Equating liberal and moderate is a bit of a stretch.

Liberal has a number of meaings; in relation to political opinions, the OED entry:
5. Favourable to constitutional changes and legal and administrative reforms, tending in the direction of freedom or democracy. Hence used as the designation of the party holding such opinions, in England and other states; opposed to Conservative.

Moderate. Also several meanings. 2. of opinions and their supporters: not extreme; not strongly partisan. b. Hence (now with initial capital) used as the designation of various political and ecclestical parties and their views.

'Liberal' often is used by extreme left-wingers to disguise radical ideas and the destruction of the capitalist system.