this time.

For those who may not be familiar with a bit of infamous D.C. history: In 1990, Barry, then mayor of D.C., was arrested at a hotel after being videotaped smoking crack. He served six months for cocaine possession, but won a D.C. Council seat in 1992 and a fourth mayoral term in 1994. Barry definitively disproved the rule "there are no second acts in politics."

Now we know Barry is a tax cheat and a repeat drug offender. Either offense would be sufficient to request a resignation. Added together, demanding that he step down becomes a moral imperative. Councilman Barry represents perhaps the most economically-depressed and crime-ridden ward in the city with serious social issues. His inexcusable behavior represents a horrible example for the youth of Ward 8. How can young men and women make the right decisions when their representative is a criminal?

A competent individual with a morally clear vision is what Ward 8 needs. The question becomes whether Barry's colleagues on the City Council will call for his resignation and shun him at every turn. Any hesitancy to do so given Barry's guilty plea and three Post sources would reflect a lack of principles. Let's make sure there are no third acts in politics.