bulge in Bush's back was a wireless mic transmitter

[Nordic]

I just can't get over all these threads about the mysterious bulge in Bush's back.

Here's how it works, from someone who works in media production.

You know millions of people are watching this debate. What if the podium mics give you problems? You have backup. You rig each guy with a wireless mic you can smoothly switch over to in case the podium mics go out for some reason.

It's called CYA "covering your ass".

I'll bet anybody $100 that's all it was.

Anything else is paranoid speculation based on an ignorance of media production.

I'm sure Kerry had one too.

[Claire Beth]

1. There is no bulge in Kerry's back....

also ....... if W WAS listening to someone, that could also explain his deer-in-the-headlites expressions in trying to do two things at once other than just repeat Karl ROve soundbites from memory.

[hiphopnation]

25. can you prove that?

"There is no bulge in Kerry's back...."

[alarcojon]

2. I completely agree

but why didn't he just keep it in a pocket? Putting it smack dab in the middle of your back and then negotiating for no back shots during the debate just feeds the silly rumor mill.

Just playing devil's advocate, you understand.

[goddess40]

11. That was the only way to keep the chimp from playing with it nt

[juajen]

13. The article from Salon posted elsewhere stated otherwise

They asked Fox News if other microphones were used. Fox said none except for the podium mic. They also called the WH and asked for information and were given a "no comment" or something. They also called the Kerry campaign and were told that Kerry's campaign knew nothing of any of this. In other words, no extra mics.

[Nordic]

26. they need to actually ask the sound guys who did the mic-ing

Nobody actually knows the details except them.

[AmerDem]

31. why would the "sound guys" have to be asked?

I think Kerry and his people would know if he went thru a mic fitting ordeal. No?

[Maple]

3. Unlikely

All they needed were standard lapel or even boom mikes as backup.

[lightbulb]

4. But why in the middle of his back?

I certainly agree with you're speculation that he was wired (I certainly wouldn't let him out there without an ear piece if I were one of his handlers), but the middle of one's back is an odd place for a transmitter, where it's smooth and there's nothing to clip it to. Why wouldn't the transmitter be on his belt, a breast pocket, etc?

[Nordic]

15. because it's between the shoulder blades

it's a good place to put it. They often put it there, or in the small of the back.

[life_long_dem]

42. It wasn't a transmitter, that is where you put

the energizer batteries. Apparently rovie forgot to install new ones that night.

[goclark]

5. Where was Kerry's wireless back up?

We could see the bump on Puppet Boy.

[WoodyD]

6. I thought I noticed . . .

something on his back when I was watching the debates, too. It was particularly noticeable when he hunched over, as he did so much from the effort. 'Cause debating is haaard work. It's haaard. Really haaaard.

I worked in TV production for years and mic-ed up more people than I can count. The bulge is consistent with the power pack of a wireless mic or the two-way communications systems used by sportscasters and newscasters, but the standard place to clip it is to the belt right in the middle of the back. Under most clothing you don't see it at all, plus you can let the antenna (a short piece of black wire) hang down just under the edge of the suit coat if needed for decent reception.

[Richardo]

9. That's what I thought.

Ignore my post below asking this question.

[Stephanie]

7. Not true - the debate commission says they did no such thing

*edited - found the quote*

Salon asked the debate commission:

The official said that "microphones were mounted on lecterns, and the commission put no electronic devices on the president or Senator Kerry." When asked about the bulge on Bush's back, the official said, "I don't know what that was."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/08/bulge/index.html

[Richardo]

8. Don't they usually put those xmitters on the belt in back?

So they're in the small of the back and therefore less intrusive, and can also be covered by the vents in a jacket? :shrug:

[sistersofmercy]

10. Sounds reasonable to me

with technology today an earpiece transmitting answers during the debate could be extremely small anyway.

[chimpymustgo]

12. Nope. The wireless mic would be attached by a clip onto his belt.

I personally think the "bulge" is made by the clip that attaches an IFB. When news anchors wear them, the clip is attached to the back collar, a coiled wire leads to the earpiece, which is easily seen from a side angle. Another wire leads from the collar clip down to the "jack", which is plugged into the audio console in the anchor desk.

