It's widely known that Hillary Clinton's views on gay marriage have "evolved," but that terminology drastically understates the extent to which she has changed her opinion on the subject to keep up with the times.

It wasn't long ago that Clinton sounded much more like a staunch social conservative than a gay rights champion on the issue, describing marriage as a "fundamental bedrock principle" going back "into the mists of history" that was primarily about raising children.

During 2004 Senate floor debate, Clinton argued that though she opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment that would have amended the Constitution to make marriage between a man and a woman because she thought the issue should be a state matter, she wanted to make it crystal clear that this in no way suggested she wanted to change the definition of marriage.

"I believe that marriage is not just a bond but a sacred bond between a man and a woman," Clinton said. "I have had occasion in my life to defend marriage, to stand up for marriage, to believe in the hard work and challenge of marriage. So I take umbrage at anyone who might suggest that those of us who worry about amending the Constitution are less committed to the sanctity of marriage, or to the fundamental bedrock principle that exists between a man and a woman, going back into the mists of history as one of the founding, foundational institutions of history and humanity and civilization, and that its primary, principal role during those millennia has been the raising and socializing of children for the society into which they are to become adults."

Between 2004 and 2013, when she came out in favor of gay marriage, public opinion on the issue changed dramatically. More recently, Clinton has abandoned the idea that marriage should be a state issue and expressed hope that the Supreme Court would declare a Constitutional right to gay marriage that would prohibit states from keeping marriage between a man and a woman. Though naturally, her campaign is trying to blame the media for creating the impression that her views have changed.

To say Clinton "evolved" on gay marriage is sort of like saying Peter Parker changed slightly after he got bitten by a radioactive spider.