Mayors Behaving Badly: Rob Ford vs. Marion Barry

Is Toronto Mayor Rob Ford the new Marion Barry?

Two Wrongs - Marion Barry has lost his singular distinction as the only mayor publically caught smoking crack cocaine. Thanks to video evidence now in the possession of police officials, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has figuratively been busted with pipe in hand. Both have well-earned reputations for being able to spin a good sound bite, but Barry says their situations are not the same. You be the judge. – Joyce Jones (Photos from left: Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times /Landov, David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Two Wrongs - Marion Barry has lost his singular distinction as the only mayor publically caught smoking crack cocaine. Thanks to video evidence now in the possession of police officials, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has figuratively been busted with pipe in hand. Both have well-earned reputations for being able to spin a good sound bite, but Barry says their situations are not the same. You be the judge. – Joyce Jones (Photos from left: Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times /Landov, David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Drug of Choice - Crack Cocaine (Photo:Oswaldo Rivas/ REUTERS) (NICARAGUA)

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Drug of Choice - Crack Cocaine (Photo:Oswaldo Rivas/ REUTERS) (NICARAGUA)

Photo By Photo:Oswaldo Rivas/ REUTERS

The Video - Barry: During an FBI sting in 1990, Barry, while mayor of the nation's capitol, was caught on video smoking crack in a Washington hotel room.Ford: For months, allegations have been made about a video in which Ford is seen smoking the addictive substance. He denied a video existed, but Toronto police discovered it during an investigation of one of the mayor's friends.  (Photo: Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department)

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The Video - Barry: During an FBI sting in 1990, Barry, while mayor of the nation's capitol, was caught on video smoking crack in a Washington hotel room.Ford: For months, allegations have been made about a video in which Ford is seen smoking the addictive substance. He denied a video existed, but Toronto police discovered it during an investigation of one of the mayor's friends.  (Photo: Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department)

Their Reaction - Barry: "B---h set me up." Ford: "You can't comment on something that doesn’t exist." (Photos from left:Robert Giroux/Files /Landov/REUTERS, Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Their Reaction - Barry: "B---h set me up." Ford: "You can't comment on something that doesn’t exist." (Photos from left:Robert Giroux/Files /Landov/REUTERS, Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Photo By Photos from left:Robert Giroux/Files /Landov/REUTERS

Not the Same Thing - When news of the existence of a video documenting Ford smoking crack was first disclosed, Barry denied any parallels. “Unless he was entrapped by the government, it’s not similar," he told the Washington City Paper.   (Photo: Dominic Bracco II/Getty Images)

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Not the Same Thing - When news of the existence of a video documenting Ford smoking crack was first disclosed, Barry denied any parallels. “Unless he was entrapped by the government, it’s not similar," he told the Washington City Paper.   (Photo: Dominic Bracco II/Getty Images)

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Why It Happened - Barry: "I'm a night owl."Ford: "Um, probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably about a year ago."(Photos from left: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images, Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Why It Happened - Barry: "I'm a night owl."Ford: "Um, probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably about a year ago."(Photos from left: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images, Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Promises to Do Better - Barry: "It's one day at a time."  Ford: "I can assure people, hopefully it doesn't happen again." (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Promises to Do Better - Barry: "It's one day at a time."  Ford: "I can assure people, hopefully it doesn't happen again." (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

The Consequences - Barry served six months in a federal prison. In 1994, however, he made a comeback and won a fourth term as mayor. He's currently a D.C. city councilman.Ford has seen his approval numbers increase by five points. (Photo: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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The Consequences - Barry served six months in a federal prison. In 1994, however, he made a comeback and won a fourth term as mayor. He's currently a D.C. city councilman.Ford has seen his approval numbers increase by five points. (Photo: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)