Read the article. The rules say anything you need for the debate (paper, pen, etc.) would be placed on the podium before the debate began. In other words (because I think you need them), it was a violation of the debate rules to bring anything other than your rehearsed smile and bright amber glow to the podium. Even if it was a piece of paper that said "Don't do what Algore did", it was a violation of the debate rules.
And the GOP hasn't said anything about this, so I wouldn't call this 'GOP tactics'.