I am intrigued by the possibility that * had a wireless earpiece "implanted" in his ear. The receiver was attached to his belt, but the clip that WOULD have been put on his collar, was clamped on his shirt mid-back, so it wouldn't be noticed on his neck.

[npincus]

14. and the bulge in Bush's PANTS? How do you explain THAT????

[eridani]

50. Very easily

http://www.liberalslant.com/wdj052003.htm

"Look at the tough way he walks - no, dare I say - struts across the flight deck! What a guy! What a real man!" Yeah, well you'd "strut" like that too if you were too stupid to release your parachute harness crotch straps like the other real pilots did. Oh well, c'est la vie!

[librechik]

51. It's Chris Matthews' head n/t

[ibegurpard]

55. SNARF!

ROFLMAO! :D

[uberotto]

16. Good guess, but...

The Production people have already denied it. According to the production crew, the only microphones were on the podiums.

from the Salon article:
"The official said that "microphones were mounted on lecterns, and the commission put no electronic devices on the president or Senator Kerry." When asked about the bulge on Bush's back, the official said, "I don't know what that was.""

[Nordic]

24. I want them to actually ask the sound people, not this guy

some "official" wouldn't know the details about the production. They never do.

[juajen]

35. Did you read the Salon article?

Salon asked an offical at the WH about the bulge. Don't you think the WH would have told them if it was a mic? If a mic was the explanation, Kerry would have had one also. The Kerry Campaign was also asked to comment on this by Salon. Salon wouldn't have run this article without checking out the obvious.

[louis-t]

17. I still say

if he had an earpiece, the mics would have picked up anyone talking in shrub's ear. Just my 1.75 cents.

[hiphopnation]

28. agreed. n/t

[Rick Myers]

18. I've been in radio and TV production for 30+ years...

And I've NEVER seen a wireless pack placed ON some's back. And certainly NOT at this level of 'production values.'

I don't know WHAT it was, but there seems to be no LOGICAL reason for it. I don't think there is an ILLOGICAL reason for it. If I was trying to hide something, I'D HIDE it!

Maybe it's just a crumpled suit jacket...

If 'THEY' were going with something like that, it would NOT be obvious. "They" don't shop at Radio Shack.

:tinfoilhat:

[Stephanie]

20. See my post above - the commission says they DID NOT use them

Salon asked them:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/08/bulge/index.html

[chimpymustgo]

21. Rick, do you think the "bulge" could come from the IFB clip

that is normally placed on the back of the anchor's collar? Rather than have it show, it was clipped onto his shirt, then covered by the jacket, and a wireless earpiece was used.

Curious.

[lightbulb]

22. LOL - I'm with you

I just made reference to them not shopping at Radio Shack in another one of these amazing threads. Seems that the desire for a smoking gun here is interfering with critical thinking skills.

Yes the guy was wired, they would not have it any other way. But they did not tape a sony walkman to his back to do the job.

[Nordic]

23. exactly. If they were gonna hide something, they'd HIDE it

and if there was something going up into Bush's ear, the makeup and hair people would have seen it/known about it.

There aren't a lot of secrets in situations like this.

But if there was, you can bet this one would be invisible.

[Dora]

41. but

I feel safe assuming that Bush has his own well-paid hair/makeup staff. Also, any hair/makeup needs would be finished before putting a bug in *'s ear.

[havocmom]

29. Speaking from decades tailoring men's suits: NOT a crumpled jacket

Only other thing I would wonder, besides it being a wireless receiver, would be one of those devices to deliver electric impulses to ease chronic pain. But the ones I have seen are belt units with very flat, round pads placed on the skin.

Still think he had a receiver and the SS jam electronic signals near him as a safety precaution. Many reports of cell phones and pagers not working when he come into rooms. If Rove had him wired and SS was jamming, that would explain how he could be soooo bad when being coached.

If it was anything but a receiver, who the hell was he talking to when he did the 'let me finish' statement?

