Steele: Marriage equality is bad for small business

[meegbear]

RNC Chairman Michael Steele wouldn't have risen to his position if he weren't a pretty sharp tack. ... But you wouldn't know it listening to him argue against marriage equality.

From the Associated Press:

Steele said that was just an example of how the party can retool its message to appeal to young voters and minorities without sacrificing core conservative principles. Steele said he used the argument weeks ago while chatting on a flight with a college student who described herself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal on issues like gay marriage.

"Now all of a sudden I've got someone who wasn't a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for," Steele told Republicans at the state convention in traditionally conservative Georgia. "So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money."

As Steele talked about ways the party could position itself, he also poked fun at his previous pledge to give the GOP a "hip-hop makeover."

"You don't have to wear your pants cut down here or the big bling," he said.

Gee, does this mean the Republican party will stop claiming marriage equality will lead to people marrying animals? Or have we not yet heard the last from the "homosexuality is worse than pedophilia" crowd?

And I must add, it's a good thing Steele is averse to the "big bling" ... Small businesses like the GOP need to keep on budget.

-- Stephen C. Webster

http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/05/steele-marriage-equality-is-bad-for-small-business/

[HillbillyBob]

1. What an ass

My partner and I have been together for over 13 years.
We will go to Vt to marry in Nov, then return to NC.
We have kept all the responsibilities of being married, but none of the benefits.
I am disabled so he has to work 2 jobs to keep us in a house, he has to do the heavy work here on our little farmstead. He still has to pay full taxes.
I could go on a real rant about how asinine this wipe is.
Many gay couples I've known had small businesses which they supported themselves.
I am sick to damn death of this shit of being considered less than.
When we pay full taxes, obey laws, and are generally good citizens that take part in the communities we live in, donating time and money to causes that help everyone not just our gay friends.
F--- the Gop I hope all these good kreestians rot, then go to hell.

[DarkTirade]

2. So... having more stable family units in the country = bad for the economy?

I've got to be honest. It's not the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

But its pretty high up on the list.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Following this logic...

small businesses shouldn't employ anyone who's married, as it's bad for their bottom line.



And what's with this "all of a sudden" bit? Did the gay waiter wake up married and demand benefits for his partner?

[donco6]

4. And forget about those evil, expensive offspring!

NO more families! They're costing us MONEY! Grrrrr!

[Creideiki]

6. Well, there was that bender in Las Vegas...

Oh, wait. That's straight people.

[RomanHoliday]

5. If you only want to save money, then just abolish marriage altogether.

[bluedawg12]

7. What a buffoon! n/t

[QC]

8. He should have just said "God is in the mix." That would be OK. n/t

[SacredCow]

9. I'm sorry- Maybe I'm not fully awake yet, but I have NO idea what point he is trying to make....

It's like he's talking out of a drug-induced haze...

[DarkTirade]

12. Well, if religion is the opiate of the masses...

... maybe he's high on dogma?

[Deep13]

10. Stop obstructing health care reform and it won't be a problem.

This is, of course, a comment in addition to: "Just when I think I have heard the most idiotic remark ever, along comes the most idiotic remark ever."

[nightrain]

11. a truly stupid remark...

Steele surely didn't think this one through.

Let's apply it also to heterosexuals who get married at much higher numbers while employed. Steele, are those new spouses also a burden?

Very silly argument designed to just produce fear and division (the Rethug attitude and plan).

[Deep13]

14. "Steele surely didn't think this one through."

With him that's pretty much a given.

[GodlessBiker]

13. He's actually telling businesses to scrap health care coverage altogether.

[allanrbrts]

15. Steele is an idiot

Funny how he says this only 1 day after a report comes out of Massachusetts discussing the extra revenues from gay marriage in the state.

[IntravenousDemilo]

16. Gee, Michael, I guess gay people are getting too uppity for you. n/m