KERRY DEBATE ACTIONS BEING SEVERELY MISIDENTIFIED, EVEN AT FOX; ACTION NEEDED

Various | October 4, 2004 | MississippiMan

[MississippiMan]

The issue of what Kerry brought with him to the podium is not a petty one. A candidate who had simply a list of talking points on paper would be at a huge advantage vs. the other participant who played by the rules.

Based on the most recent reports here, it sounds as if even Fox News is about to forget and drop the issue, since they've declared that they're 99% certain the object in question is a pen.

It's hard to fathom what's going on here, unless they're viewing an incomplete clip of what took place. For even the low-resolution copies of the event that are posted online make it blatantly clear that, yes, he had a PEN (OBJECT 1) in his RIGHT hand, but he also removed a LIGHT-COLORED RECTANGULAR OBJECT (OBJECT 2) from inside his jacket with his LEFT hand. He then handles the object in a fashion that suggests UNFOLDING, and places it on the deck of the podium.

As mentioned already, I am a digital forensics examiner. I have a state-of-the-art forensic video system. I have briefly examined the low-resolution clips of the event, and at first impression, OBJECT 2 appears to be a folded sheet or sheets of light-colored paper. It is DEFINITELY rectangular. It is DEFINITELY light-colored. And it is DEFINITELY distinct and separate from OBJECT 1.

I would very much like to examine a high-resolution version of the clip; ideally this will be an uncompressed digital video file digitized from a digital broadcast master. If anyone has any connections or access to one of the networks or C-SPAN or whatever, and can obtain said file, it would be immensely helpful.

This is about playing by the rules, folks. I for one am sick and tired of sitting back and watching the rules broken without consequence. It is high time to hold people accountable. That applies to the candidates and the media, whether the media member in question is CBS or Fox News Channel. If it's wrong, it's wrong. And if they're reporting that Kerry brought nothing but a pen to the podium, THEY'RE WRONG.

MM

[MississippiMan]

We should be screaming it from the rooftops that this guy is bad news for the future of our country.

We HAVE been screaming that from the rooftops. The SwiftVets have been doing better than that. And yet it's still a virtual tie. EVERYTHING matters. The two issues are not mutually exclusive by any stretch.

MM

[core values]

You are Right.

It does matter. It speaks to character and honesty. It speaks to the type of person that will represent America as president.

This issue should not be allowed to die until there is a complete independent and professional review of all the video and pictures available from the debate.

Whatever he took out of his pocket, it was not permitted by the rules. If it is discovered that Kerry did cheat with notes, (regardless of what was in the notes) this will NOT be petty this will define who Kerry really is, and I'll bet that the majority of voting Americans won't vote for a cheater!BR>

[LibLieSlayer]

I have a two hour DVD recorded from my C-Band Satellite receiver, which is a (first generation) signal from the same transponder that Fox affiliates, Cable, DTV, and Dish Network get their feeds. It's still only SD 480i, but it is not compressed. I can Priority mail it to you if you like... PM me if you want a copy..

LLS

[libravoter]

It is obviously not a pen

I've posted this on another thread (full disclosure), but it looks to me like the white of his squarish shirt cuff.

[HannaUSA]

Curtsey and Amen:)

[LibLieSlayer]

I have a two hour DVD recorded from my C-Band Satellite receiver, which is a (first generation) signal from the same transponder that Fox affiliates, Cable, DTV, and Dish Network get their feeds. It's still only SD 480i, but it is not compressed. I can Priority mail it to you if you like... PM me if you want a copy..

LLS

[Nataku X]

Great! What do you see on the DVD?

[LibLieSlayer]

I have a two hour DVD recorded from my C-Band Satellite receiver, which is a (first generation) signal from the same transponder that Fox affiliates, Cable, DTV, and Dish Network get their feeds. It's still only SD 480i, but it is not compressed. I can Priority mail it to you if you like... PM me if you want a copy..

