RNC chief: Gay marriage will burden small business

[Starbucks Anarchist]

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

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."

[enki23]

1. and if they were all gawd-fearing straight people, they'd have spouses too

so, by steele's logic, the best position for small business would be for there to be *lots* of unmarried (presumably gay?) people.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. So, only hetero couples are entitled to health care?

That appears to be Steele's cockeyed logic. This is the best he can come up with for appealing to a wider base? I have confidence that Americans will see right through this divisive tactic.

[Skinner]

3. By this argument, heterosexual marriage is also a burden for business.

Maybe we should just ban all marriage, so we don't put any unnecessary burden on all the poor, oppressed American businesses out there.

[Critters2]

10. Exactly. I heard someone discussing this on the radio,

and thought, "What difference, then would the chromosomal configuration of the couple make?". :shrug:

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Sounds like he's encouraging businesses to hire promiscuous, single gay people.

Tsk Tsk. :eyes:

[readmoreoften]

5. And if one of their straight employees "suddenly" gets married, as straight employees are wont to do

what happens next? He decries the marriage as a financial burden to his business and fires the employee?

Dumbest. Argument. Ever.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Oh for the love of criminy.

Gay marriage has been shown to actually increase revenue.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/09/national/main4167209.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._4167209

(AP) "Same-sex weddings could create hundreds of new jobs and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into California's economy, according to a new study released Monday.

Gay couples are projected to spend $684 million on flowers, cakes, hotels, photographers and other wedding services over the next three years - so long as voters don't put a halt to the same-sex marriage spree, according to a study by the Williams Institute at University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

During the three-year period, the researchers project that about half of the state's more than 100,000 same-sex couples will get married and another 68,000 out-of-state couples will travel to California to exchange vows. The nuptial rush is expected to create some 2,200 jobs.

The study estimates that over the next three years, gay weddings will generate $64 million in additional tax revenue for the state, and another $9 million in marriage-license fees for counties."

Thanks for Prop 8 fuckers! You spent a hateful assload of money and ended up costing our state even more money from lost revenue. Republicans rock! :sarcasm:

[bluedawg12]

12. I hope they let Steele retool all their messages.

Who better to retool than a prime tool? :rofl:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

7. He must chug 2 or 3 slurpees before he speaks.

:argh:

That's some severe frozen brain stem going on.

[LAGC]

8. Burdens? Steele is a burden...

...on the GOP! Let him keep talking -- the more he opens his mouth, the lower and lesser the Repukes' chances are come the next election cycle.

[Touchdown]

9. Like planners, flower shops, DJs, photographers, judges, caterers...

Those kind of people? Yeah, what on Earth would they do?:eyes:

[Odin2005]

11. "Equal Protection is bad for business" = Typical Puke