The senator's caveats and curlicues.

(For instructions on how to read a Kerryism, click here.)

"I am the only United States Senato r ^{1 2}who has voluntarily refused to ever take in any of my races ³ one dime of ⁴ special interest money. The only checks I took were from individual Americans. ⁵"

—NPR's All Things Considered, Feb. 9, 2004

[1] who has been elected four times

[2] currently serving in the Senate

[3] for the Senate

[4] political action committee

[5] Now did some individual lobbyists contribute? The answer is, yes, they did.

Verbatim:

I am the only United States Senator who has been elected four times, currently serving in the Senate, who has voluntarily refused to ever take, in any of my races for the Senate, one dime of political action committee special interest money. The only checks I took were from individual Americans. Now did some individual lobbyists contribute? The answer is, yes, they did.