Republican Party Chief Says Marriage is Bad for Business
RNC Chairman Michael Steele, addressing his fellow Republicans, said that one way they could broaden the Republican base by retooling their message. For example, he said:
"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." (by: Associated Press Writer, Russ Bynum, Sat. May 16 read the full article)
It sounds like, to me, Mr. Steele is saying that if a small business owner hires an unmarried person, then the business owner should not be required to provide health-care insurance for the new employee's spouse, should s/he decided to get married.
Of course he's referring only to same-sex marriage in his quote. But given the statement above, how could it not be interpreted to be applicable to both same-sex and different-sex couples?
Does he realize what he's saying? Do his supporters?
Yeah -- I'm sure this will help broaden the base, and draw more "moderates" into the Republican Party...
