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."

"You don't have to wear your pants cut down here or the big bling," he said.

Vermont and Iowa have legalized gay marriage in recent weeks, and a Quinnipiac University poll released in April found that 57 percent of people questioned support civil unions that provide marriage-like rights. Although 55 percent said they opposed gay marriage, the poll indicated a shift toward more acceptance.

The chief of the Republican National Committee has been criticized by some social conservatives in recent weeks after GQ magazine quoted him as saying he opposed gay marriage but wasn't going to "beat people upside the head about it."

Steele, a Catholic and former Maryland lieutenant governor, was elected chairman of the committee earlier this year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090516/ap_on_bi_ge/us_steele_republicans;_ylt=Am0UdlgD7oHcv1kN1oAOU3RvzwcF

no one should be allowed to get married.

Appeal to man's base instincts, scare them about money.

hey you might have the fix there

I agree with coz, that way no one can complain about gays having the right to marry



When someone marries a person of the opposite sex...guess what...same problem...

Someone you weren't responsible for is now your spouse and you are responsible for them.

With a divorce rate above %60 why would anyone want to get married???

Well said!!!!

They should do away with the discriminating practice of giving tax deductions and special privileges to all who are married or have children.

We could more than pay the costs of the State Children's Health Insurance Program by reducing or doing away with the tax deductions for dependents.
And, get the right group to pay for it!

Do away with EIC and quit qiving back more than people payed in!!!!!!!!!!!1

Dependents use a lot of tax dollars.
Why should we pay for others kids?

If I claim a certain number of dependants and they take money out of my check based on that each pay day....why shouldn't I get it back during tax time?

If you claim dependents they take less from your check each week!

The deductions you claim are only an estimate. Most of the time you still get some back.

If you are in a low income bracket it is quite possible that you will recieve more back than you ever payed in!

Eventually gay marriage will be legal everywhere. It is just a matter of time.

I say good luck to the gay people and for their fight for their rights.

I receive back what I put in. The government doesn't pay for my son's healthcare, food, housing etc. his dad and I do. IMO...getting back more than you put in isn't right....but I get what I put in for my son

If you claim dependents they take less from your check, not more.

If you get it all back then you dont pay income tax!

That's correct. Contrary to what people seem to believe our country was founded on the strong taking care of the week. That means the rich also help care for the poor. I would agree we have taken it too far in some cases and it's probably helped lead to that feeling, but to go back on that completely is to deny what our countries greatness was founded on.

To tax smokers and smokers alone, for a life choice, goes against what this country was founded on.

In fact its closer to what started the Revolution.

Taxing single people without kids sucking up education funds etc is the same as taxing smokers to pay for children's health care.
They did not take one iota of tax deductions for dependents nor married filing jointly.
It's a win-win for those groups unless they also smoke. A life choice!

They could have more than payed for SCHIP by reducing their deductions!