Barkley sounds off on gay rights, religion and Katrina

AP, ESPN ^ | August 30, 2006

[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.

[KenmcG414]

Charles Barkley....big blowhard....if it weren't for his god-given athleticism he'd be pushing a shopping cart looking for empty bottles.

[longtermmemmory]

No he is calculating.

He is caclulating on the blind racism of black people in the democrat party to mindlessly vote for him.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

You do approve of government intervention in paying for all of that crap by robbing me at gunpoint... you are a liberal...

[AmishDude]

It seems that Charles is working very hard at getting the opportunity to lose the election for governor of Alabama.

I could be wrong, but I think he wants to run for governor, he doesn't want to win.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

At least he ended up in the right party.

He used to sound smarter.

[Dominic Harr]

You do approve of government intervention in paying for all of that crap by robbing me at gunpoint... you are a liberal...

You're a liberal too -- you want bigger, more intrusive govt. Socially, I am liberal. Live and let live.

And yet -- I have to wonder what you're referring to in this case. Robbing what at gunpoint?

What are you talking about? That makes no sense.

[Antoninus]

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."

File this statement under: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

[Antoninus]

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.

When they insist upon teaching your children that butt-sex is not only normal, but good and virtuous in public schools (i.e., Californication), does it begin to become "a problem to you and yours?"

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...you want bigger, more intrusive govt.

I want government out of my wallet and out of the business of paying for that crap... You are a cultural Marxist...

[Antoninus]

Translation: "I'm a flaming liberal."

Ha, ha! Perfect. Claim to be a conservative, but spout every weak-kneed liberal social position in the book. Lots of that type of obfuscation going on here lately.

[Dominic Harr]

You are a cultural Marxist...

"Cultural Marxist???"

I believe govt managed cultural engineering is a bad thing. Marxists are in favor of such a thing.

Y'see what the problem is here? I'm a 'contract with America' conservative. And you modern Rs have nothing but contempt for me.

Good luck with that.

[Antoninus]

Which had nothing to say about gays, drugs, vice, etc. It was about smaller, less intrusive govt.

You may not remember it, but those issues--particularly the homo thing--were not pressing back then. The GOP was strong on drugs, strong on abortion, and the idea that two guys could get married was considered ridiculous.

That's not the world we live in today.

As for the "smaller, less intrusive government"--I'm down with that. Step one, abolish the IRS. Until we do that, the idea that we can ever have "less intrusive government" in this country is an absolute joke.

[Dominic Harr]

When they insist upon teaching your children that butt-sex is not only normal, but good and virtuous in public schools (i.e., Californication), does it begin to become "a problem to you and yours?"

The problem is the the collectively managed school system, not the gays!

Y'see? Vouchers is the solution. Not sanctioning gays.

You folks' priorities is completely out of phase with mine.

If you don't want my vote anymore, keep insulting me. I only vote R now cuz the Ds are maniacs. But the more Rs like ya'll treat people like me this way, the more I'm pushed to just not vote at all.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I believe govt managed cultural engineering is a bad thing. Marxists are in favor of such a thing.

And so are you by protecting it with government funding...

[Antoninus]

The problem is the the collectively managed school system, not the gays!

Right. I'm all in favor of reforming the public school system, and especially of de-nutting the NEA. However, to claim that the activist homo agenda isn't part of the problem is just delusional.

Y'see? Vouchers is the solution. Not sanctioning gays.

Methinks you're not aware of what just happened in CA. It said that any school which receives state funds (that would be vouchers too, if CA had a vouchers program) must comply with the state's homo-positive agenda. Thus, even private schools are subject to the homo-promo if they take state funds.

If you don't want my vote anymore, keep insulting me.

I'm sorry you consider difference of opinion to be "insulting." As it is, I'm not willing to trade my convictions for your vote. I'm not a whore. I'll leave that to the political class.

[political1]

"We have no solutions and no front-runner." Charles then says; "hey I am going to join that party."

[Dominic Harr]

And so are you by protecting it with government funding...

???

Protecting *what* with govt funding? Please, what do you mean?

My position is the govt should stay *out* of cultural issues. No funding, laws, etc for social engineering. Your comment doesn't seem to make any sense.

[pissant]

I'm glad you enjoy him. I never have. There are many black conservatives. Lynn Swann comes to mind. Thomas Sowell, JC Watts, Hermain Cain, heck - even Karl Malone.

[p[adre29]

no, government does have a role in social issues, not as "Nanny" but as arbiter of general societal obligations.

govt cannot make people moral, it can however reduce the amount of immorality that it sponsors.

[Dominic Harr]

However, to claim that the activist homo agenda isn't part of the problem is just delusional.

There, we have to radically disagree.

With vouchers, you can send your kid to a school that promotes, or ignores, the "gay agenda". It's up to the parents. The activists have nothing to do with it.

The problem is a political one -- not a social one. The problem is govt managment of schools.

It said that any school which receives state funds (that would be vouchers too, if CA had a vouchers program) must comply with the state's homo-positive agenda.

Again, that is govt management of schools, which I would fight. That's not the kind of voucher program I would support. It has nothing to do with the gay agenda. It's just bad govt policy. Publicly fund, privately manage.

I'm sorry you consider difference of opinion to be "insulting."

It's posts like your #70 I'm referring to. I don't mind being flamed, but if you're gonnna, make it funny.

And also don't expect to have much success winning elections then. The Rs are only in power cuz the contract with America appealed to political Cs like me. If you're going to run around and attack us like you are, then don't be surprised if your party loses the power we helped to give it.