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.
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-)