Charles Barkley on The Situation Room: GOP full of "fake Christians"
By Nicole Belle Thursday Feb 14, 2008 10:00pm
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Charles Barkley appeared on The Situation Room to promote Barack Obama's candidacy. As you may remember, Barkley was a very vocal Republican not that many years ago. Well, no more. Barkley's disgust with the Republican Party was so palpable that Wolf Blitzer could only flounder to try to make it a little less vitriolic.
BARKLEY: Hey, I live in Arizona. I have got great respect for Senator McCain. Great respect. But I don't like the way the Republicans are taking this country. Every time I hear the word "conservative," it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them. That's all they are. But I just -- I'm going to vote Democratic no matter what. [..]
BLITZER: All right. One quick point before I let you go. You used the phrase "fake Christians" for conservatives. Explain what you're talking about.
BARKLEY: Well, I think they -- they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians -- first of all, they're supposed to be -- they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in this country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like their Christians. And they're not forgiving at all.
BLITZER: So you're going to get a lot of feedback on this one, Charles.
BARKLEY: They can't do anything to me. I don't work for them.
btw, charles is a registered repug
and he has no shot in alabama
but he will make it an interesting race
Wow, Charles Barkley sounds sane. Whodathunkit?
Looks like real Christianity just got a heavy hitter.
Gotta love the NBA - I think...
I like Chuck on TNT, although he's too much of a Suns fan. Go Lakers!
Yea yea fake christians Eh ;), the next thing you'll be telling me is america is full of Nazi's ;)
Native American basketball team
Gee, I'm going to have to reassess my entire view of Mr. Barkley. He sounds like a pretty tolerant fellow.
I'll give Sir Charles his first feedback.
Thank you for putting it so well.
uncle joe mccarthy @ 1:
I don't know what his current registration was. He used to be a pub, but I know in '04 he gave to Edwards.
Better late than never, i suppose. But just wait until it dawns on him that the GOP (and their likspittle democratic allies) Big Lied the nation into unleashing war. The man will go off!
This is EXACTLY how I feel! They are merely exploiting the Christian right and their gullibility. Nobody EVER dares ask Bush to delve into any Christian verse because they know darn well it is a sham...the only way to cover up his drug past was through the born again excuse(excuse here because he wasn't, not because I don't believe in God and Christ). Funny they would railroad Huckabee, who should be the quintessential right wing Christian candidate. As a liberal, I don't mind him at all. I think he is honest and moral and would act accordingly. He would have to be checked on gay rights and abortion, but at least he won't go killing masses of people in the name of personal and familial profit. But no righty wants him because they're hypocrites. They want you to VOTE, not PARTICIPATE...more power to you on this one Charles.
kudos to Barkley and also to Blitzer for expanding it.
Awesome!
I hope more people like Barkley speak out. I am sure there are plenty.
Hey Charles - how about adding me to your fave five...
As you may remember, Barkley was a very vocal Republican not that many years ago
Rich fucking sellout, piss off Chuck.
Barkley has always spoken his mind, and is a pretty intelligent
individual. When I lived in Houston, I loved the interviews he'd
give to local sports reporters...they were always opinionated
and funny.
The reporters quickly learned to not ask questions that they
really didn't want elaborate answers to...they also learned that
Barkley wasn't the blowhard that he had been pegged as, but
rather had serious opinions.
If a man speaks his mind...and he means it (Rep / Dem) you got to respect it. I believe he was sincere. I say Good for him, he has the balls to say these things, I support him!
I watched that when it aired and enjoyed it very muchhhhhhh!!!!!
BTW, Barkley has said that "I was a Republican, until they went insane!"
And why do actors and former athletes feel qualified to be Governors? Is it something about reading a script, or your soft left hander in the lane, that makes you willing to run, or your name recognition/notoriety?
Sheesh. Paris for President
BAM!!! Finally another Christian who understands Christianity isn't about judgement and oppression, but grace and forgiveness. As a Christian I'm so sick of these "conservatives" hijacking my beliefs and perverting them to meet their own political ends I don't know what to do!
I keep telling my wife the same thing.
Remember SNL? I've nicknamed my wife the "Church Lady". Just because I'm in a rock band, I'm going to hell. Blah!
"I'm on a highway to Hell..."
Boy, Blitzer is so goddam gutless.
