« Clinton Hears Big Oil | Main | Tied In Texas » Role Models18 Feb 2008 05:03 pm Charles Barkley on the Presidential campaign: I'm not sure he's the most effective conservative, though the "every time I hear the word 'conservative' it makes me sick to my stomach" line has a certain appeal, and the "fake Christians" stuff sounds accurate to this non-Christian. But he starts out talking about how Barack Obama is a good role model -- since when does Barkley believe in role models. Comments (30)
As I remember it Sir Charles said that atheletes shouldn't be role models. He never said the president shouldn't be one. 
"Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids"
Actually Matt, I'm from Philly and grew up when Charles Barkley was in the limelight as a star on the Sixers. There were as I remember many times that the guy got himself into a controversy. One famous one was when he meant to spit on a reporter but accidentally spit on a little girl. People reacted very strongly saying he should act like a better role model. Barkley fired back with something along the lines that he was sorry about spitting on the girl, that he had acted out of line, etc. but that people need to stop looking to him and other entertainers as role models and instead look to the people in their communities who are making change. There were several other times that I remember Barkley pontificating about what a role model should be. I think it's been fairly confusing and inconsistent for the most part, but I've always thought that despite his obvious flaws, Charles Barkley is a pretty interesting and unique public figure.
athletes, Duh
I don't think he's helping his chances in the 2014 Alabama gubenatorial race.
Matt, You're forgetting that what Barkley actually said is that athletes (and Barkley in particular) were not role models. Obama being a role model in no way conflicts with his earlier thoughts. Unless of course that last sentence is just witty sarcasm. On an unrelated note, while I appreciate the discussion over at Tapped on The Wire after every 3 episodes, I wish you could get at least one post on last night's episode. Now that I'm actually following the show on a week to week basis, I'm craving as much commentary as I can get ahold of.
I think Charles is going to keep pushing back that date on the run for governor. It's a lot harder to drink vodka out of a Poland Spring bottle with a bunch of reporters around. Kenny and EJ don't mind.
Ah, I see Matt has refrained from correcting his copy. Good boy, Matt. You have resisted the temptations of "plagiarism," at least as that word is being abused today.
"Conservatives - The Quicker Spitter-Upper"
I think the most interesting part is the moment at the end when Wolf Blitzer is agog at a strong criticism of the Religious Right. He goes out of his way to distance himself from Barkley's comments and defend Republican Christians. Now, to be fair, I do think Barkley's comments were too sweeping and like Bill C, I'm sure they will hurt him if he does run in Alabama in 2014. I could understand Blitzer making some sort of response to temper Barkley's remarks, but instead he backed away as if Barkley suddenly became radioactive. We hear this level of vitriol directed at the Left all the time, and CNN anchors never feel the need to counter it so strongly. It's all been said before, but I'm still amazed that even now with Media Matters and better media criticism emanating from blogs, the mainstream media is still far more scared of offending the Right than the Left.
I could understand Blitzer making some sort of response to temper Barkley's remarks, but instead he backed away as if Barkley suddenly became radioactive. When he's not Wolf Parser, he's busily defending his wingnut buddies. Remember him standing up for wingnut welfare bullshit artist Clifford the Big Red May?
I would hardly call this vitriol. If people call themselves Christians and refuse to heed the maxim "judge not, lest ye be judged" then they deserve to be "fake Christians."
Barkley stopped calling himself a conservative a while ago, and I'm pretty sure he decided to become a Democrat due to New Orleans.
Philly writes: "We hear this level of vitriol directed at the Left all the time, and CNN anchors never feel the need to counter it so strongly. It's all been said before, but I'm still amazed that even now with Media Matters and better media criticism emanating from blogs, the mainstream media is still far more scared of offending the Right than the Left." Barkley's comments were relatively mild, but you make a good point. The reason you're right is that conservatives will react to criticism quickly and brutally and en masse. I think liberals should start doing exactly the same thing. Screw all these calls for "bipartisanship." Call the torture-loving idiots out for what they are and keep on doing it. The word "conservative" should have a stench of war and stupidity on it for a generation.
Barkley calls Obama "intelligent" and "articulate" -- maybe he plagiarized from Joe Biden! More seriously, Barkley and Blitzer work for the same employer (Turner/Time Warner). Barkley probably wouldn't risk this on MSNBC, say.
Wolf Blitzer (and all of CNN for that matter) has gotten pretty pathetic. Wolf doesn't even appear to be listening to Charles.
Now I might just have to move to Alabama to support Sir Charles's run for governor.
I would like to see this sort of brutal honesty more often from our elected public officials, at least when, as here, it's spot on. Governor Barkley might be a stretch, but it's arguably not as messed up as President George W. Bush. The fact that I can that with a straight face IS messed up! Wow!
If you were Wolf Blitzer would you be listening to, of all people, Charles Barkley expound about politics, of all things? I'd have him on to talk about basketball, but who cares what he has to say about politics? Although they do have to fill a two hour show so I suppose I can't blame the producers of the situation room for that.
If you were Wolf Blitzer would you be listening to, of all people, Charles Barkley expound about politics, of all things? ... Although they do have to fill a two hour show so I suppose I can't blame the producers of the situation room Oh, for God's sake, you act like Blitzer's a serious journalist or something. Christ, they call his show - without irony - the SITUATION ROOM. Barkley's too good for it. He's better that 50 "Wolf" Blitzers, and his opinions more on point.
The word "conservative" should have a stench of war and stupidity on it for a generation. It will. I believe that modern conservativism is a form of mental illness and that doctors will soon diagnose it as such.
rb: Nothing to do with Wolf Blitzer. But anybody on the show like that gets to have conversations with people a lot more relevant, influential and knowledgeable than that guy.
When Obama gets Gnarls Barkley's endorsement it'll mean something. Sure it might scare old white women, but they're voting Hillary anyway.
Fuck Bill O'Reilly.
The former Round Mound of Rebound was once a very real possible Republican candidate for governor in Alabama who has now come out against the Republican Party, so there is a reason to talk to him. After all, the Republicans love to nominate actors and athletes to run for stuff because it's so much better to be fucked up the ass if you are at least starfucking or something. It's not like they pulled Paul Pierce off the court to ask him about the subprime mortgage crisis. Tim K, is there anything you comment on in which you don't sound like a sad old, self-serious fart?
@Exile on Ericsson St.: Indeed, there is precedent for such. No doubt you've heard of "sluggishly progressing schizophrenia".
According to Wikipedia, Barkley hasn't been supportive of Republicans or conservatives since around 2006.
Sometimes I forget how much I despise Wolf Blitzer and his Beard of Reason.
It was awhile ago, probably a year or so, when Sir Charles was on, I believe, "Pardon the Interruption" when he said the following: "People always think I'm a Republican. I never said I was a Republican. I said I was RICH like a Republican." Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2014 Alabama Governor [D]!
Comments closed March 03, 2008. |
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Last sentence needs a question mark.
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Posted by Grand Moff Texan | February 18, 2008 5:08 PM