Former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry clearly knows no shame, but what about the people who keep helping him prolong his scandal-ridden political career?

Barry, infamous for being caught smoking crack on an FBI videotape, is back in city hall. He once dubbed himself “Mayor for Life,” and that just might be how it turns out. He recently won the Democratic nomination for a council seat, the same post he won in 1992 after serving six months in prison for his drug conviction. He used that as a springboard to a fourth term as mayor in 1994. He recently defeated a onetime campaign manager for the council post.

Said the defeated candidate: “There are people out there who only vote when Marion Barry runs. You can’t figure them in your projections.”

Barry meanwhile has pledged to work for jobs, construction of 10,000 new homes and health care. He nobly urged supporters to lobby the mayor and city council for such progress, declaring, “I cannot do it alone.”

Said one of Barry’s campaign volunteers: “This man has devoted 40 years of his life to changing the character of this city.” Opponents say the election will subject Barry and the council to increased scrutiny from Congress, which has legislative authority over the city.

Like that will make one bit of difference in view of the constituency.

Barry’s bad enough, but the people who blindly cast ballots to keep him at the public trough despite his criminal background may be even worse.