RNC and Steele go a courting?

Initially I was heartened when I read in an article on PageOneQ entitled "Steele: GOP should reach out to supporters of gay rights, abortion", that Michael Steele the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee intimated that his party must do a better job of courting candidates and voters who support gay marriage and are pro-choice.

Alas, it seems that the courting is over and like the black widow spider after courting, Steele is about to eat us.

In an interview with conservative radio host Mike Gallagher, Michael Steele came out against civil unions! Now, we know the RNC is against gay marriage, but I would have thought that Michael Steele with his supposed conciliatory approach would have supported civil unions for gay people instead, but no, it's not to be.

In an entry on Ben Smith's blog on www.politico.com entitled "Steele on civil unions: 'Are you crazy?'", Smith posts the relevant transcript of the radio interview.

Here is the first part of the transcript.

"Do you favor civil unions?" Gallagher asked:

STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country. I mean this isn't something that you just kind of like, "Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage." I mean, this is a foundational principle of this country. It is a foundational principle of organized society. It isn't something that, you know, in America we decided, "Let's make it between a man and a woman; oh well now, let's change our mind and make it between anyone and anyone." No. ........

And so it goes. I am as confused as ever. Does the RNC want to move forward or not?!