Dean is moderate on gays? [View All]

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I finally got a hold of the Time Magazine with Dean on the cover. The article was OK I guess but one thing jumped out like a sore thumb. They described Dean's position on gays as moderate. For the record this is what Dean did on gay rights in VT.

1) helped pass and signed a civil rights bill for lesbians and gays in VT. Currently only CA, NY, NJ, MA, CT, NH, MN, RI, VT, MD, and HI have such laws. At the time he was the third governor to sign such legislation.

2) extended full benefits to domestic partners of state employees (before civil unions). Not sure how many states do that but I know OH doesn't.

3) permitted same sex couples to adopt as couples. To my knowledge on NJ, MA, and VT permit this.

4) fought for the passage of and signed civil unions legislation giving same sex couples the same legal rights as straight couples. Only VT has this.

How is this a moderate position? If the word moderate means anything it means the middle of the political spectrum. Yet most states don't do these things. There are 50 states in this country and a handful deign to grant even such basic rights as not getting fired for being gay. I would love Time to be accurate on this but give me a break.