Harry Jaffe: Racism alive and well in D.C. Council

You have to give Marion Barry his due: The dude is consistent. He came to power in this town in the 1960s by pitting blacks against whites; while mayor for 16 years, he slapped down the race card every time he was threatened; in the twilight of his career, he is once again demonizing people by the color of their skin, rather than the content of their character.

How else can we interpret the way he criticized parks chief nominee Ximena Hartsock, who happens to be a Latina? In the midst of an ugly confirmation hearing last week, Barry led his colleagues into the racial realm when he said Hartsock was not qualified because she didn’t “understand our culture,” as in black culture.