Basketball Hall of Famer Charles
Barkley said on Sunday that he usually doesn't vote Republican
because it uses issues to divide voters.
Appearing on CNN, Barkley was asked
about Donald Trump's presidential bid as a Republican.
“I like Donald. I've met him several
times. He's always been cordial. But I'm not on his ticket right
now. I normally vote democratic but they really don't have a
candidate to get my juices flowing,” Barkley said.
Barkley said that he liked
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio.
“But right now, I'm leaning toward
Governor [John] Kasich from Ohio. … He's the front-runner for me,”
Barkley
said.
Barkley said that he liked Kasich, a
Republican, because he spoke about inclusiveness.
“One of the reasons I have not been a
big believer in the Republican Party in the past, I think they divide
and conquer. You know for the last x amount of years, they've been
using the abortion debate, now in the last few elections they've been
using the gay marriage thing. And those things haven't been working.
Now they're pulling out the other ace in the hole with immigration.
And I think it does a disservice to Hispanics in this country to act
like they're all here illegal and they're not law abiding citizens.”