Barry Refuses to Confirm or Deny Quote on Jackson

Mayor Marion Barry refused Monday to confirm or deny that he told a reporter that the Rev. Jesse Jackson would be “the laughingstock of America” if he challenged him for mayor of the nation’s capital.

In a lengthy profile published Sunday, the Los Angeles Times quoted Barry as saying Jackson “don’t wanna run nothing but his mouth.” The mayor also was quoted as saying that Jackson would be “run outta town if he ran against me.”

The embattled Barry is expected to formally announce his candidacy this month for a fourth term. After a news conference Monday to announce that his popular commissioner of public health had resigned, Barry refused to confirm or deny The Times’ story. He earlier had denied making the statements.

“I’m in the process of reading the article,” Barry said Monday. “I have not read it fully yet. It’s a rather long article. After I read it I will put together a very definitive reaction to it. I more than likely will send that to the Los Angeles Times.”

The Times stands by its story.