[rwork]

19. I watched the debate on C-Span

It was in split screen. When bush* spoke, there was interference in the pix, but not when Kerry spoke. Other Du'ers have noticed the interference on the C-Span coverage.This sounds like transmitter interference.Have you ever seen interference on your TV screen when a trucker goes by talking on his CB radio?

[WoodyD]

27. interference . . .

In the experience I've had with wireless mics, we've had more trouble with them being interferred with than causing interference.

[parasim]

30. Conspiracy theory...

I am of the opinion that the overall conspiracy theory to consider is that some dude sits there and conjours up all of these "conspiracy theories" to keep people looking in the opposite direction.

I mean, look, the rules said no shots from behind the candidates, yet Fox, of all networks, does just that, exposing a bulge on his back to make people think that he's got a transmitter taped to his back, blah blah blah. Instant conspiracy theory to keep the internet abuzz for awhile.

When all along the sleight-of-hand (of course, a technique used very effectively by magicians) simply redirects attention away from the most obvious way they would "wire" the candidate... RFID chips in dental implants.

[chimpymustgo]

32. The bulge, the cell phone shut down, the "wait let me finish"...

Something's going on here. I hope we can figure it out.

[qanda]

34. What cell phone?

I haven't heard about that one.

[Dora]

43. Fox's bottom-line is still the dollar

As much of a farce that the Fox network is, it's not stupid. Of course they're going to film the debates any way they damn well please, and that includes rear camera angles.

If * goes down, Fox doesn't want to go down too. Not if, but when the time comes for all these shills and hacks to turn on their fearless leader *, you can be sure that they will, like the pack of snarling, craven hyenas they are. No offense to hyenas.

All these ignorant blathering talking heads are only accessories to the money-making machine -- Fox can and will fire Hannity, O'Reilly, and everyone else if it means more money.

[Skip Intro]

33. Anything other than your exlanation is "paraniod speculation" - ?

really now?

[newsguyatl]

36. i work in television

and i've NEVER seen a wireless mic transmitter that large, or placed in that position

[chimpymustgo]

39. Newsguy. Picture an IFB. And the clip that goes on the anchor's collar.

If they they didn't want that clip show, what if they clipped it onto his shirt? And when he was standing up straight, the clip didn't show throw the jacket. But the IFB could have been sending a signal to a wireless earpiece, rather than the kind that's on the coiled wire that goes into your ear.

Thoughts?

[johnnie]

37. They could have attached the transmitter to the podium

I don't know what it was, but I doubt they would wire him up just in case the podium mic broke down. Where is the backup mic then?

[ibegurpard]

38. Maybe but it raises questions that need to be addressed.

;)

[theorist]

40. This should be pursued aggressively.

;)

[ciaobox]

44. NPR Mentioned Wireless Earpiece

Some chic on NPR mentioned the Wireless Earpiece rumor today. She asked two "pundits" and both had to ask, "A What"? These people are so clueless. At least we're getting more mainstream press on it.

[Snellius]

45. Maybe its some kind of protective vest?

Why would anyone hide a receiver there on his back?

[librechik]

53. I think so--Kevlar vest fastened in back with velcro. Extra Kevlar

plate in back? Something like that.

[ciaobox]

46. Gaurdian UK, Reuters Picks up Earpiecegate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/salon/0,14779,1323334,00.html

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041008/wr_nm/campaign_blogs_dc_2
(scroll down)

[mainer]

47. Could this explain why Bush walked offstage during the Enron press

conference? Maybe his audio feed died out, and he wasn't getting any help. So he just walked away from the podium -- not from anger, but because he didn't know what to say, and knew he was defenseless up there. It was a really peculiar action for him, and no one's ever explained it.

[Nightjock]

48. Why won't the White House answer the question!?

Half of you seem to believe that bush LET 9-11 happen but this is too ludicrous for you? COME ON NOW!

[chimpymustgo]

49. I don't put ANYTHING past these goons.

nt

[w4rma]

52. Dunno, but I hope someone's jamming Bush's frequency if it is a feed. (nt)

[Ravenseye]

54. No it was his Reverse-Vader noise reduction...

...so we didn't hear his *HOOOFFFFFF* evil breathing *HOOOOFFFFFF*