I remember when Barkley played for Phoenix, he used to call Rush and one day he talked about being interested in running for Republican Governor of Alabama. Rush used to travel to Phoenix and have dinner with Barkley and the coach. When he was in college (Auburn), I saw him play the Gators a few times in Gainesville, and he would always talk back and forth to the student crowd. Always seemed like a nice guy who likes to have fun.
He is a nice guy. But, he is like the family's weird relative who goes their own way and says embarrassing things. He is just being Charles.
When he told his grandmother he was considering running for governor as a republican, he claimed she replied, "Republican? They're only for the rich people." He answered, "Grandma, I am the rich people."