What makes a moderate a moderate?

[RJ]

Like the title says.

I never liked that term:"moderate." I think even less of the term "centrist." Still, I think it's worth discussing.

There's the traditional meaning that it's someone who doesn't share his/her respective party's views on many or perhaps a major issue(s). For instance, moderates are generally associated with examples such as pro life Democrats and anti big-business Republicans. I think of a moderate as someone who doesn't wholeheartedly look to persue change in every political issue there is, especially the major ones. I think many Democrats believe in abortion or be against gun control yet place them as a lower priority, just as there are Republicans who want the death penalty nationwide or be against the War in Iraq. However, "moderates" find other issues that aren't as nationally prominent such as fiscal stability or trade imbalance to be more important.