Wny be nasty to the man? He saw the error of his ways and came over to the
rightcorrect side.Welcome Mr. Barkley!
fake ChristianS ... aka as HYPOCRITS!
PUBLIC PRAYER
My favorite fake "Christian" hypocrisy was called precisely that - hypocrisy - by the man Himself.
And yet who is always insisting on their "right" to public prayer?
The fake Christians.
And who is always trying to force prayer into the public schools?
The fake Christians.
And who makes praying together in their houses of worship the very foundation of their "religion"?
The fake Christians.
They use group prayer to program their followers' minds.
They are a cult .. not a religion.
I love a man (or woman) with some guts and courage. Too few of them in this country. WAY too few.
He said more in the interview:
Barkley Interview
I'm sure Charles will be bad mouthed by the loony right: Ann will say Charles is against traditional marriage, Rush will make fun of Charles' skin color or something else completely irrelevant, Bill'O-job will send his Faux police to Charles house!
But we need more people who are willing to stand up for what is right - regardless of what "the Man in Drag", "the Man in Fat" or "the hardly-a-man-at-all" have to say about it.
They act like they're Christians.
Ugh....brace yourself Alabama. You are going to get the chance to be run by another "celebrity" with no savy other than shooting free throws. Good luck.
I wonder of Limbaugh is still so buddy-buddy with Barkley.
Whoo boy, that's some quality interviewing there, Wolf.
Well, I agree with what this man said, but who's Charles Barkley?
Peace!
Conrad @ 14:
HAHAHAHHAA. That was solid!
I am sure Charles the hero (i must say that because he will throw me through a plate glass window otherwise) has reached this conclusion entirely by judging all of the man's merits.
"And why do actors and former athletes feel qualified to be Governors? Is it something about reading a script, or your soft left hander in the lane, that makes you willing to run, or your name recognition/notoriety?"
odanny,
Do you mean why do guys like Ronald Reagan feel qualified to run as governors?
Pandering to the Christians is done by the left as well as the right. I'd like to see more hollering and outrage about that aspect of religion in politics.
thank you Charles,about damn time.
This is representative of a Goldwater type republican that still does exist. Not really in big numbers but they are still out there. They still are psycho lunatics when it comes to the military and war but believe religion should not be involved with govt decision making. They generally can be talked to and met halfway. They have no future with today's republican party unfortunately. Reagan used the religious right for his benefit and let the genie out of the bottle. It's going to take a monumental effort to retake that party from those lunatics.
I think it's called name-recognition and a false sense of entitlement.
Paolo @ 32:
That's what I thought when I heard that. And to top it off the "you can't possibly mean that, they're good people" bs at the end showed who wolfie serves.
Straight Shooter @ 37:
The left does it about 1/10 as much as the right does.
Mike Huckabee runs around saying that the constitution should be changed to fit the bible for chrissakes!
odanny @ 15:
right on!
I will vote for Barkley, if I live in Alabama and am eligible to vote in the year 2015.
Like my (black) friend used to say,
"sometimes you need to call a spade, a spade"
The Freepers are going ballistic and whipping themselves into a racist frenzy over the comments: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971132/posts
Behind Obama and Clinton
must read
It would have been interesting if when WB said, "......they're good people." CB had said, "yeah, ok they're good people, so name five of these "good people" for your viewers.
For me the war is the most demonstrative example of what faux christians believe.
"Yes I know my enemies
They're the teachers who taught me to fight me
Compromise,
Conformity,
Assimilation,
Submission
Ignorance,
Hypocrisy,
Brutality,
The Elite
All of which are American dreams....All of which are American Dreams...All of which are...."
Rage Against the Machine/Know Your Enemy
I don't think the average fundie Republican ever read that far into the bible. Old Testament judgmental is more their speed. Well those who live by the sword...
what's up with wolf not listening to the guy?
more over, what's up with wolf asking actual questions of that guy? it's not like he ever asks substantive questions of actual politicians.
Jeff @ 29:
FYI: It's an accurate quote from CNN's website. Any suggestions/corrections should be directed they're way...
Ok OT but I have to put this down somewhere.
The most recent random killing sprees splashing across my TV screen gave me pause. I think it is horrible what happend to the people who are randomly killed by deranged gunmen, just as 911 was horrible.
However, the former have helped bring something home for me. With what seems like increasing instances of random deranged gunmen killing the innocent, it just makes the systematic shredding of our constitution all the more egregious.
