Kerry Team Wants Debate Lecterns Free Of Timing Lights

AP ^ | 09/30/2004 | AP

[rumrunner]

DJ Kerry Team Wants Debate Lecterns Free Of Timing Lights

09/30/2004

Dow Jones News Services

(Copyright © 2004 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP)--Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's campaign demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a speaker's time has expired during debates with President George W. Bush be removed from the lecterns because they are distracting, but the commission hosting the debates refused.

An angry exchange between representatives of the Kerry campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates took place just hours before the candidates were to meet at the University of Miami for the first of three debates, The Associated Press learned. Kerry's team threatened to remove the lights when they visit the debate site with the candidate later in the day.

"We'll bring a screwdriver," said a Kerry aide familiar with what several people called an angry exchange. The commission did not return a call seeking comment.

The commission placed the lights on the lecterns in clear view of the television audience and those in the auditorium. An agreement between the Kerry and Bush campaigns specified that timing lights "shall be placed such that they are visible to the debate audiences and television viewers."

However, Kerry's team contended that the agreement doesn't specifically say where the lights should be placed, and it said putting them on the lecterns creates a distraction. The Bush team pushed for the lights in negotiations with Kerry advisers.

The commission is a nonprofit and nonpartisan corporation that has sponsored all the presidential debates since 1988.

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

Per FNC Debate commission notifies Bush campaign that Kerry campiagn will "Rip out lights"

Bush campaign notifies Kerry campaign they will rip out their platform...

...oh, wait, they would first need a platform...

[petitfour]

I'm with you. Can't listen to the condescension from Ichabod Crane with his new pumpkin head. Don't wanna look at him either. I watched the debates in 2000, but Kerry's daily delusional blatherings about "secret plans" have hubby and I greatly concerned over the possibility that such a person could be elected POTUS.

[BoBToMatoE]

We need to be careful. They are already trying to break rules. no telling how many more they will break before the night is out.

As with all things, since when do rules matter to the dems when they are trying to get their power back.

[meyer]

Of course. Because a typical debate tactic is to steamroll your opponent with a torrent of points and eat into his response time. With the lights there, the whole country will know that Kerry is not playing by the rules.

Fox is running the camera - no reason that they can't put a big red light on the broadcast right over Kerry's face every time he goes over his limit.

Alternatively, they can cut off his mike at 2 minutes.

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

Hey didn't he vote for these rules?

He voted for the rules before he voted against them!

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Per FNC Debate commission notifies Bush campaign that Kerry campiagn will "Rip out lights"

Ketchup Boy will cut his finger while ripping out the lights and apply for a Purple Heart.

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

Fox is running the camera - no reason that they can't put a big red light on the broadcast right over Kerry's face every time he goes over his limit.

I sorta am partial to the international "not" symbol--A circle with the red line through it.

[babaloo]

The Clinton's buddy Vernon Jordan comes through for Hillary again!

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

Ketchup Boy will cut his finger while ripping out the lights and apply for a Purple Heart.

Back to my earlier contention that they don't know how to simply unscrew the lightbulb.

[LBelle]

Agreed. I would have to just join the leagues of the clueless out there and try not to care as the country went into the toilet. :-(

[j_k_l]

hmmmmm...doesn't seem like the two really go together.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I sense a unilateral (un)screwing by kerry.

[BoBToMatoE]

actually, what they could do, is put lights on the camera/television feed. they cant rip that out.

[Peach]

The only bad thing about that is then the loathesome trolls already on FR would absolutely take over the forum!

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

KERRY: TURN OUT THOSE LIGHTS!

[meyer]

Last minute substitutions and replacements are, come to think about it, a demonrat kind of ploy....(Toricelli comes to mind)

Ahhh, the old "passing of the torch" maneuver. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

The commission placed the lights on the lecterns in clear view of the television audience and those in the auditorium. An agreement between the Kerry and Bush campaigns specified that timing lights "shall be placed such that they are visible to the debate audiences and television viewers."

Just like a DemocRAT to try to reneg on it's word/agreement. I hope Kerry blows a fuse during the debate tonight!

Just under 7 hours now !! Go, Dubya, go !!

[syriacus]

If Kerry won't accept the light being on the lectern, maybe he'll go for the getup this badger is modelling on his snout.

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

I sense a unilateral (un)screwing by kerry.

The demorats finally admit it.

They need a screwdriver.

Kerry has a screw loose.

[KE]

To all: Remember......Kerry is a Senator.......they are on comittees, and they work with lights on the desk right in front of them all the time; or they work with clocks that tell them their time is UP !

Karen