Washington D.C. Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry, the two-time mayor of D.C. (January 2, 1979 – January 2, 1991 and January 2, 1995 – January 2, 1999), who between those jobs (in October 1999) was sentenced to a six-month federal prison term for cocaine possession, was again arrested on July 4 for stalking his girlfriend, staff member Donna Watts-Brighthaupt.
Not surprisingly, the thrice married, tax-evading, crack-smoking (pic above) public official thinks of himself as a moral authority and voted last May against a bill committing Washington, D.C. to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of D.C. because, as he put it, the bill "goes against my moral compass."
Barry was the lone dissenter in the 12-1 vote.
With all the trouble Barry has caused himself over the years, it's hard to believe he has a moral compass, but it's even harder to believe he would actually cite it as a reason behind his vote. And now that nine voicemails and an argument between Barry and Watts-Brighthaupt have been made public by Watts-Brighthaupt's ex-husband Delonta Brighthaupt, it's pretty clear that Barry isn't the moral authority on loving relationships.
The Washington City paper began its story on the Barry/Watts-Brighthaupt's argument this way:
In mid-June, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt had an encounter with Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry. Watts was driving around, taking care of some personal business, when Barry caught sight of her. He made a point of getting her to pull over, and the two quickly got involved in an intense discussion.
The exchange hinged on their roughly yearlong relationship, a bizarre one even by the standards of one of the District’s most-watched womanizers. As Barry attempted to stake out his position on their fortunes, Watts-Brighthaupt was quick to point out the ways in which she felt mistreated. One stood out:
“You put me out in Denver ’cause I wouldn’t suck your dick,” Watts-Brighthaupt yelled at Barry.
Here's the some of what was said in that recording:
Watts-Brighthaupt: Why you saying he fuck me like you did?...Why you sayin’ he has my credit fucked up, and. you know. I think you telling your friends, sayin’ I want a man who fucked me up, fucked my credit up, got me to lose my house and she keep goin’ back to that man…You want me to think I’m crazy…All I’m trying to saying is I forgive. You put me out in Denver cause I wouldn’t suck your dick. You put me out in Denver! You made me have to fuck your ass up in the middle of a Las Vegas casino...my shoes off. We were like fuckin’ Tina and Ike Turner. And I forgive. Alright you just wastin my damn time?...I can’t believe this….you always… you don’t think about other people’s time. You’re inconsiderate…
The long and sordid story, including audio and text of the argument and voicemails are here. (Popcorn and laugh track not included.)
Of course, Barry denies that he was stalking Watts-Brighthaupt, and through a spokesperson called her unstable.
Hello, Pot? Meet Kettle.
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