Charles Barkley 'Promises' to Run for Alabama Governor in 2014

It feels like it's been all Charles Barkley all week long (he's been in Playboy, he's lost over a comma gambling), which is fantastic. Almost as fantastic as the idea of him running for governor of Alabama in 2014, which is what he told Wolf Blitzer this afternoon in the CNN Situation Room (Update - Now with video). In fact, Barkley went so far as to point out that he purchased a home in the state last year and that he was going to fulfill all the talk that we have heard about him diving headfirst into politics.

BARKLEY: Well, I just bought a house in 2007. And in 2014, I promise you I'm going to run for governor of Alabama.

Some people begrudge Charles for his willingness to be forthright about basically any issue he that he feels passionate about, but for the most part, people think that Barkley is a charismatic, honest individual that happens to be famous. Both of these opinions develop out of some of the statements that Charles makes while on television, like the following excerpts from the above interview.

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 [sic] Christians. And they're not forgiving at all.

Quasi-humorously, Blitzer ended the interview extremely quickly following the last rant. Which is odd because what Chuck was saying defines great television in the most controversial sense.

Maybe his opinions and political views match up with mine, and maybe they don't. The point is that what makes Charles Barkley a potentially fantastic personality revelation in politics is that he absolutely does not hem and haw.

Sometimes he makes mistakes but he is always brutally honest, and in a political landscape where being vague actually enhances a candidate's appeal, I appreciate his blunt-object-to-the-face style of rhetoric.

Photos: NBA Dancers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-15-2008 @ 9:17PM

frank said...

Rubbish! he is full crap.

2-15-2008 @ 9:24PM

carol bradley said...

Charles Barkley for president 2012 you go chuck!

2-15-2008 @ 9:43PM

nickstoli said...

Except for the law degree, the intelligence, the oratory skills, Charles is JUST LIKE OBAMA.

BARKLEY-MAHORN 2008!

2-15-2008 @ 10:15PM

Jerry Colbert said...

You've misquoted Barkley. It should read "they act like they're Christians...," not "their."

2-15-2008 @ 11:14PM

Kimberly Smith said...

Sir Charles gets MY vote.

2-15-2008 @ 11:47PM

grover said...

Great interview by the Chuckster.

And nice retort there, frank. You really won us over with your well-argued points. :)

2-16-2008 @ 12:18AM

Ryne Nelson said...

Wolf was right. Some of those comments might be a bit too strong if Barkley really wants to win the governorship.

2-16-2008 @ 2:13AM

DavesRaves said...

So- Charles Barkley wants to be the Governor of the state I live in. Well, here's a few facts he probably hopes the voters either are unaware of or have forgotten about.

During his playing days in the NBA, Barkley was involved in numerous scandals and fights, both on and off the court- including a fight with Bill Laimbeer in 1990, resulting in record fines. In 1991, Barkley became angry at a court-side heckler and attempted to spit at him, only to spit on a young girl instead. Barkley was suspended without pay and fined 10,000 dollars. He also was arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight after a game with the Milwaukee Bucks and also for throwing a man through a plate-glass window after being struck with a glass of ice in a bar in Orlando.

Barkley also has a gambling addiction. He stated in an interview that he has lost approx. 10 million dollars over the years.

A few quotes from Sir Charles-

"I don't care what people think. People are stupid."

"We don't need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do."

"I'm no role model."

"If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw me coming."

"If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of him."

"I voice my opinion. If people don't like it they know what they can kiss."

"You guys should get a life. That's why I hate white people."

There are many more- too many to list here. If he runs for governor in Alabama I will do everything in my power to inform the voters just what an arrogant, self-absorbed idiot Charles Barkley is.

2-16-2008 @ 8:02AM

DEon Shoemaker said...

Chuck needs to go home and read his Bible better on homosexuals and killing a life!!!

2-16-2008 @ 8:28AM

sal cunningham said...

he is a first class peckerhead

2-16-2008 @ 9:43AM

drewwes01 said...

Barkley is an idiot. He wants to run for governor of Alabama and he is slamming conservatives as 'fake Christians?' Over half of the electorate in Alabama are conservative Christians. If he had any chance at all of actually becoming governor this destroyed it. I can see this footage on about 100 commercials in 2014.

2-16-2008 @ 10:00AM

jcpickw said...

So does he plan on running as a democrat or following in the footsteps of Jesse "The Body" Ventura run under a 3rd party banner?

2-16-2008 @ 10:28AM

I guarantee those comments will come back to bite him in his fat ass

2-16-2008 @ 10:59AM

Kevin said...

Most people seem to think that if Barkley tells the truth about what he thinks he won't get elected. These same people will summarize all politicians as slippery because you can never tell what they stand for or are saying. Why? Because Americans are afraid of the truth, because sometimes it's just plain ugly. The current batch of Republicans are fake, Chrisitian, conservatives, because as Charles points out, they are prostelitizing (sp), moralizing, hypocrits, who simply seek to condemn anyone who doesn't fit their mold. In a country founded on liberty and freedom and justice for all, there is no place for them. Go Charles!

2-16-2008 @ 4:31PM

MTCP said...

I'm an Alabama resident and I might be conservative leaning, but this state needs a straight talker. I'm all for him running for governor.

2-16-2008 @ 11:32AM

Sam said...

I've read and heard comments from him in the past. And I have to say he is a racist and homophobe....

2-16-2008 @ 8:35PM

j smith said...

It is always unfortunate when people who feel so "educated" attack others with incorrect statements. Christians are always told, when people don't like being told some things we as humans do are wrong, that they shouldn't judge lest ye be judged, which is true. However, we Christians are NOT judging. We are stating just that what Mr. Barkley believes in is wrong...Abortion is Wrong and Homosexuality is wrong. Does that mean we hate the person living in this kind of lifestyle??? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! We hate the SIN.(For some of you who have problems with that word, a sin is something that is against Gods word...that includes judging too!!!) Seems to me that we ALL need to pull out the good book and ALL read it again. The Bible doesn't have multiple choice answers for when we don't like what it says.

4-09-2008 @ 9:34PM

frankie said...

Thank you j.smith. Futhermore Mr. Barkley needs to ready 2Timothy 2.15 "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

I try not to judge the homosexual or the abortionist or any other person. Any one who wants to tell me of their homosexual lifestyle or their decision to abort a baby, being a witch, whatever MUST be willing to listen to me tell them what the Holy Ghost inspired word of God says on these subjects. And again I go back to 2Tim2:15. You study. And when you find a contradition, I'll find a proof.

2-17-2008 @ 12:47AM

Matt Thompson said...

So he is now working with Obama? And if so is that the official position of Mr. Obama's campaign? That all "conservative Christians are fake Christians." Would Mr. Barkley and Mr. Obama have a group of American's silenced and ridiculed because of their beliefs in the Bible that differ with their own personal views? Apart from that Mr. Barkley has made derogatory remarks about white people. So is Mr. Barkley, who is intolerant, to be tolerated by those on the left? Are we to assume that these racist and bigoted remarks are the official positions of Mr. Obama's campaign as well as the NBA and TNT?

2-17-2008 @ 3:00PM

DGreene620 said...

Charles Barkley does not even come close to rating the title "Sir".

Sir Charles is about 5'4", weighs maybe 105 pounds, and has a yellowish brown complexion. He was/is a dedicated fighting man that held of the best equiped military in the world. Yes I am talking about a Vietcong. I fought against him and he is the real "SIR CHARLES". Barkley don't dilute or kid yourself that you are even in the same class as those young men.

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