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CHARLES BARKLEY: DEMOCRATS KEEP BLACKS POOR

"The biggest misconception is that the Democratic Party does so much to help poor people. In a whole lot of cases, the Democratic Party keeps people poor."
CHARLES BARKLEY: DEMOCRATS KEEP BLACKS POOR

October 14, 2002

A NewsMax Report

You may have caught Charles Barkley on the talk show circuit promoting his new book, "I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It." But you can be sure you didn't hear about Barkley's political views.

For sure, Barkley does not follow the party line among African-American celebs -- especially when it comes to politics.

In fact, the ever-outspoken former NBA star and current TBS/TNT broadcast celebrity has a few choice words for Democrats, the GOP ... all Americans, in fact. In his new book Barkley holds forth on everything political.

He writes that after published reports suggested he might become a Republican, his concerned mother said to him, "Charles, Republicans are for rich people."

He answered her succinctly, "Mom, I'm rich."

Barkley has a few other things to say:

He wonders, if our system is so inclusive, why there are no black or Hispanic governors. How many black or Latino senators are there, even though their combined numbers make up 20 percent of the U.S. population?

The National Republican Black Caucus sent people to speak with Barkley, but, he wrote, "I understand how the game works." He wants to help, but Barkley wants his hometown of Leeds and downtown Birmingham, Ala., to be rebuilt first.

He will not be a token black for any party.

He doesn't want to be someone who sits around counting his money, never helping anyone. "There's no way God allowed me to make all this money ... and not help people improve their lives."

He also drops this bomb on readers: "The biggest misconception is that the Democratic Party does so much to help poor people. In a whole lot of cases, the Democratic Party keeps people poor."

He goes on to say that nearly every person in his hometown is a Democrat, and their lives are no better than they were 20 years ago.

Asked if he will run for governor of Alabama himself, Barkley says, "Next year!"

He says he's retired, relaxing and trying to figure out what life has in store for him. He thinks that private enterprise might be a better way than politics to help people.

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