CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Marion Barry, the outspoken former mayor of Washington D.C., told The Daily Caller that he’s still a big supporter of President Barack Obama but said he doesn’t think the president has done as much for African-Americans as he would like.
“He’s not done everything I wanted him to do, but he’s done more than anyone else has done,” Barry, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, told TheDC in a brief interview in the hallway of the convention center here.
But he made a point of praising Obama: “Very happy with him. What is our alternative? Mitt Romney? Not me,” he said with a laugh.
Barry, wearing a red “I’m a Democrat and I support DC Statehood” T-shirt, said he plans to spend his time in Charlotte promoting statehood for the District of Columbia.
“My main focus here is statehood,” Barry said. “Trying to get the party to put statehood in their platform, which they’ve not yet done.”
In recent months, Barry, now a city councilman, has found himself in hot water — and constantly apologizing — for offensive comments. Earlier this year, he was criticized for saying, “We’ve got to do something about these Asians coming in, opening up businesses — those dirty shops” in his district.
Following these controversial remarks, critics questioned whether Barry should represent D.C. at the Democrats convention. The former mayor told TheDC on Monday that his attendance is a tradition.
“I’ve been a delegate since 1972,” he said.