CHEATGATE

Still captures from video file, courtesy of www.zombietime.com, which also makes available a few of the most crucial moments in larger closeup views.

The question, “Did Kerry Cheat,” that was earlier posed by littlegreenfootballs, has been answered: Kerry cheated in the first Presidential debate.

Kerry cheated in this first Presidential debate by taking with him to the podium some object that he removed from his coat after entering the stage, and, after turning his back to the audience and noticable cameras, then removed that object from his coat, opening it while placing it before him on the podium. And, the object remained on the podium throughout the debate and was later filmed being removed by “a Kerry aide” from the podium Kerry used.

The rules of the debate, agreed to by both candidates and their campaigns, “MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING,” states:

(c) No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by either candidate.

(d) Notwithstanding subparagraph 5(c), the candidates may take notes during the debate on the size, color and type of paper each side prefers. 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, table or other structure to be used by the candidate in that debate.

Littlegreenfootballs has a follow-up, later thread about this issue, “A Better View,” which story DRUDGE Report included also earlier today.

When contacted by the DRUDGE Report about the deed — Kerry captured in video for all posterity, removing an object from his jacket while first turning his back away from the audience, and then placing that object on the podium before him prior to the debate — the Kerry campaign responded, incredulously:

A top Kerry campaign source explained to the DRUDGE REPORT late Sunday how Bush supporters were once again trying to distract.

“Kerry did not cheat,” said the Kerry insider. “This is more lies from Republicans, who are hoping for a quick change of subject away from the president’s performance, and the new polls.”

Perhaps John Kerry was “unaware” of the campaign rules and just argued them out over time with the Bush campaign while being unaware of what they were actually doing. It’s as likely a response as was the Kerry campaign that Kerry’s mysterious, covert object o’ smuggle into the debate represented “Kerry…not cheat(ing).”

Read about it elsewhere:

littlegreenfootballs, with excellent reader comments’ discussion, that calls the issue, “Jacketgate.”

PowerLineBlog, that calls the issue “CHEAT SHEET.”
INDC Journal, that calls the issue, “Debategate.”

Can’t access Wizbang! for unknown reason but I’m sure that they’re covering the issue.

Meanwhile, BIRD calls this issue: CHEATGATE.