Slashdot Mirror


Did Kerry Use a Cheat Sheet?

mrbrown1602 writes "The Drudge Report is reporting that repeated viewing of video from the first Presidential Debate shows Senator John Kerry reaching into his coat pocket for what looks like to be a piece of paper, and he proceeds to unfold it on the lectern. According to the rules set by the Commission on Presidential Debates, candidates are not allowed to bring anything with them on stage (even something as simple as a pen, which is what Kerry's people says it was), and everything they may need (water, tissues, pens, etc.) are provided at the lectern. So what DID Senator Kerry bring out there, anyways?" There's also a QuickTime movie.

10 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Well, so what? by hey! · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How useful would a cheat sheet be to a guy like Kerry, under the circumstances. Since neither candidate knew the questions in advance, at most it could be general outlines for a few points he wanted to make. For the predictable stuff he simply went with the usual stump rhetoric (90% percent of the cost, 90% of the casualties etc.) which he's used on talk shows and at campaign appearances for weeks now. And that was probably weakest. Historically, he's best in a debate when he's thinking on his feet anyway, he's horrible repeating the kind of canned stuff that Reagan was fantastic with.

    I mean, what supposedly was written on the paper? "Don't forget Poland!"?

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    1. Re:Well, so what? by Shakrai · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You really are not supposed to bring your own pens, but I dont think people really care about that.

      How do you even know he brought his own pen? For all we know he pocketed one of the pens provided by the commission while the camera was focusing on Bush and took it out later. If I have a pen in my hand and I don't need it my habit is to put it in my shirt pocket -- who says Kerry doesn't have a similar habit?

      Or maybe he's a wanton pen thief! That would give Fox and Drudge something to run as a story for the next day or so. And after they are done with it Dan Rather can interview some people from the Texas Guard that claim a number of pens went missing when Bush was transferred to Alabama. Shit... shouldn't have put those ideas out there.

      Oey! What a stupid thing to argue about.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  2. It was a pen, just like Kerry said... by manyoso · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Drudge is a partisan hack who shouldn't be trusted to report on anything related to Kerry. Besides, the video is not clear at all.

    This is just desperate carping by those who are terrified the President will be outed as a cheat for his obvious use of an electronic earpiece system.

    Link through and you'll find the incriminating photo as well as other instances of the Pres caught red handed with an earpiece -- see the CNN d-day footage.

  3. Bush Cheated? by ewithrow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Salon is reporting that Bush may have been wearing a device that would allow him to receive sound from someone offstage.

    Here is the article

    Here is the image

  4. Re:Kerry's people? by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "All the Post did was repeat rumor and speculation on the internet. Not surprisingly, it's a Kerry spin attempt in pudge's view."

    I know, this is not the most insightful thing I could say, but I really hate election years. Last night I watched something on TV about Afghanistan's elections. They mentioned having like 16 candidates to choose from. Instead of using TV (well there aren't many TVs from what I gather, but I am rather ignorant of Afghani culture) the elders etc promote the candidate. It was depicted as being somewhat primitive copmared to the elections in the USA, but man, I ached for that type of thing here. Although I imagine they're immune to all the half truths flying around from all sides.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  5. Re:Kerry's people? by wizbit · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Israel has a similar system, where practically every distinct combination of political views is represented by at least one candidate. Usually the elected officials don't earn a majority of votes, but yeah, it'd be nice to back a candidate you are completely on board with instead of someone who mostly represents a modicum of your views and whose views aren't completely at odds with your only other obvious choice.

  6. Re:Who Cares? by follower_of_christ · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Why would this load of crap from Drudge surprise anyone, and why would anyone pay attention to it?

    Why do you think FoxNews is dwarfing all of the Liberal spewers in ratings? Could it be because they are closer to the middle than the rest and are threatening to lean right? Fox definately isn't fair and balanced, it is however more balanced than the rest and that's why it's more popular.

    It might also be why littlegreenfootballs' web server broke slashdots' hit records once Drudge linked them during the RatherGate scandal. Conservatism is on the rise.

    I'm sure if most /. subscribers had their way, they'd mod FoxNews as a Troll. They don't like anyone talking unless its someone that holds their same opinion.

  7. Was Bush Wired During Debate? by Izaak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Check out this article at Salon.com that suggests Bush was wearing an audio receiver at the first debate (a clear violation of the rules if true). The web site Is Bush Wired also discusses it and includes more evidence from previous Bush speaking events. In a couple of cases, the audio of the voice prompter feeding him the answers has been picked up and accidently transmitted as part of the live news broadcast.

  8. Re:So what is this? by Timex · · Score: 1, Interesting

    what ... does any of this have ANYTHING to do with who we want to be President?

    Everything.

    I've seen the video, and it's very clear that Kerry pulled something out of his jacket, which violates the rules. I've seen a picture that is supposed to support the claim that Bush had some sort of hearing aid/receiver, but I didn't see it.

    What does it mean? Based on what I've seen so far, Kerry is showing a disregard for the rules. There are some who will proclaim from the towers that this is "situation normal" for John Kerry. I think that disregard for the rules of the debate reflects very poorly on Kerry's character.

    If Kerry can't follow something as stupid as an agreement on how a debate will be conducted,what else will he fail to follow? How could we trust him to do the right thing when something more important comes up? Kerry is the sort of guy that will have no problem doing whatever makes him look good. He will have no problem doing whatever will save his neck... Everyone else's neck be damned. John Kerry is only looking for one thing: Glory for John Kerry. He cares for nobody else.

    He jumps on Bush for the number of countries that started this whole mess in Iraq, but I don't seem to see a whole lot of countries (like France) stating that they would be looking forward to working with Kerry if he won the presidency; in fact, I have read several reports stating exactly the opposite. He won't have the support he says he will have. If you think he will, you've not been paying attention.

    Nobody that values American sovereignty and the American way of life wants Kerry in the White House. The only people I have seen so far that want Kerry for president are EITHER terrorists OR people that hate Bush (and are extremely bitter about their loss in 2000). I doubt there are any people that really support Kerry based on who he is and what he believes. (If there are, I hope they can share the basis for their beliefs with the rest of us, because Kerry has been doing a piss-poor job of letting on that he has any.)

    --
    When politicians are involved, everyone loses.
  9. Re:So what is this? by Timex · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ... Again, in case you didn't get it...it's a PEN! ...

    Apparently, YOU didn't get it.

    Section 5, pages 4-5 of the binding "Memorandum of Understanding" that was negotiated and agreed upon by both political campaigns states:

    "No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by either candidate.... Each candidate must submit to the staff of the Commission prior to the debate all such paper and any pens or pencils with which a candidate may wish to take notes during the debate, and the staff or commission will place such paper, pens and pencils on the podium..."

    There was to be nothing brought in by either candidate. There would be the clothes on his back. Whatever was in his pocket (by "his", I mean either candidate), stays there. Kerry didn't obey the rule. He broke the rules. QED.

    As I mentioned in my journal, it doesn't matter if it was a love note from Theresa, a pen, a or crib notes-- "no ... tangible things" means that it wasn't allowed. The only pens they were allowed to use were the ones that the staff or commission put there before it began.
    --
    When politicians are involved, everyone loses.