Illegal spying has little or no chance of catching a terrorist as it does of catching one of these deranged folks. Yet we probably have a greater chance of being killed by a deranged gunman than from a terrorist attack. (just guessing, don't have statistics)
So we need to stop being scared into giving up our civil rights and let the intelligence agencies get out of the business of illegal spying and torturing people illegally. Get back to the basics: infiltrate these groups and start changing hearts and minds. Stop making war and therefore more terrorists.
adam @ 9:
He quit the Thug party back in '04 when he said "The Republicans have lost their damned minds!"
He really would make it an interesting race if he ran for Governor of Alabama. And I liked that last remark:
"They can't do anything to me; I don't work for them." A true MasterCard moment, indeed.
In light of these spot-on comments from Mr. Barkley, I would like to announce my endorsement of Barack Obama as the next president of USA. Although I live in Europe, I greatly admire this country with it's pros and cons - as every country has. Mr. Obama would not only inspire America, but his qualities as a great leader will surely spark hope amongst many a citizen of the Earth as well.
We in Europe still remember those brave American soldiers who, defying the evil Nazis, lost their lives to bring democracy back to our countries. We remember the relief when seeing these courageous men with blue helmets, greeted by the population, flowers and confetti being thrown into the air. Without the Marshall Plan Europe wouldn't have risen from the ashes of general devastation.
My public endorsement of Barack Obama is based on deep-rooted observations of US history and social studies. Although I currently don't have either a job or much influence among, well, anybody, I still wish to emphasize my willingness to cooperate with Mr. Obama's staff and with what you wittily call "the Superdelegates".
Jack @ 27:
Hell yea! Watch the whole thing.
They can keep Charles and Britney. In fact, let the conservatives keep everyone who voted for GW...once or twice. F them all. Wolf was also taking to Glen Beck earlier who...you won't f'ing believe it...is still not sure who he's voting for, McCain or the Democrat. I'm not surprised he's saying it...just wondering who is believing him. Oh...and the guy who runs the liquor store I just stopped going to today thinks William Kristol is a liberal. He knew who he was, too. I told him I was going to contact Bloody William and give him the airstrike coordinates of the store. F'ing stupid Conservatives. Wouldn't know the difference between a pimple, a wart, and a penis.
bill mahers a douchbag? who knew!
that's how i feel about the right when they use religion. That's why people want religion out of politics, because people abuse religion and religous people.
the repubs will say charles is weak on defense and they would be correct. charles didn't guard anybody.
tr @ 60:
That's what mo cheeks did. And did well...
Barkley is a Democrat. Not a Repug.
Oh that's funny. Good for him.
Frankly, I know a few decent Republicans who feel the same.
Just as the "Reagan Democrats" felt betrayed by the party going a little loony left at the tail of the 70s, so do many decent, tolerant, traditional, and religious people feel betrayed by the Republicans' hard turn towards aristrocracy, untrammelled corporate power, and fundamentalist extremism.
The GOP coalition of Monarchists and priests is coming apart at the seams. It's going to take 20 years to put it back together. More if asshats like Limbaugh and other errand boys of the GOP elites insist on ideological purges and litmus tests and jihads against "mavericks" like McCain - and it seems they can't resist.
Charles is the man. I mean, he's not saying anything any sane person doesn't already know. But he's one of those guys that can and will say stuff against the grain if need be and not get body-checked for it. People will try to, but it won't work like it would with others.
I've always liked Sir Charles as a basketball player but I don't think his endorsement would sway me.
However, I have already chosen to support Barack so I suppose it doesn't matter.
That's SIR Charles, Wolf!
Right on Sir Charles , but stick to basketball....that's really your area of expertice.
Barkley:
"they’re not supposed to judge other people".
and
"They act like their Christians. And they’re not forgiving at all".
These 2 statements don't reconcile. It would seem Mr. Barkley would say that a forgiving Christian would be a positive thing, but don't you have to make a JUDGEMENT that something was wrong before you FORGIVE it. You can't say "don't judge, but forgive" . . . otherwise what are you forgiving. He doesn't make sense -- my judgement, but I forgive him.
thank you, Charles for expressing what many Christians feel about the way republicans are misrepresenting the message of peace and compassion that Jesus preached. The last time I read the gospels, I couldn't find a verse that supports the bigot war-monger view of Christianity that most of the radical right accept as dogma. Maybe they should read the entire new testament, instead of having their staff pick out quotes out of context.
