05/06/2009
RNC Chair Michael Steele Blasts Maine Marriage Equality Decision
Writes Steele in a statement:
"Our party platform articulates our opposition to gay marriage and civil
unions, positions shared by many Americans. I believe that marriage
should be between one man and one woman and strongly disagree with
Maine’s decision to legalize gay marriage."
The Plum Line notes that Steele's statement "puts him at odds with Maine’s moderate Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both said today the decision should be left to the states."
Strange, in GQ in March, Steele said the issue should be left to the states. He must have received an abusive phone call from Rush Limbaugh.
Posted 8:41 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Maine, Michael Steele, Republican Party | Permalink
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Steele is a gift that keeps on giving...not unlike Michele Bachmann! Schadenfreude and the GOP...a match made in heaven!
Posted by: ToddieToes | May 6, 2009 8:47:32 PM
There you have it Log Cabin boys. The RNC is firmly against equality for a group of American citizens who pay their taxes and thereby their salaries. This should be a wake-up call for any LGBT people out there who still cling to the fallacy that the Republican party is in any way, shape, or form the party that puts the rights of American citizens ahead of their own selfish agenda.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | May 6, 2009 8:49:25 PM
BUT IT'S NOT A DECISION!!!!
WE'RE TALKING LEGISLATION.
Posted by: BillyBoy | May 6, 2009 9:04:06 PM
I hate to say the truth in the following way, but we gay people just have to wait until the bigots die off.
Once most of these conservative, 50+ year-olds die, the up-and-coming generations will have no problem in letting us live our lives. The flipside is that I may be a goner by then too, lol, but at least others like me (and the rest of us) will never have to know such prejudices.
Posted by: Drew | May 6, 2009 9:04:41 PM
I like that he has to say, "our opposition to gay marriage and civil unions, positions shared by many Americans." _Many_ Americans. Not most, not a majority. Just many. Soon enough, it'll just be a few.
Posted by: another Andy | May 6, 2009 9:17:26 PM
Why is it that "The People" say "Let the People Vote"! Did not the people vote for their state legislators and did those same legislators vote according to their constituencies? Now we have MS from the GOP ralling against a state when most right wingers insist it's a states right to enact Gay Marriage!!
Posted by: alex in boston | May 6, 2009 9:24:52 PM
It's way past time for Michael Steele to shut the fuck up and go away.
Posted by: Jordan | May 6, 2009 9:36:13 PM
Has this man ever seen a mirror?
Posted by: Travis | May 6, 2009 9:36:38 PM
I hate Politicians, but I loathe Conservative Republicans. The nerve of individuals such as Steele and Limbaugh to make sweeping generalizations regarding what the "majority" want or need. When are we going to vote on THEIR rights? Please tell me so I can be one of the first to decide they don't deserve the same rights.
Posted by: CJ | May 6, 2009 9:43:51 PM
One can choose good or evil, and Steele keeps going to evil.
Good luck on that brand re-building!
It doesn't matter if a strong majority opposes marriage equality, a bare majority opposes marriage equality, "many" oppose marriage equality, or few oppose marriage equality: It ain't just.
Posted by: Brad | May 6, 2009 9:58:05 PM
so much for state's rights?
Posted by: Alberto | May 6, 2009 10:05:32 PM
Drew, the most vehement opponents of equality tend to be people (especially males} born in the 193O`s and earlier. That is exactly the group who were the vast majority of teachers, school board trustees, parents, lawyers, senators, governors, Presidents and judges only a few years ago.
Other than a few senators and judges who hang onto their jobs into their 8O`s and 9O`s, they have recently for the most part handed the reigns of decision making onto a more equality minded generation. Those born in the 195Os are far more likley to be in favor of equality and those born in the 197Os much more so still.
I think that is one reason we have started to win these issues as we`ve seen in New England. Eighty five year olds in nursing homes do sometimes go out and vote (as on Proposition H8} but they don`t very often maintain those other types of decision making power (as senators, etc.}
As they retire, we make gains. Simultaneously, kids who watched Ellen come out when they were in kindergarten are just now old enough to vote!
Equal rights should continue making very steady gains for all kinds of demographic reasons coming together.
Posted by: GregV | May 6, 2009 10:12:46 PM
What he meant, of course, is that the issue should be left to the states, unless they make the "wrong" choice. Then it's all about federal government intrusion.
Posted by: loki7329 | May 6, 2009 10:29:01 PM
This is why the Republican party is on its way to the grave. Sorry boos.
Posted by: terrydp | May 6, 2009 10:31:15 PM
"Marriage should be left up to the states. Unless they begin to allow equality, in which case marriage should be between a man and a woman."
What at ass...
Posted by: Von | May 6, 2009 10:40:54 PM
Apart from anything else, his stance is politically dumb. A majority of voters consistently support AT LEAST civil unions. Let him dig his own grave and be glad!
Posted by: Dan | May 6, 2009 10:46:13 PM
Bachmann, Palin, Steele, Limbaugh, Hannity: Why is the Grand Old Party off of it's medication?
Posted by: Garland | May 6, 2009 10:46:28 PM
So boldly, in-your-face stupid. I guess he wants to shore up the religious fundies because you know...they have so many other voting options.
Posted by: paul c | May 6, 2009 11:00:05 PM
he's still Rush's lawn jockey
Posted by: mike shackleford | May 6, 2009 11:07:50 PM
BIG
OL'
FUCKING
CLOSET QUEEN!!!!!!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 6, 2009 11:15:15 PM
And there you go...it just got racial. That didn't take long.
Posted by: paul c | May 6, 2009 11:19:03 PM
Unless they start cloning Hasselbecks, or brain-washing our youth (ooops, they al ALREADY doing that!), the younger generations will make the G.O.P. extinct.
Posted by: John Bisceglia | May 6, 2009 11:21:25 PM
He's such a horrible mouthpiece for the GOP, entirely inconsistent and completely over his head. Thank heavens.
Posted by: Paul R | May 6, 2009 11:34:56 PM
OK, he said "I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman".
Query - who gives a fuck what that loser thinks?
Oh, and Paul C, that was not a racial comment made by Mike Shackelford [assuming that's what you are referring to], it was an indictment of Rush. Context cannot be ignored.
Posted by: Ted | May 6, 2009 11:46:29 PM
F*ck this uncle Tom and his shitty, irrelevant, reactionary party of idiots. They're history. Justice is the future.
Posted by: Mike A | May 7, 2009 1:50:49 AM