Kleefisch Apologizes for Antigay Words

Rebecca Kleefisch, a candidate for lieutenant governor in Wisconsin, apologized Thursday after she said expanding partnership rights to gay couples would lead to people wanting to marry animals and objects.

"My comments were meant to relay my concern with redefining marriage," the Republican candidate said Thursday, according to the Associated Press. "I never intended to sound insensitive, and have the utmost respect for all people. I apologize for my poor choice of words."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett said Kleefisch's "extreme" views opposing gay rights, embryonic stem cell research, and administering the morning-after pill to rape victims are "far outside of Wisconsin's mainstream," the AP reports.

Kleefisch gave the interview in question to Christian radio station WVCY in January. She said the state could not afford to "just hand 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."