The senator's caveats and curlicues.

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

Question: If it were to come before you today for a vote, the issue of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as that between a man and a woman, would you vote yes or would you vote no?

Kerry: ^{1 2} About the rights, I believe that it is important in America not to di scriminate _³. I _⁴ believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. ^{₅ 6 7 8 9 10 11} I'm for civil union. I'm for partnership rights and the full measure of no ndiscrimination _¹².

—Democratic presidential primary debate, Milwaukee, Wisc., Feb, 15, 2004

[1] Well, it depends on the terminology

[2] because it depends on what it does with respect to civil unions and partnership rights.

[3] with respect to rights

[4] personally

[5] But I also believe that we ought to be able to not let marriage and the concept get in the way of respecting the rights of people to be able to visit a partner in a hospital, to be able to pass on property, to be able to live under the equal protection clause of the United States.

[6] And the question is whether or not that can be put in the Constitution.