I followed Barkley when he played basketball. He was down to earth, reasonable in all he said; he still is.
I can remember a tale back in what was the '90's when Barkley tried to explain to his mother why he was a Republican.
She told him, that ... Charles.... The republicans are for the rich people, in which Sir Charles promptly responed...... Mom,....we are rich.
Barkley hasn't been 100% on of course, but he does have some common sense.