# Did Kerry Cheat in the Debate? And if so, what will be done? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397 "2004-10-04T01:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/1 "2004-10-04T01:06:11Z")
Below is a link to a video of Kerry taking something out of his pocket. Is there anyhing Kerry could take out of his pocket that would be a violation of the debate rules? Can anyone tell what he is taking out of his pocket? If it is determined he cheated, what will be done? [http://homepage.mac.com/cfj/.Movies/JFKCheat.mov](http://homepage.mac.com/cfj/.Movies/JFKCheat.mov) ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/2 "2004-10-04T01:38:45Z")
Just how would he have cheated? Did someone slip him a list of the questions? If they did would he have not read them beforehand? He would have to have them in front of him? ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/3 "2004-10-04T01:47:48Z")
Kerry and Bush were both allowed to bring something to write notes down on during the debate. It looks like he’s just pulling out his blank notecards and setting them on the podium. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/4 "2004-10-04T01:48:15Z")
I found the rules. Under 5© it says no notes are allowed. [http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/pr\_2004\_0920b.pdf](http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/pr_2004_0920b.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/5 "2004-10-04T01:53:02Z")
What about the rabbit ears mounted on Bush’s head? Looked suspicious to me. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/6 "2004-10-04T01:54:01Z")
It also laid down rules about the cameras. But they were ignored. Should the networks be punished? ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/7 "2004-10-04T01:55:21Z")
> [@xgxlx](#): > > Kerry and Bush were both allowed to bring something to write notes down on during the debate. It looks like he’s just pulling out his blank notecards and setting them on the podium. Under the debate rules the debate staff has to place these on the podium. See Rule 5(d) ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/8 "2004-10-04T02:03:55Z")
But under 5©, it also states that the moderator is supposed to say something. Does Kerry get off on a technicality? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/9 "2004-10-04T02:05:34Z")
What do the rules say about earpieces? The reason I ask is that occasionally Bush seemed to mutter to someone that was not there. This link gives a few details: [Bush Blows Debate: Talks to Rove in Earpiece](http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3562) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/10 "2004-10-04T02:23:53Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > If it is determined he cheated, what will be done? According to the agreement, the penalty is that the moderator is to interrupt the candidate and tell them that they are in violation of the rules. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/11 "2004-10-04T02:28:57Z")
What are they going to do, force Kerry to forfeit his boost in the polls and retroactively declare Bush the winner, urging all people who changed their minds on Kerry to go back to thinking him a flip flopper? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/12 "2004-10-04T02:53:06Z")
It appears the Kerry camp has pulled another fast one. His campaign manager was supposed to print his name on the line provided beneath the signature line but simply repeated the unreadable scroll.😃 It’s not as clear whether Bush’s man printed his name or not, but in any case, Kerry has agreed to stay after and clean the erasers, as he cleaned them as a young man and will clean them as a presidential candidate. On condition that Bush doesn’t take this infraction as a violation on some obscure UN resolution and use it as not excuse to invade Kerry’s home to take over his wife’s oily katsup fortune. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/13 "2004-10-04T03:00:16Z")
It seemed pretty clear to me that many times, when Bush appeared to be “thinking” about his answer, that he was listening to someone else talking. How sure are we that he didn’t have an earpiece? And not seeing one doesn’t count; we all know they can make them small enough to be utterly invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/14 "2004-10-04T03:41:05Z")
Bush is in constant contact with his god, who I understand that he considers omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent. Is that cheating? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/15 "2004-10-04T03:52:08Z")
People, people. Those are clearly not notes in Kerry’s hand. It’s obvious that he in fact is holding a set of brass knuckles. It’s just a good thing that Cheney jumped in and smashed Kerry over the head with a folding chair before he had a chance to knock Dubya out and violate the sanctity of the democratic process. ---
**Author:** ![Bingo\_Plebney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bingo\_Plebney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bingo_Plebney)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/16 "2004-10-04T04:08:26Z")
Yes, Kerry CLEARLY cheated. In several instances he used words with MULTIPLE SYLLABLES which unfairly prevented Dubya from understanding his remarks. I did also read that Dubya wore an “ear” so that he could receive helpful hints- like how to spell “WMD”! Okay, sorry. I made that all up. I think… 🙂 BP ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/17 "2004-10-04T04:12:44Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > What do the rules say about earpieces? > The reason I ask is that occasionally Bush seemed to mutter to someone that was not there. This link gives a few details: > [Bush Blows Debate: Talks to Rove in Earpiece](http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3562) Unless we have video of what the moderator and Kerry are doing at the time in question, we can’t automatically assume that he used an earpiece. ---
**Author:** ![mcott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@mcott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcott)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/18 "2004-10-04T04:53:40Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Bush is in constant contact with his god, who I understand that he considers omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent. If so, I now will devote all of my prayers to the new god ROVE. \* ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/19 "2004-10-04T04:55:01Z")
> [@Bingo Plebney](#): > > Yes, Kerry CLEARLY cheated. In several instances he used words with MULTIPLE SYLLABLES which unfairly prevented Dubya from understanding his remarks. I did also read that Dubya wore an “ear” so that he could receive helpful hints- like how to spell “WMD”! This forum is for General Questions, not biased responses. Please read [manhattan’s post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=176699) on politics in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397/20 "2004-10-04T05:31:20Z")
> [@Bingo Plebney](#): > > Yes, Kerry CLEARLY cheated. In several instances he used words with MULTIPLE SYLLABLES which unfairly prevented Dubya from understanding his remarks. I did also read that Dubya wore an “ear” so that he could receive helpful hints- like how to spell “WMD”! > > Okay, sorry. I made that all up. > I think… > 🙂 > BP No, it’s true. Kerry _did_ use polysylabic words. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-kerry-cheat-in-the-debate-and-if-so-what-will-be-done/267397.md?page=2)