Three cheers for Charles Barkley!

[joeybee12]

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.

[bluerum]

1. Tell it, Charles. Tell it.

[joeybee12]

4. He said something once about how he used to be a Republican until

the entire party went crazy!

[Donkeykick]

2. LOL!

BARKLEY: They can’t do anything to me. I don’t work for them.

What a good comeback! :headbang:

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. I LOVE Charles...nt

[ellie]

5. He was on David Letterman

and said that he was an Obama fan. I have always liked Charles, ever since he said that he wasn't a role model; parents should be the role models.

[joeybee12]

7. He's always been pretty outspoken...

...and now's a good time to be outspoken.

[pretzel4gore]

6. hmm...Charles Barkley!

too bad Charles didn't kick blitzer's traitorious arse...
(also, it appears blitzer realizes the consequences of 'bold' statements in the media- where was he when he was promoting bush's war and the dangers from iraq etc?)

[AlinPA]

8. The slimy Blitzer defended the rw "Christian" conservatives and Barkley hit back.

There are lot of slimy "news" people, (Brian Williams, Russert, Hannity, O'Reilly,et al), but to me for some reason Blitzer seems the worst.

[a kennedy]

9. Yup, ya gotta love Sir Charles!!

:patriot:

[ristruck]

10. Who is the judge?

I will get flamed for this I am sure. I am a Christian and am proud of it. I am a former Republican turned Progressive and proud of it. I think you be both. I am amazed at the folks who believe in tolerance and would howl loudly if a thread attacked ANY minority. Any minority except Christians that is. So who is the judge? Can someone answer this one? I support Obama but like Charles I will vote Democrat no matter who the nominee is.

[taterguy]

11. I'm only intolerant of people that are intolerant of others

:shrug:

[ristruck]

12. Ok then

We are both in agreement then.

[immoderate]

13. What do you think minority means?

:shrug:

He did say "fake."

--IMM

[ristruck]

14. Good Point

I am not wanting to be contentious. I love this site and enjoy the discussions. I just find a tone towards Christians sometimes comes across in a very prejudicial manner. Not everyone who believes in certain tenets of Christianity is a fake. I believe it is ok to have some differences. I am pro-life as an example. This may be the only major difference I have with the progressive movement. That is simply opinion but I respect those on this site and elsewhere who believe otherwise. I do not and would not judge others for their views. It appears to me that for some, simply holding this view makes a person intolerant and therefore a bad person.

I would like to think that a person like me can still be a part of the Democratic Party, the Progressive Movement, and be tolerated for this. This puts me in the minority in that sense I suppose.

[ldf]

17. i think you will find that it is the hypocrisy we hate

i apologize in advance for using the description "so-called" christians in my response.

but it is that group, the fake christians, that seems to have taken over.

george w bush is a so-called christian. he used TRUE christians to gain power and push an agenda.

just the fact that he "professed" to be a christian caused the true christians to, essentially, write him a blank check. BECAUSE he professed to be christian he could do anything he wanted. he received their unquestioning support.

true christians were hoping that, with a avowed, unapologetic christian in the whitehouse, their goals of making this a christian nation could be met.

then bush went in the opposite direction. his actions were anything BUT christian.

but rather than call him out, the true christians kept quiet, while the "so-called" christians took the reigns of power.

"what would jesus do"? certainly NOT what those "so-called" christians have been doing.

would jesus launch an invasion, based on lies, of a nation that has done nothing to us?

would jesus use torture?

would jesus think the constitution, which SET UP freedom of religion in this country, is nothing but a piece of paper, to be shreded at bush's convenience for the advancement of his agenda?

i could write pages of comparisons, but i think you understand the point.

the problem is that the true christians remained silent while the "so-called" christians ran amok.

true christians, just like true muslims, need to take back their religion. and THEN practice it in their own lives, while understanding that for there to be ANY freedom of religion it must be on a personal level. NOT a legislative, or policy level.

unfortunately, the "so-called" christians may have already destroyed this nation. we may never recover from this past seven years. on a national level, we can no longer proudly take the high ground, because we have purposely washed that ground out from under our very own feet, thanks to the "so-called" christians.

yet the true christians have yet to accept their part in this fiasco.

when good and just people stand by and say or do nothing, to address the outrages of the last seven years, they are neither good, nor just.

to say nothing, is to agree, allow and enable. without the support of the true christians, this never could have happened.

this is something you, ristruck, will have to deal with.

and welcome to du! you will find many of us passionate and outspoken. and sometimes rude, arrogant and obnoxious (my attempt at apologizing for a few of my posts...).

but we do have good discussions, and most of us care very much about getting our country back on the right path.

and that path would be based on the constitution. NOT the bible.

[ristruck]

18. WOW

Well said. Your points are ones that have been shared around our kitchen table at home. My family has been in this transition and I agree that many of us were duped and are culpable. This is why I have an apology on my profile. While I can get angry with the likes of Bush and company I am more angry at my own lack of discernment and ignorance. You have helped me understand the anger that gets expressed on here towards Christians real and fake. I get it.

There are many like me that have come to our senses and are in a state of transition. My transition actually started with the realization that I was duped by those who manipulated us. Once I realized that I started a two year process of reviewing all my presuppositions and views. That eventually led me here. I do want to make a difference and I take your challenge as an inspiration to go further. I really appreciate the response.

[immoderate]

19. Indeed. ldf put it so well, there is little to add.

But I forgot to say welcome to DU.

I am neither Christian nor religious, but I respect your thoughtfulness, knowing it is sometimes difficult to break habits. Some of the best people I know are Christian. Some of the worst people I know are Christian. So it becomes a loaded term, or maybe a meaningless one. DUers tend to think for themselves, and traditionally, that's not Christian. Looks like you fit in just fine.

The 'Sermon on the Mount Jesus' gets good press here. The Falwells, Haggards, Robertsons, and Dobsons -- not so much. Another point that riles people up around here is the contention by some that this is a Christian country or that it's founded on Christian principles. It's not. Difficult for some to grasp, because the founders were cultural Christians, albeit not religious Christians, and the overwhelming majority of the US is Christian of some kind. (One of the great sports at DU is arguing over who or what is a real Christian.)

This is all apart from the theological arguments, which take place in our wonderful Religion and Theology Forum, (I call it the Arena) which is the most civilized religious debate on the whole internet. With an open mind, and a sense of humor, I think you'll find that DU is, in the best sense of the word, a very Christian place.

--IMM

[MH1]

15. God.

"Judge not, lest you be judged.." and so forth.

[ristruck]

16. Amen

Very True.

[Muttocracy]

20. Hey, he's saying he'll run for gov of Alabama in 2014

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/sundays-sampler/

Now we want to leave you with indeed the future. CNN interviewed basketball great Charles Barkley today, and he’s already gaming out his political run.

Wolf Blitzer: What about you and politics? At one point you were thinking of running back in Alabama, what do you think?

Mr. Barkley: Well, I just bought a house in 2007, and in 2014, I promise you I’m going to run for governor of Alabama.

Mr. Blitzer: When will you run for governor of Alabama?

Mr. Barkley: 2014. You have to have residency for seven years, and I bought my house at the end of last year, and I’ll be eligible in 2014.

[Iktomiwicasa]

21. The man has integrity

and isn't afraid to speak his mind.