Wisconsin Lt. Governor Candidate Kleefisch Apologises Suggesting That Domestic Partnership Benefits Beginning Of Slippery Slope Where Citizens Marry Clocks And Dogs

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Republican candidate for Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch has issued an apology for recently surfaced remarks she made during an interview in January on a Christian radio program, when Kleefisch, asked about the extension of benefits to domestic partners, answered “We can’t at this point afford to just be handing out money to anyone. This is a slippery slope in addition to that – at what point are going to OK marrying inanimate objects? Can I marry this table, or this, you know, clock? Can we marry dogs? This is ridiculous.” Fair Wisconsin, the state’s largest gay advocacy group, sent an e-mail to supporters earlier in October, referencing the quote, suggesting that her statements were not said by “sensible and decent Wisconsinites,” and that “We simply cannot allow our next Lieutenant Governor to someone who likens the values of relationships between caring and committed same-sex couples to tables and clocks.” Kleefisch is the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker, and his campaign’s spokesperson released a statement from Kleefisch Thursday that read in part “My comments were meant to relay my concern with redefining marriage. I never intended to sound insensitive, and have the utmost respect for all people. I apologize for my poor choice of words.”