When Asked Whether He Would ‘Consider’ Gay Civil Unions, Steele Replies, ‘What Are You, Crazy?’

[deminks]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/steele-crazy-civil-unions/

Last night, actor Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black both won Oscars for their work on “Milk,” which told the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official. Today, the right wing expressed its disgust that the movie received such acclamation. On his radio show, Mike Gallagher slammed Penn for ignoring “the majority of Americans” by supporting gay marriage rights, saying it went against America’s “fundamental values.”

Gallagher asked guest Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican Party, if he thought the party “ought to consider” something like civil unions. Steele replied immediately, “No, no, no,” adding, “What are you, crazy?” He made it clear that the party would not budge on gay rights:

GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?

STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, “Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.”

(end snip)

Idiot.

[msongs]

1. At one time the MAJORITY of Americans favored keeping blacks in slavery. hmmm nt

[JenGatherer]

2. The world is passing Rebubs by...

and they are looking like the party of yesterday.

On a positive note, New Mexico is close to a domestic partnership, see
http://newmexicoindependent.com/19390/catholic-church-flexes-muscles-in-domestic-partnership-debate

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all went "crazy" and respected each other's civil rights?

[tanyev]

4. Welcome to DU, JenGatherer!

:hi:

[abq e streeter]

5. And welcome to the interesting, informative, (and occasionally irritating), world of DU

I so hope you're right about the repubs being left in the dustbin of history. I hope they're soon the party of far beyond yesterday...

[Submariner]

3. What's this "founding value of this country" crapola

I never heard of such a thing. These republitards just make shit up as they go along. Blithering idiots.

[donco6]

6. What? You don't remember the big "no gay marriage" debate of 1778?

It was the core debate of the Constitutional Congress.

Oh, wait, that's just bullshit.

[ecstatic]

9. LOL nt

[tanyev]

12. Isn't that why all the colonists left Europe?

Because teh evil monarchs and assorted despots were going to force them all into same sex marriages?

[donco6]

14. You heard it here first.

It's the great secret no one will talk about. That's because no one on earth has ever known about it. Absolutely no one. Not even the evil despots. Then somehow the Republicans got wind of it.

Damn Republicans. They can never keep a secret.

[abq e streeter]

16. yes, with illegal Muslim immigrants from Mexico

and then take away their guns and bibles too

[Stevenmarc]

7. "A core, founding value of this country?"

Michael you need to get back to your plantation, we wouldn't want any backsliding on core, founding values.

[EmilyAnne]

8. The Republicans sure seem to feel "loosey-goosey" on so many other things.

Loosey-goosey on human rights.

Loosey-goosey on claims of WMD in Iraq.

Loosey-goosey on science.

Loosey-goosey, etc.

[sniffa]

10. I wonder how the party feels about interracial marriage?

Or even the ability for AA's to marry each other? The core, founding value of this country prohibited both.

[globalvillage]

11. A 'core founding value of this country'?

Marriage or heterosexuality? I don't recall either in the history books. I thought a core founding value was freedom from oppression.

I hate how people like Steele just make stuff up and expect people not to question it.

[Vickers]

13. Remember how pissed off Jefferson was

about gay marriage?

:crazy:

[gratuitous]

15. I think we all remember the stirring words of Patrick Henry

"Give me liberty or give me a reach-around!"

[SPedigrees]

17. My direct ancestor arrived here on the Mayflower

...and signed the compact at Plymouth. I suspect that makes me more of an heir to the "founding value of this country" than Michael Steele.

I've been married to the same person for 40 years and no, our Vermont civil union law has had no impact on our (hetero) marriage.

[liberalmuse]

18. Michael Steele...

is the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party in recent years since Howard Dean. Hip Hop Party, indeed. Jesus, he's like the anti-Dean, with his 50-state FUCK UP.