Gov. Tom Vilsack today said he believes Iowa should recognize civil unions among gay partners along with its laws the define marriage as being a legal bond between a man and a woman.

Vilsack used Britney Spears as an example saying it isn't fair that society gives full marriage rights to someone who is married for 51 hours and then has that legal relationship annulled but won't provide the same set of rights to a gay couple where the partners have been committed to each other for 25 years.