Wisconsin candidate for lieutenant
governor Rebecca Kleefisch on Thursday apologized for likening gay
marriage to marrying a dog, the AP reported.
Kleefisch, the running mate of GOP
gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker, made her remarks before winning
the Republican primary on Sept. 14, but Wisconsin-based gay rights
group Fair Wisconsin admonished her comments in a recent email to
backers.
Speaking on Christian-based radio WVCY
in January, Kleefisch objected to Wisconsin's domestic partnership
law signed by Governor Jim Doyle. The gay-inclusive law offers
registered couples 43 rights, most of which center around estate
planning and hospital visitation rights.
Kleefisch said the state can't afford
to “just be handing out money to anyone. This is a slippery slope.
In addition to that, at what point are we going to OK marrying
inanimate objects? Can I marry this table, or this, you know, clock?
Can we marry dogs? This is ridiculous.”
In a statement issued Thursday,
Kleefisch apologized “for my poor choice of words.”
“My comments were meant to relay my
concern with redefining marriage,” she said. “I never intended
to sound insensitive, and have the utmost respect for all people.”
Fair
Wisconsin had criticized Kleefisch's remarks, saying on its
website that she had devalued gay and lesbian relationships, and
urged voters to reject the GOP nominee.
“One thing is for sure, the last
thing we need is our very own Sarah Palin in Madison,” the group
wrote.