Thread: Michael Steele is a genius

From the article entitled "GOP Rethinking Strategy to Oppose Gay Marriage":

Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on healthcare and other benefits, Michael Steele, GOP chairman, said yesterday.


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?

Go, Michael, go! :laughing:

Obama says change has come to Washington - The Boston Globe

His reasoning is one of the major reasons I don't think government should offer benefits or be involved in the marriage business period.

Originally Posted by freckles

His reasoning is one of the major reasons I don't think government should offer benefits or be involved in the marriage business period.

I completely agree. Separation of Church and State seems to take precedence here. What business is it of the government's who's married to who anyway?

Originally Posted by freckles

His reasoning is one of the major reasons I don't think government should offer benefits or be involved in the marriage business period.

So you think we should do away with marriage licenses all together?

Originally Posted by Blueneck

So you think we should do away with marriage licenses all together?

I think the government should be more worried about the state of the economy than who's marrying who.

Originally Posted by Blueneck

So you think we should do away with marriage licenses all together?

I think they should give the license but no benefits should be given. If you think about it, it is actually oppression of single people the way it is now.

Originally Posted by freckles

I think they should give the license but no benefits should be given. If you think about it, it is actually oppression of single people the way it is now.

Good point. The institution of marriage is mainly a religious one. Since the government by law is not allowed in the affairs of religions then if a marriage license is to be issued at all then it should be issued like a driver's license. Simply take the tests, fill out a form, pay the fee, and get a license. There should be no tax issues at all. Pay your fee, get your license, and have fun being whatever it is you are. It's not my business. If people want to be spiritual about it, fine go to Church and do it under the eyes of God. Leave the government out of it.

Originally Posted by Blueneck

So you think we should do away with marriage licenses all together?

Aside from the Constitution protection of people from itrusive state laws, Federal government should have no say in marriage. None.

Exactly. This is not a matter for the Federal Government. The state governments (which I sadly know little about outside of my own) should be able to enforce their laws as written in their constitutions as voted on by the people.

Originally Posted by Bluegrass

Aside from the Constitution protection of people from itrusive state laws, Federal government should have no say in marriage. None.

What you're doing is opening the door for allowing each state to define which marriages it will recognize. One state may not permit Catholic/Protestant unions or mixed-race marriages. Another state may allow mixed-race marriages, but would not recognize marriages in which one person was less than 50% the age of the other. A third state may not recognize second- or third-marriages.

That could make things rough on many fronts.