Steele: Same-sex couples don't deserve equal rights because it will burden businesses.

[jefferson_dem]

RNC chief: Gay marriage will burden small business
By RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press Writer Russ Bynum, Associated Press Writer



SAVANNAH, Ga. – Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on health care and other benefits, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said Saturday.

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.

<SNIP>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090516/ap_on_re_us/us_steele_republicans

[firedupdem]

1. He gets nuttier by the week. n/t

[Fresh_Start]

2. so lets remove the burden entirely and not provide it to

straight couples either. After all, its business not people who matter.
:sarcasm:

[mediaman007]

3. When the businesses budget for a full time position, the benefits are included.

If they happen to "get lucky" and hire a single person, the company makes a few bucks because they don't have to pay family benefits. I guess any business could save money by not hiring people with dependents!

[eleny]

4. This is the weakest argument to date

Steele is a bottomless well of nonsense.

[mediaman007]

5. Another thought!

Steele's reasoning is a great endorsement of national health insurance. Then all of the businesses won't have to worry about health benefits.

[jefferson_dem]

7. Yes.

I like it. It's not just a solid political talking point but it makes absolute sense. :thumbsup:

[nxylas]

31. That was the first thing I thought when I heard this comment

I said to myself "This is going to be the Republican own goal of the week. Instead of turning small business owners against teh gayz, it's more likely to make them wonder why they are being crippled by their employees' healthcare costs".

[jesus_of_suburbia]

6. He is vile.

[phleshdef]

8. Gee. Good thing for him someone wasn't concerned with that when black people were given equal rights

Astounding.

[DrToast]

12. Indeed. Bring back slavery! It's GREAT for business!

[Deja Q]

27. Seconded! A living wage is just way too much for businesses to cope with!

Let's use Mikey as a guinea pig too...

[phleshdef]

29. Lets bring it back but only for Michael Steele.

[sarge43]

20. Someone was. I heard the same tired stupid argument about blacks, then women.

Hurts business? Boo-fucking-hoo.

[DrToast]

9. Only in the Republican world...

...can complete deference to the interests of Business be considered a new twist on their message.

Someone should ask Steele if slavery should be reinstated. That would be GREAT for business.

[silverweb]

10. We can fix that, too.

Fixing health care properly would fix that problem.

So can we count on Mr. Genius Steele to advocate for universal single-payer health care now and relieve businesses of their crushing health care burden?

[sarah553807]

11. If I ever see this asswipe around my neighborhood

somebody will have to hold me back

[IndianaGreen]

13. As it is paying women same as men, and paying Blacks same as Whites

Steele forgot to wear his sheets.

[Hieronymus]

14. The truth is that Steele is just not bright.

[AspenRose]

15. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Part of me wants him to shut up, because it's just too painful to listen.

But the pragmatic side of me hopes he keeps it up because he's helping destroy the GOP in its current incarnation.

[jefferson_dem]

19. He'll be on Meet the Press tomorrow and it'll be fun watching him try to spin this...

If "ToolBox" Gregory actually pretends to be a real journalist.

[DrToast]

21. Yeah...

If "ToolBox" Gregory actually pretends to be a real journalist.

I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one.

[msongs]

16. christian marriages are WAY more likely to burden small businesses actually because

there's WAY more of them.

Msongs

[varun]

17. fuck you steele

and what about the benefits to minorities like you? Should we take them away to save money?

[Baltoman991]

18. Ya think

anyone reminded Steele that people "suddenly have a new spouse" on pretty much a daily basis when hetero couples marry?

I swear he was an embarassment to Maryland and that trend continues as the leader of a political party. He's pathetic.

[QC]

22. And this is worse than "God is in the mix" in exactly what way? n/t

[Thrill]

23. Oh well, I guess Gays aren't real people.

:crazy:

[Fire1]

24. Huh???? I'm glad he's on the other side!! Damn, how dense

can you be?

[pnwmom]

25. Then unburden ALL the businesses. Give us universal health care

with a Medicare like option.

[Deja Q]

26. Gee, insane health care and insurance costs aren't?

$20 for an aspirin when I can buy a case of the, 1800x more, for the same price...;

Look around, Mikey, there are many examples of what's tantamount to theft.

Why are you so strung up on gays?

[TheWraith]

28. Wow. That's pretty fucking stupid even for Republicans.

Usually the at least cloak their idiocy in something that somebody could find credible.

[Aloha Spirit]

30. Steele playing mad libs. ________ is bad policy because it burdens small businesses.

[HopeOverFear]

32. OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE keep staying stupid shit like this nm

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

This week is our second quarter 2009 fund drive.
Donate and you'll be automatically entered into our daily contest.
New prizes daily!



No purchase or donation necessary. Void where prohibited. Click here for more information.

[RoadRage]

34. PLEASE... SOMEONE HELP THEM..

Remind Mr. Steele that it cost a lot of "white folks" money when they were no longer allowed to hold black people as slaves. All of a sudden those white folks had to go out and HIRE AND PAY people to pick crops, garden, dig, etc. It was a horrible burden on business.. the cost of something made out of cotton that used to be picked for free just SKYROCKETED.

I'm sure we can all agree that going back to the days of slavery would certainly be benificial to BUSINESS.. but that sure as FUCK DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.

Seriously, what in the hell is wrong with that guy? Hell, with the entire freaking party?

:spank: :spank: :spank:

[PurityOfEssence]

35. Blanket answer to those who think employers should cover healthcare: why do you hate business?

This republican-sounding phrase should be shoved down their throats with incessant repetition.

I still hold to the belief that someday we WILL get socialized medicine, and it will be given to us by the conservatives. They'll wise up and realize that they're at an extreme disadvantage competing against foreign manufacturers who don't have to cover this extra cost when selling their goods in third-world markets.

[surrealAmerican]

36. OMG. He's right!

We need to ban marriage entirely! It hurts small business. We also need to ban employees having children. :sarcasm: