Charles Barkley Slams Republicans On CNN: "I Call Them Fake Christians", The Word 'Conservative' "Makes Me Sick"

Basketball legend Charles Barkley appeared on CNN's Late Edition, with Wolf Blitzer, this morning, and made some controversial remarks about Republicans. Barkley, who continues his career in basketball off the court as a TV commentator for the NBA, is supporting Barack Obama for president, and was defending Obama against criticism that he is inexperienced in foreign policy and other areas, when he veered off-course, and began a classic Barkley non-sequitur. Barkley started by saying, as a resident of Arizona, how much he respects John McCain, but then quickly began slamming Republicans and conservatives in general. Barkley said, "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." Blitzer asks Barkley to elaborate a bit on the phrase he used, "fake Christians." Barkley does so, essentially accusing conservatives of being hypocritical. Blitzer warns Barkley that he's probably going to a lot of "feedback" about his harsh criticism of the GOP, but Barkley is unfazed, offering this priceless response: "They can't do anything to me. I don't work for them."

Watch the video from CNN below, and tell HuffPost whether or not you agree with Barkley's explosive comments:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1417325938http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

Comments

[ultrabop]

what was really embarrassing ...were the questions.­..Wolfe...­.Wolfe...W­olfe...do you really think that Charles would ever care what people in general think of him...let alone Christians or Conservati­ves...alth­ough...onc­e conservatives were thought to be okay because they were conservative...they didn't believe in torture and spying on Americans and stuff...they were conservati­ve....they didn't break the bank....or go to war on a whimsey....

[prscnt1]

Chicken Wolf!

Go Barkeley!

Neocons have used Jesus and fundamentalists...

These fundamentalists can't read the book: the god of the book was going to clean up sodom and gomerrah to get rid of gays, but was not successful. Hell, this was the god who created them in the first place.

All they are doing is cheneying JC.

[Davwbaird]

Wolves all in sheeps clothing, deceiving, ripping and running. This man speaks for me.

[ed3541]

Sir Charles was so happy when Bush won in 2000. He said, "We Won". Now he's singing different tune

[wbarley]

I love this guy! He's always been very independent in his views, and at the same time honest, intelligent and well-informed.

We need more people to stand up and be fearless like Charles Barkley.

[Blurp]

Massive respect for Charles Barkley.

[bushscks]

RIGHT ON THE MONEY CHARLES!!!!!
NOW THAT IS "STRAIGHT TALK"

[huffdog]

I love this guy. He's always right.

[lovethesinner]

I love Charles Barkley.

When he raced that old guy on TV for charity during half-time at some basketball game, I said, "now there's a guy who understands life."

To see him be so outspoken about civil-rights for gay people on national TV made me think "now there's a man of courage and conviction."

But, when he explained his simple reason for voting for Barack Obama, about how Obama's life story would an example for the young black community, indeed, the whole world, all I could think was...

I love Charles Barkley. (I'm gonna say it again, because I really mean it...)

I LOVE Charles Barkley.

GObama!

[eclectro]

Pretty large swath he is painting with his brush there. I can't help but wonder if he has not offended some of those voters he will want to represent in 2014. WTG!

[TIMEATELL]

Get'em Charles.

[amanda85]

I agree Sir Charles, but remember that the dems are conservative too, at least by international standards. True progressives in the US unfortunately have no home...

[eclectro]

What about the "green party." Or is it many numbers of people that define a "home."

[RT777]

Yes, Yes, Yes! Good Job Charles!!!! Right On Target! Someone had to tell the conservative Christians that they are NOT being Christ like!

Obama..the genuine conservative choice for America!

Yes We Can Have A Country Lead By Someone Who DESERVES respect!

Finally a reason for children to pledge allegiance to a flag that stand for more than a shade to block the dirty deals done in its shadows!

[KYJurisDoctor]

No matter what you might think of "Sir" Charles, he speaks his mind -- and it is usually the truth, as in this case!

http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://RealConservativesSpeak.com

[connecticutyankee]

you rock Charles. Thank you for using the platform of CNN and the All Star game to call out these hypocrites

[Steamboater]

I could be wrong but isn't Barkley the guy who made some horrific homophobic remarks a few years ago? Now he's suppporting a democrat--Obama. Wjhat does he mean when he says the GOP is full of hypocrites? Is it just because some of them are gay and in the closet and in denial? Does he support gay rights? Gay marriage? Obama supports Gay rights but ... not Gay marriage as dos Hillary. A woman and a black man think they can get a seat at the table on our backs. LOL

[bluestatelib]

You moron. You cast random aspersions on Barkley with no evidence. Did you even watch the video? Barkley says multiple times that he supports gay marriage! Plus, your last sentence (before the ridiculous "LOL") makes absolutely no sense. Get a life.

[GuyFawkes]

You idiot! You're thinking of Tim Hardaway. Barkley excoriated that moron for his comments. As far as hypocrisy goes, try this on for size: Dick Cheney supports the agenda of a party that openly courts Christian conservatives who think his own lesbian daughter is less than human! That's hypocrisy!

[Marchant2]

How can you support gay rights but not gay marriage? That's like saying I support women's rights but not the right to choose. If what you're saying about Barack is true, then he better make that clear because there are a lot of gay voters in the Democratic party.