LLS

[FactsNotHearsayPlease]

I must admitt I am amazed at some of the posts down playing this because it is just a pen or so some think...do you realize what some Pens can do these days?? You know store memos ect.... What if the pen was the cheat sheet? Maybe thats why they all said no pens or pens allowed except those placed there..?????????

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

DOH!! corrected, and even more appropriate

[TheCrusader]

"Fox News --- declared that they're 99% certain the object in question is a pen."

If this is true then I'm amazed at Fox's complicity in covering for Kerry in this scandal. I've viewed that video clip dozens of times and the object was rectangular, and Kerry spent an inordinate amount of time handling and arranging the thing on the lecturn. There is no way in he!! that thing was a pen.

In any case, Kerry wasn't supposed to bring even a pen to the debate. The host was to provide any and all pens, pencils and paper. If he will flaunt the debate rules even to that extent then he can't be trusted with greater issues.

[MississippiMan]

it looks to me like the white of his squarish shirt cuff.

Only if he unfolds and flattens it out on the lectern. (Thanks to another freeper for correcting me on lectern vs. podium. :-)

MM

[WashStateGirl]

I wonder if it has to do with the Campaign Carl thing that happened recently where he wrote a bunch of stuff about Kerry wearing Lip Gloss and looking Metro, but it was never supposed to air on their website, but did, and now FOX is pitching Kerry softballs for awhile to make up... just guessing 8-)

[MayflowerMadam]

"The American people do not like liars and cheats."

Revised: "The American CONSERVATIVE people do not like liars and cheats." The rest of 'em knew Clinton was all of those things, he was re-elected, and it's certain he'd have been re-re-elected if he could have run again. Dems do not care about lying and cheating if they win in the end.

[HannaUSA]

They are going to play the video on The grape vine with Brit Hume and on Hannity & Colmes tonight......

[Just mythoughts]

bump

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

There is only a minority of conservatives on FOX anymore.

[Nataku X]

Where did you hear that??? I sure hope so. I want to clear this up!!

[MESHUGAMIKEY]

the object in kerrys RIGHT HAND was CLEARLY A PEN......

this image.... was prepared to provide a COMARISON to the image of the PEN in candudate skerrys RIGHT HAND

If the clearly rectangular ITEM in his left hand was BLANK paper one need ask WHY he Brought his OWN paper when .... writing instruments and PAPER were provided BY the DEBATE MGT

If Im going BLIND and the item he withdrew from his coat pocket...was a PEN WHY......... DOES HE HAVE A PEN....... IN HIS RIGHT HAND..... AS WELL?

[HannaUSA]

From http://www.indcjournal.com/

BREAKING NEWS: FOX News: "99% Sure It's a Black Pen" (UPDATED)
To employ a Ratherism: "I'd like to break that story." (though the objective assertion in my post is correct).

A FOX News representative has reviewed several versions of the debate tape and is almost positive that the object in question is a black pen.

"What he takes out of his pocket ... I'm almost 99% sure that it's a pen. It's a black, oblong object," a FOX News producer told INDC Journal.

Let's leave it at that. The debate rules were violated in letter, but not intent, and any charges of cheating against the Kerry campaign are undeserved and inaccurate. If the tape had clearly shown that John Kerry had removed a pen from his pocket, I would not have bothered to run the post, and any further speculation about the capabilities of "electronic pens" or oblong devices is strictly conspiratorial, partisan nonsense. I do honestly hope that this incident reinforces the importance of following the letter of the debate's Memorandum of Understanding, but I offer my sincere apologies to the Kerry Campaign for running the item and causing any undue negative speculation before obtaining adequate verification from FOX News.

UPDATE: I said "leave it at that." FOX News will probably run an item, so watch Special Report for the evidence that you seek ...

UPDATE: FOX News will run enhanced video from a different angle on the Grapevine segment of tonight's Special Report with Brit Hume (6PM Eastern)