Creigh Deeds in '99: "NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR GAYS"

The Washington Post has been trying to paint Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell as a right-wing extremist this summer by running dozens of pieces related to the Republican's 20-year-old socially conservative graduate thesis. In today's installment, the Post tries to portray McDonnell as homophobic for opposing to the reappointment of a lesbian judge who may have sexually harassed an employee. With all of their reporters digging through McDonnell's past comments, the Post seems to have overlooked comments made by McDonnell's Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds--only ten, not twenty years ago--that might shock the sensibilities of socially liberal Northern Virginians. Here's a full-page Creigh Deeds campaign ad from the October 29, 1999 issue of the Bath County Recorder:

NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR GAYS
I don't believe in discrimination, but I don't believe in special rights for anyone. I have never voted to allow gay partners to receive medical insurance -- or any other benefit -- from the state. It's sad that Mr. Collins has to resort to bigotry and hate-mongering.