JQuery :: Validate : Require A Blank Text Field?

I'm trying to set up a form that has a text field that is required to be blank - I'm dealing with form spam, and the bots are stuffing every text field with random crap. So, I have a text box that is required to be blank. But I can't get jquery.validate to understand both required and blank.the text input is has a name and id of live_check.I have added this method:

$.validator.addMethod("equalToParam", function(value, element, param) {return value == param;});

and then my rules look like this:

rules: {
first_name: "required",
last_name: "required",[code]...

But validate flags the empty text box as invalid (because it's required?)