bonnie Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 (Graeme Jennings/Examiner) Ward 8 D.C. Councilman Marion Barry said Thursday that he was not trying to insult the city's Asian community during remarks at a campaign event this week. “We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” Barry said in remarks on Tuesday night first reported by WRC-TV. “They ought to go. I’m going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.” "I'm not ever going to condemn a group of people," Barry told reporters gathered in his Wilson Building office Thursday. "My history is complete. It's an excellent history with the Asian community." Barry said his criticisms of Asian businesses in his Southeast Washington ward were rooted in what he perceives as disengagement in the community by those companies. "I'm not going to allow a group of people to exploit people in Ward 8," Barry said. He said he wants Asian businesses to operate in the area but he wants them to "come right." Susan Au Allen, the president of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, said Barry’s comments concerned her. “It’s regrettably inappropriate. I’m hoping he misspoke,” Allen said in an interview with The Washington Examiner. “We should be keeping our focus on how to make life better for everybody.” Allen, who was a member of the city’s Minority Business Opportunity Commission while Barry was mayor, said Asians had sensed opportunity in Ward 8 when they chose to open their businesses. “The Asian businesses are there because they see a place where there’s a need. They went in there to meet the demand,” Allen said. “They’re there to serve the needs of the residents.” Roger Campos, the president and CEO of the Washington-based Minority Business Roundtable, said Barry’s comments were disrespectful to minorities beyond the city’s Asian-American community. “That is totally insensitive. It’s kind of interesting because Asians and Hispanics are fueling the economy in business growth, and we ought to be inclusive of all minority groups, not just one,” Campos said. “He’s got one insensitive focus, and that’s on African-Americans solely and no other groups.” Barry didn’t exactly have his fellow D.C. Council members lining up to support him. “I strongly disagree with the recent remarks made about Asian American business owners in the District,” council Chairman Kwame Brown said in news release. “Statements like that are divisive, destructive, and have absolutely no place in our city.” Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells took to Twitter to react. “My colleague’s remarks about Asian businesses last night were deplorable,” Wells posted. “We are a great city, and we are a diverse city.” Barry, meanwhile, blamed journalists for taking his remarks out of context. "The media ought to apologize," Barry said. "I want an apology from you." Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Woody Posted April 9, 2012 Posted April 9, 2012 Shocking Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Moderators lazarus Posted April 9, 2012 Moderators Posted April 9, 2012 Shocking It is shocking. He's behaving exactly like a Republican would in this situation. He should just admit that he made inappropriate comments and apologize. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
Woody Posted April 9, 2012 Posted April 9, 2012 It's been my observations that Demos make the most racist comments. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Guest Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 It's been my observations that Demos make the most racist comments. And they DON"T apologize...or step down when they should. Or go to jail when they ought to... Quote
Moderators lazarus Posted April 10, 2012 Moderators Posted April 10, 2012 Or go to jail when they ought to... so they say to the judge..... "i'm not going! so there" Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
bonnie Posted April 11, 2012 Author Posted April 11, 2012 Originally Posted By: RLH Or go to jail when they ought to... so they say to the judge..... "i'm not going! so there" How about when it is wrong,it is wrong? Period,plain and simple. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Woody Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 How about when it is wrong,it is wrong? Period,plain and simple. Yes. WE should be calling sin by it's name. And racism in any form is sin. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Guest Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 Originally Posted By: RLH Or go to jail when they ought to... so they say to the judge..... "i'm not going! so there" Haven't you ever heard someone say about someone else: "He ought to be in jail" ? Well, they were talking about a democrat. Quote
Members phkrause Posted April 11, 2012 Members Posted April 11, 2012 Haven't you ever heard someone say about someone else: "He ought to be in jail" ? Well, they were talking about a democrat. Yes and that can be said of republicans as well. Above all they said it of a human who has no value for others. Didn't you read in that same article all his peers that condemned what he said? Those were also democrats and African Americans Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
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