Michael Steele's mind inhabits an alternate reality. This is his new talking point against 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 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.

So his argument is that gay marriage is fiscally irresponsible? Every time he opens his mouth, more garbage comes out of it. I'm sure the less than .050% of gay married couples will produce a huge dent in corporate earnings. First gays were just demented people who weren't allowed to make love because they would be thrown in jail for it. Now, in Steele's world, gays are just too costly. I mean, WTF?