Stewart Points Out Marion Barry's Hypocrisy In Opposing Gay Marriage Over "Morals" (VIDEO)

At a "Stand Up For Marriage" rally in Washington, D.C. recently, ex-Mayor and current Councilman Marion Barry said, "We have to say 'no' to same-sex marriage in D.C....I am a politician who is moral." The rally was in response to legislation that would allow the District to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Jon Stewart, ever the stickler for hypocrisy, pointed out that "morals" never seemed to be Barry's strong suit in that he smoked crack and cheated on his wife for years. He was eventually charged with three felony counts of perjury, 10 counts of misdemeanor drug possession, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy after being caught in a sting operation, though 12 of those counts didn't stick. When Barry returned to politics after jail, he ran under the slogan, "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for D.C."


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Comments

[PuffDragon]

God is all-inclusive. Religion is exclusionary.

When will people get it?

Using "religion" to push political views like anti-gay, anti-Muslim, anti-you-name-it
is, by definition, hypocrisy.

[AGarcia]

Dear John Stewart:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30629823#30629823

Don't be clown, care about something that matters.

[Foreground]

Two things:

A) It's *Jon* Stewart, unless you're talking about the Green Lantern, in which case I'd like to see *your* plan to keep Sinestro from tossing the Earth into the sun with his yellow power ring,

and B) Civil Rights, Seperation of Church and State and Corrupt/Hy­pocritical Politicians aren't important where you live?

[thundermummy]

Sinestro, nice. ;)

[Foreground]

Though let me say that the link in your post *is* interesting.

[AxelDC]

Gay rights do matter, at least to those of us who are gay.

[AuntiepoppyCock]

OH MY!

Marion Barry did u forget about the crack set up whatcha' majig?" And all the children you failed because of your lackluster job as Mayor?

He's about as moral as a ny mpho at a po rn convention.

[Disuberence]

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere­.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."

-Coretta Scott King

As a gay man I can only hope to one day find acceptance among the black churchgoing community. If only more people would listen to these great champions for civil rights.

[NPA]

What ever happened to TMI, too much information. As an heterosexual adult I have a problem with telling people whom they can love and limit their pursuit of happiness. Since I'm not gay, its simply not my business what gay people do. That's the way I see it. The world has too many issues to worry about what consenting adults do.

[sfirx]

Do you apply that same standard to polygamist?

[Paulied]

"The g*ddam b!tch set me up!"

[AxelDC]

That should be etched in bold letters on Barry's tombstone.

[bazokbros]

Stewart pointing out Marion Barry's moral hypocrisy is similar to pointing out skunks stink.

[BluePrideStephen]

and he did so only 'cause the skunk was discussing aroma therapy with a peach.

[arthuride]

Marion Barry and the Black evangelical ministers are as bad as the Roman Catholic drones who follow clueslessly the calloused curia of the German Pope Benedict XVI--spewing hatred and without a mention of their own past sins. I used to be (a long time ago) a Carmelite monk, and taught Church history, and came across numerous references to homosexuals marrying in the first 300 years of the church's history--and women being ordained priests and bishops--until the more venal vicars and posturing priests were sufficiently intimidated by the rise of choice that the Catholic church outlawed sex as a principle of pleasure and pushed for two unnatural sex acts: chastity and celibacy, and limited marriage as a sacrament. Yet Jesus never married but lived with 12 men, and never condemned gay marriages (he just went to one wedding where he changed water into wine so the festivities would be more jolly--but it does not say who or what married--it could have been a gay wedding since the scripture is silent on this point). But with the absurdity of Christianity reaching its newest and lowest point in DC, I am proud to shrug off the last blindness of religion and be born again as I was at birth: an atheist.

[Infostream]

Such a shame to once again see Black religious leaders leading the discrimination parade. I hate to throw in the race thing, but as a gay man with some first-hand knowledge I just wanted to give some insight to point out - that homophobic ranting has a price, and it is in the down-low gay sex subculture many Black men turn to rather than deal with the extreme homophobia these "leaders" spew. Just look at the HIV infection rates in DC, 1 out of 10 Black males is positive, and part of that is because guys on the DL see safe sex as a "gay thing" and condoms are used far less often than in sex between out gay men. And since the DL guys are functionally bisexual, str8 Black women suffer not only being lied to by someone they love, but also higher HIV infection rates.

