Now the rw says against gay marriage because it hurts small businesses

[The Straight Story]

GOD IN GOVERNMENT : The Best From This Week's Blog


Shifting Strategies to Fight Gay Marriage

Opponents of gay rights legislation -- same-sex marriage bills in the states and hate crimes legislation on Capitol Hill -- have shifted strategies, a sure sign that things aren't going well for them.

Gay marriage is legal in five states, at least two more states are seriously considering it and opinion polls show rising support for gay marriage nationally. Hate crimes legislation has passed the House and is expected to pass the Senate soon.

The Republican Party, which has long opposed gay marriage on moral grounds, might be swinging to a more pragmatic reason for its opposition. GOP Chairman Michael Steele has suggested that Republicans could reach a broader base of support by retooling gay marriage as an economic issue that could hurt small businesses.

"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 a Georgia state convention last weekend. "So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money."

Foes had been labeling hate crimes legislation as the "thought crimes" bill that could be used to prosecute clergy if they preached against homosexuality and a follower then committed a crime. More recently, though, they have been calling it the "Pedophile Protection Act," contending that it offers protections for pedophiles and other sexual offenders.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/22/AR2009052203307.html

[konnichi wa]

1. And the 'financial impact' of a man marrying a woman is...different?

:eyes:
:grr:

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Well that's just dumb.

Small businesses are not harmed by marriage. If you carry this to it's logical conculsion, marriages of all flavors will have to be banned.

[rustydog]

3. They are against gay marriage because they have nothing else

The GOP may be drawing their final breath. These no nothing, hate-everything divisive dinosaurs are overdue for extinction.
I hope a moderate human in the Republican party can wrench control from the hateful, bigoted, divisive Neocon Christians (how hypocritical huh?) who have spewed hate and distrust since the 70's.

[billyoc]

4. Stick with the "God said no" thing.

At least there's no math to show that you're full of shit with that one. :rofl:

[AlCzervik]

5. Old and busted just like their moms.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Of course, the flip side is

many married couples choose the spouse with the better insurance and put both members of the family (and the kids) on that policy. Individuals in a same gender marriage who were on their own employer's policy because they never had an alternative choice will now have a choice - and some employers (offering the poorer insurance of the two) will no longer have have the expense of covering the individual who is now eligible for coverage under his or her spouse's plan.

[BuelahWitch]

7. Caterers, florists, photographers, wedding chapels

Just a few of the small businesses that would get a BOOST from gay marriage.
Besides the fact that these "small businesses" would be paying the same if it were man/woman marriage, it always costs MUCH MORE for the employee to add a spouse or family to insurance.
Another Repug arguments full of more holes than Swiss cheese.

[KamaAina]

8. So basically, they're implying that "opposite marriage" hurts small business, too

Please, married DUers, DO NOT let the repukes undermine the sanctity of your marriage! :P

Also note that this is the first time in a generation they have even mentioned small business; the repuke "pro-business" agenda is pro-corporate business only. :eyes:

[AlCzervik]

9. the rightwing must be running out of arguments.

[CoffeeCat]

10. Because they're "it will destroy marriage!" meme is bunk!!

These nimrods had to find some other fearmongering argument against gay marriage, because their
initial argument is a total laugh-riot farce.

Remember they all promised that the institution of marriage would be destroyed? This was their
number one argument against gay marriage. It was a lie and it was fear based. This is how they
kept legislation off the books for years.

Now, that gay marriage is legal in many states, people are realizing that marriage is not destroyed.

In fact, the article mentions that support for gay marriage is increasing. That's most likely due
to the fact that people see how ridiculous the arguments against it were. No heterosexual marriages
have been destroyed, because gay couples can be married in Iowa.

People see now, that the sky doesn't fall when gay marriages happen. The GOP looks like a bunch of fools.

So now...they're contending that gay marriage protects pedophiles. As a married heterosexual woman with
two young children, it's horrendously insulting to use the Republicans use the serious subject of child
sexual abuse---to further their anti-homosexual political agenda.

This will only blow up in their faces. It's revolting and vile that they are marginalizing child sex
abuse by volleying it around as a political football for their amusement and political gain.

One only has to look at the long list of Republican sex offenders--to understand that this party doesn't
take seriously child sex abuse. And their eagerness to use these horrendous crimes against children as
a way to fearmonger once again---is utterly repulsive and perverted.

[tabasco]

11. Wouldn't it be good for the wedding industry?

Photographers, caterers and what-not?

[Berry Cool]

12. Keith Olbermann is way ahead of you, folks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEpjW4WU_nc

Gives this idea the trashing it deserves.