Don @ 68:
No religion in the world makes any sense if you really pick them apart!
At what point are we going to acknowledge that if the majority of a religion's history is in fact made of judgmental people, oppressive actions, and brutally harsh treatment of non-believers that it might be a bit disingenuous to call practitioners who act that way today "fake". I'm just curious so that I can mark it on my calendar, anytime soon or do we need another couple thousand years of evidence?
If your faith makes you a better person then more power to you, but I really wish people would stop acting as if the "fake" Christians are exceptions to a precedent that doesn't exist.
Don @ 68:
I believe it goes "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
There's also another one that goes like this "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."
My invisible sky genie can beat up your invisible sky genie.
All of religion is entirely bullshit.
...and do you think Jesus would lead a nation into a pre-emptive war based on trumped up intel?
Fake Christians indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LUV Jesus, kill a terrorist
TRUST Jesus, kill a commie
Put your faith in Jesus, Bomb Iran
About time someone in the MSM had the nuts to say it.
Too bad it had to be an ex-jock though. Oh well.
Hell yeah. Way to go Charles. About time someone has the balls to say it.
Good for you Charles, I agree completly
tyree @ 43:
Read the whole transcript. He was a Republican, indeed said he was "rich like Republicans" and was concerned with keeping taxes low. For some time now, he says, he has been an independent voter, and has watched Republican rule with horror. He is now voting Democratic no matter who the candidate is.
This hardly sounds like a sell-out, but someone honest enough to critically assess a party that once might have received his allegiance. He's now an active Democrat. Why, precisely, would we treat him with disrespect?
tyree @ 43:
You guys really blow me away. Heres a guy who was lied to by the repugs and woke the fuck up. Instead of welcoming him, you guys blow him off. No wonder the dems can't win anything. I guess to be pure you have to have been right from day one. What a bunch of bullshit. Give the man some credit for seeing the light.
The Political Junkie @ 54:
BushCo will sick the IRS dogs on him. He don't work for them but I expect he'll get audited this year for speaking his mind against the GOP.
diamondmc @ 79:
Absolutely. There's no Christian forgiveness on this thread.
Train @ 20:
Amen! I'm also a Christian, but I've had to stand back and reevaluate my involvement with my own church. Rather than leave altogether, I have just withdrawn much of my support. Many of the people there fell in line with Mr. Christian Himself, George W. Bush, and literally made Democrats in our congregation very uncomfortable. We've said the same thing -- these Republican thugs in the government have hijacked our beliefs and used them for their own political gain. Meanwhile, the people that have been gullable enough to fall for the ploy have been totally mislead. It had been interesting to see the scales falling from people's eyes.
Markos of Daily Kos was a Republican once. Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post was a Republican once. Hell, I was a Republican once. Cut the guy some slack. He's came over from the dark side and showing courage by speaking out on national TV.
Turrible, just turrible. I'm glad Charles is speaking up. Geeze people. Where's your tolerance? Be happy when somebody sees the light! Otherwise you are no better than the extremists on the right.
TheNextDylan @ 62:
Actually he says in the interview that he's an independent. But I do remember years ago he stated on television that he was a registered republican.
But whatever his political affiliation is the man has "seen the light" and has declared himself "anti republican" and declared conservatism a mental sickness!
Seems to me the non-religious are entirely judgemental, you just don't believe in forgiveness. A lot of hatred here.
Bye now.
Oh, the full quote is: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged."
Everyone always leaves off the second part.
Ruthless People @ 83:
Some people think nothing or nobody can change. They post all over this blog, that no matter what anyone say's or dose it will never change. In their eyes, the world is fucked and always will be.
GonzoD @ 42:
I'm aware of that, but injecting any religion into the political discourse is like peeing in the swimming pool. I don't care if it's an ounce or a pint, I don't want it in there.
Huckabee is a flaming idiot.
Before we get too carried away with embracing Barkley, let's not forget the scene of him spitting in the face of an adolescent girl. I will never forgive him for that. For me, it is the lowest point in all my years watching professional sports.
Fuckin' Blitzer! "Are you comfortable with what you're saying??" Fuck yeah he is! Unlike you, Wolf, Barkley's not some no balls twerp who just repeats what he's told. The man says what he thinks. Right on, Sir Charles!