Way to go Ike!!

Wow, my buddy Ike works for The New Republic, and a while back wrote this really interesting article on why TNT's Halftime Show with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith and moderated by Ernie Johnson (token white guy) is the best sports show on television. I would tell you to go read that article but you have to be a TNR subscriber. Lame.

So go read this new one instead. It is a free-ranging interview with Charles Barkley on politics, race, class, and much much more. It is FASCINATING, at least to me. He is such a different dude than the one you see on TV hawking T-Mobile with D-Wade, or anchoring that show on TNT. Seeing this new perspective, I have a whole new respect for Barkley. Way to go Ike for getting the interview and getting him to talk about all this! Here's hoping he does run for Gov of AL someday. And as an independent too. (You'll see what he says about that in Ik'es interview with him... nice forshadowing, eh?)

Here are some excerpts. On the 2008 presidential election:

This is going to be a very interesting election because we are going to find out who is sexist and who is racist. Because I don't think a woman can win, because I think America is sexist. I am not sure Barack can win, because I do think we have a racial divide in this country.

On gay marriage:

In terms of more cultural issues, gay marriage you are totally OK with?
Yeah, I am. I am not going to judge other people. Only God can do that.

On class:

America is divided by economics strictly. You know, people always talk about race, and we have racial problems in this country. Of course we do. But the real issue is the rich against the poor. We've got to get poor white people and poor black people and Mexicans to realize they are all in the same boat.

And there is a lot more. He comments on Imus, the Duke case, rap music, and more. Really great read, so great in fact it is receiving this week's Domestique Suggested Reading honor. Like I said, way to go Ike!