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Barkley sounds off on gay rights, religion and Katrina
AP, ESPN ^ | August 30, 2006

Posted on 08/30/2006 8:39:02 PM PDT by Dane

NEW YORK -- Charles Barkley was his usual outspoken self during a recent television interview in which he said, among other things, that he advocates gay marriage, believes Republicans have screwed up the country and is "struggling with my idea of what religion is."

The former NBA MVP, who is considering running as a Democratic candidate for governor in his home state of Alabama, also said Democrats have concentrated too much on criticizing President Bush in the last two years instead of focusing on what they can do to improve things in the country.

"They're criticizing a guy who can't run again, who can't get fired," Barkley said during an appearance on "CMI: The Chris Meyers Interview," which will air on Sunday night on Fox SportsNet. "So they spent the last two years criticizing him instead of saying, 'Some things aren't right. This is our game plan.' And now we're two years away from the election, and we have no solutions and no front-runner."

Barkley was a Republican until recently, saying he switched parties when the Republicans "lost their minds." He said he is troubled by some of the actions of people in the United States in the name of religion.

"Religious people in general are so discriminatory against other people, and that really disturbs me," he said. "My idea of religion is we all love and respect. We all sin, but we still have common decency and respect for other people. So right now I'm struggling with my idea of what religion is."

He also said he supports gay marriage.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: barkley; homosexualagenda; idiot; nba
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To: Dominic Harr

Why would anyone vote for a person like Charles for anything? If he gambled away millons of his own money what would he do with the taxpayers money?


41 posted on 08/30/2006 11:30:18 PM PDT by jerry639
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To: pissant

My general points are that we need to expand the base and not to jump to the conclusion that someone who disagrees or becomes disenchanted is therefore an idiot. I don't mean to imply you are calling the man an idiot merely because his change of view but many are. I've never found him particularly intelligent but I've always enjoyed his refreshing straight talk. He doesn't get coy or play games. It's refreshing given the times. I've also seen him on TV several dozen times and never left with the impression he's lacking in intelligence. I'm open to evidence to the contrary but you're not going to find it easily, nor in conservative circles as he's often a poster boy for being black, conservative and outspoken.


42 posted on 08/30/2006 11:33:43 PM PDT by Bogeygolfer
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To: Dane

What do we expect from a NBA player?

Barkley is a mental midget and living in his own fantasy, absolutely clueless about politics and society.


43 posted on 08/30/2006 11:41:58 PM PDT by GregH
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To: Dallas59

Could we change the second to last one, to "The If Kerry were president WAFFLE"?

Good list, nonetheless.

As for Charles Barkley, he said something in 1987, while a member of the 76ers, that perfectly symbolizes his new affiliation with the Democrats:

"Bad team, man...we're just a bad f**kin' team."


44 posted on 08/31/2006 12:24:16 AM PDT by Christian4Bush ("Ma'am, you don't have to thank us. You just go beat him for us." Soldier to Irey re: Murtha)
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To: Dane
He also said he supports gay marriage. Got your eye on someone, Charles?
45 posted on 08/31/2006 12:29:25 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

To: Dominic Harr
Conservative meant as in "conservative with our money"... Live and let live. Drugs, consentual sex, etc. As long as it isn't a problem to me and mine, do what you want.

So the outrageous medical welfare given to AIDS patients, teenage pregnancies with outrageous lavashing of public dollars to support them, drunk/drugged driving deaths with accidents and higher insurance rates, the lack of motivated people to develop new technologies due to drug addiction and the SSI/identity theft scams they use is not a problem for you?

It is a much longer list... and illegal immigration contributes to all of it as well...

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

They believe they can say things like "Katrina was Bush's fault"..

They are on drugs... but, that isn't a problem for you, remember?

Besides, we all know Katrina was the result of that super secret Halliburton hurricane machine from an undisclosed location in Dick Cheney's basement... and Jeb Bush has no business letting any hurricane get past Florida to begin with...

47 posted on 08/31/2006 2:36:56 AM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: GregH; Dominic Harr
Barkley is a mental midget and living in his own fantasy, absolutely clueless about politics and society.

A lot of those athletes have lingering effects from steroids and other drugs... Barkley is no different I would suspect... I wonder if he parties with Kobe Bryant or Dennis Rodman...

48 posted on 08/31/2006 2:42:26 AM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: Dominic Harr
"Socially, I could give a rat's bum. Live and let live. Drugs, consentual sex, etc. As long as it isn't a problem to me and mine, do what you want."

Translation: "I'm a flaming liberal."

49 posted on 08/31/2006 2:49:00 AM PDT by Godebert
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To: YankeeinOkieville

So, Barkley joins an anti-Semetic/pro-terrorist party.

Does anybody know Barkley's "Rules for Autographs?" He really slams the fans with his observations; it would help his public image...not.