[bazokbros]

You need to open your eyes because Black religious leaders, and minority religious leaders as well, are just as conservative as the most biggoted and far right White religious counter parts in many respects. Homosexuality is not widely accepted in the black community and is ridiculed and shunned.

[Infostream]

That was my point, that Black religious leaders produce even more homophobia in their communities than white religious leaders do. How on earth did you not get that?

[MichelleB]

Morality? Marion Barry, what? Is this a bad joke:)-

[SteveDenver]

Next: The Rush Limbaugh Ab Workout

[al3038]

That was very good.

[Lefty Illuminate]

It never ceases to amaze me that extending a basic civil right (no religion involved) to fellow human beings evokes the "end of the world" response that GLBT marriage does. Somehow i have a hard time giving "King Crack and Hookers" Barry any credibility at all when it comes to the GLBT folks destroying the sancitity of marriage. We have a 60% divorce rate for new marriages, and a 40% and 50% rate of infedelity for woman end men respectively, and the GLBT community is going to ruin marriage? If anything, ol' Marrion and his egregious lapses of judgement are a glowing example of how we've already done quite the number on that, thank you...

just my two cents

Lefty

[Megan97401]

Well I'm sure Marion Barry asked God's forgiveness for his past indiscretions so his moral authority is completely restored! Right?

[SteveDenver]

What most christians don't know about their religion is that "God" is not loving and benevolent, "he" is judgment and righteousness and that is why "Jesus" had to die on the cross to pay for all those sins (so humans wouldn't have to die to pay for their own sins). God is Love is the biggest christian misnomer, God would say nothing to Marion. Jesus might not be too impressed, either: he is attributed with saying, "They will know you are christians by your love." Also, christian faith is measured by works, although works are not required for salvation (this is all their stuff, not mine). I would say Marion's faith, measured by his works, doesn't add up to much.

Condemnation of gays by a philandering drug addict isn't very convincing.

[tnlcallen]

I think most folks don't understand that Christianity is very complex. Why do you think there are so many different denominations, because no one can agree on what the truth is. I know this is going to be hard for some folks to swallow, but you probably shouldn't condemn Christians for believing that Gay Marriage is wrong. They are just following the Tenants of their Religion.

[SocksForChristmas]

I know it would make bad PR, but every time I see these people talking about their god in these discussions, I just want to stand behind them and make yap-yap motions with my hands. Enough with your god already--he's YOUR god, not mine, so stop expecting me to give a crap what he thinks!

[Megan97401]

I've been an ex-Catholic for quite some time. I've always tried to be tolerant and fair when it came to other's beliefs, but as time goes by my patience is waning. I can understand people's fervor when they believe that their way is the only right way, and I realize they have books they accept as truth to back them up, but it's just not the way to live in a diverse society.

I say if you want your morality and can't handle deviation from what you believe to be right, go live somewhere else. Stop telling other people how to live. I mean, really, how many Christians campaign against gays versus gays campaigning against Christians? Have your theocratic state and leave us out of it, please.

[shel3364]

My God doesn't hate, contrary to many signs I've seen at certain rallies.

He's patient and will deal with people in his own good time in his own good way.

He also has a FABULOUS sense of humor. (see: GOP)

[Infostream]

I know! Tidal waves and earthquakes that kill thousands, childhood leukemia, breast cancer, Alzheimer's, creating multiple religions and then torturing in hell for eternity the people who choose the wrong one, creatively designing beautiful animals that are programmed to brutally kill and eat each other - - that god of yours is a laugh riot!

[James Markopoulos]

Got any evidence for that?

[MagicalPossibilities]

Well, my God is pretty cool too, but She is pissed at these dopes spreading H8 in Her name...

[JohnBisceglia]

Rudi Giuliani, Marion Barry, Newt Gingrich - such GREAT examples of Holy Matrimony.

[Fernando]

Not enough credit goes to the writers of the Daily Show who come up with this stuff. But it is a combination of good writing and delivery; Jon Steward is a genius.

[shel3364]

...and let's not forget the hypocrites who provide the mountains of material from which to choose.

[aquarius64]

Keep it up, Revs.! Blow your chances that the Obamas will choose your house of worship as their church home. If he does, your on-screen rants can and will be used against the president in 2012. He escaped Rev. Wright; God help us if it sticks.