Dean 'vulnerable' on same-sex unions

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Same-sex civil unions are a political vulnerability for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, because he signed the first state law allowing such unions as Vermont governor and continues to push the issue that most Americans oppose.

The front-runner for the Democratic nomination stirred the pot further this week by suggesting that God could not condemn homosexuality because he created homosexuals.

"Dean is especially vulnerable on this, given that he helped orchestrate the passage of [same-sex] civil unions in Vermont and ushered in one of the most radical pro-homosexual governments seen in any state," said Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, an affiliate of Concerned Women for America.

"This is out of step with the American people, and [Mr. Dean] will be unable to finesse this, especially if the GOP is smart enough and moral enough to stand firm against counterfeit marriage," he said.

Polls have found that the majority of Americans oppose legalizing same-sex "marriage" or civil unions, which affords same-sex couples essentially the same benefits as married couples.

In an interview reported by The Washington Post yesterday, Mr. Dean said his decision to sign the Vermont legislation legalizing civil unions for homosexuals was partly because of his Christian views.

"The overwhelming evidence is that there is very significant, substantial genetic component" to homosexuality, Mr. Dean said. "From a religious point of view, if God had thought homosexuality is a sin, he would not have created gay people."

Mr. Knight called Mr. Dean's statements "explosive" and said they show his "profoundly twisted interpretation of God's intent and purposes."

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said Mr. Dean is "having enough difficulty on taxes and Iraq, he should stay away from theology."