50 posted on 08/31/2006 2:49:34 AM PDT by Loud Mime (An undefeated enemy is still an enemy.......war has a purpose.)
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To: Dane

He was on PTI recently and specifically said he never had been Republican and then proceeded to make some DU type comments about Republicans/rich people.


51 posted on 08/31/2006 3:12:20 AM PDT by visualops (artlife.us)
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To: Bogeygolfer
No argument with what you say, but as a Alabamian deeply involved in local politics, I can tell you Barkley is not going to win the governorship running as an anti-religious candidate.

Remarks like his would just be taken as an ill-informed assault on most folks beliefs down here. Forget gay marriage or taxes or pro or anti war sentiments, but assuming religious Americans (and we mean Christian here) are in some way flawed by their beliefs is not going to win votes. First, because it's just not true, most of the religious right are good, decent people, and second, because when people say things about your core beliefs that simply aren't true you tend to see them as not being on your side.

Barkley might be a fun candidate to have running, but when it comes time to actually have folks voting, it won't be for him.
52 posted on 08/31/2006 3:48:40 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
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To: quantim
Barkley a gubner? lol.

In Alabama ???

53 posted on 08/31/2006 4:17:13 AM PDT by arthurus (Better to fight them over THERE than over HERE)
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To: blondee123

You forgot to add, the incident, of him being stopped on the Atlantic City Expressway, with a loaded pistol. He got out of it. Shows what money can buy.


54 posted on 08/31/2006 4:19:56 AM PDT by Capt_Hank (btu's...kcal's...to kJ's, but my activation energy is still high.)
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To: Dane
Hey Choll Bolly. Take a look at the Dems around you and then ask yourself one question...

"Do I really want any of these people covering my back?"

It's called the Lieberman Reality Syndrome.

55 posted on 08/31/2006 4:25:11 AM PDT by N. Theknow ((Kennedys - Can't drive, can't fly, can't ski, can't skipper a boat - But they know what's best.))
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To: RobbyS

If polls mean anything, He can't be playing for the Black vote.. I just recently read a poll that showed approx 65% of blacks don't support Homo's or same sex marraige.

But of course, he is black also, so it may not apply.


56 posted on 08/31/2006 4:41:14 AM PDT by countryslim
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To: Sir Francis Dashwood
So the outrageous medical welfare given to AIDS patients, teenage pregnancies with outrageous lavashing of public dollars to support them, drunk/drugged driving deaths with accidents and higher insurance rates, the lack of motivated people to develop new technologies due to drug addiction and the SSI/identity theft scams they use is not a problem for you?

It's those kind of feelings that keeps me out of the R party.

I don't believe you sanction an entire group of people because some individuals have problems. I believe you deal with those problem individuals.

If you're going to sanction all gays cuz of AIDS, or all teens cuz of pregnancy, then the next step is smokers, and fat people, and anyone doing anything unhealthy.

To my understanding, govt sanctions of such social behavior means 'politically liberal'. Govt intervention in private matters. So the modern R party is "socially C, politically L".

DWI/DUI is and should be illegal. People with addiction problems need help, not a criminal record. Except when they commit other crimes like Identity Theft, of course.

The 'contract with America' that got the Rs into power said nothing about these 'social' issues. It was about political conservatism -- spending, term limits, etc. The vast majority of Americans are politically C. But not socially C.

Now, the social C, political L folks have hijacked the R party, and are in danger of losing the gains made in the 90s.

57 posted on 08/31/2006 4:49:30 AM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative: The "ant", to a liberal's "grasshopper".)
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To: Godebert
Translation: "I'm a flaming liberal."

Socially, yes. Live and let live, unless and until they do something that directly affects me. I don't care if you're drunk, or stoned, until you get in a car and drive. Or commit a robbery. Then, you arrest that person.

The Rs who want govt sanctions of private behavior are also "flaming liberals" -- political liberals. That's the point.

Politically, I'm a staunch conservative. Politically, the Rs are flaming liberals.

Remember, the R party came to power on the basis of the 'Contract with America'. Which had nothing to say about gays, drugs, vice, etc.

It was about smaller, less intrusive govt.

Now, the R party is about BIGGER, more intrusive govt. And folks like you attack anyone who opposes that as "flaming liberals".

Ironic, eh?

58 posted on 08/31/2006 4:54:55 AM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative: The "ant", to a liberal's "grasshopper".)
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To: Dane

"So they spent the last two years criticizing him instead of saying, 'Some things aren't right. This is our game plan.' And now we're two years away from the election, and we have no solutions and no front-runner."

Ya gotta admit, sometimes even Charles is right.


59 posted on 08/31/2006 4:59:07 AM PDT by ryan71
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To: Dane

Yet another reason the NBA is irrelevant.

So the WMBA died due to being a "gay women" sport. Barkley now makes the NBA a homosexual sport.


60 posted on 08/31/2006 5:02:17 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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