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Kerry Aide Threatens to Remove 'Time Up' Lights for Debate
NEWSMAX.COM ^ | Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004 1:19 p.m. EDT | With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 09/30/2004 11:10:39 AM PDT by sr4402

Democratic candidate John Kerry's campaign demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a speaker's time has expired during debates with President 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.

Story Continues Below

Kerry's team threatened to remove the lights when they visit the debate site with Kerry 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: debate; debates; firstdebate; flipflop; kerry; kerrylies
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To: sr4402
The commission is a nonprofit and nonpartisan

Why are the debate moderators all liberals?

141 posted on 09/30/2004 12:17:00 PM PDT by RJL
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John Kerry right about now.


142 posted on 09/30/2004 12:32:49 PM PDT by texasbluebell
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To: marty60

Instead of a light they could have a huge fog horn like in an NHL game when a guy scores!
That way you could not hear what he has to lie, I mean say when his time is up!


143 posted on 09/30/2004 12:36:06 PM PDT by Holicheese (I think John Kerry has finally gone totally insane!)
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To: RJL
Why are the debate moderators all liberals?

That is a good question. A WAG would be the result of the negotiations.

144 posted on 09/30/2004 12:37:20 PM PDT by sr4402
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To: Howlin
And the other thing he insisted on was that HIS dressing room be the same SIZE and QUALITY as the president of the United States.

Oh, that Kerry drives a hard bargain, he does.

145 posted on 09/30/2004 12:40:25 PM PDT by AmishDude (All humor is intentional, but only if it makes you laugh.)
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To: ambrose

Maybe this is just a last ditch attempt to lower the expectations on Kerry's performance in the debate.

I thought they were low enough already. haha. I mean, how much lower could they possibly be?


146 posted on 09/30/2004 12:54:41 PM PDT by planekT
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To: PumaMan

Didn't you love it the next day when Barbara Bush said Gore was stalking Dubya!!! LOLOLOL


147 posted on 09/30/2004 12:59:22 PM PDT by OldFriend (It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given US freedom of the press)
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To: sr4402

"Democratic candidate John Kerry's campaign demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a speaker's time has expired during debates with President Bush be removed from the lecterns because they are distracting....."

Duh... that's what they are supposed to do ....


148 posted on 09/30/2004 1:00:38 PM PDT by RS (Just because the Pajama Posse is out to get him doesn't mean he's not guilty)
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To: Gabz
This thing is definitely out there in the air......just had a conversation with a republican friend and she said she knows there'll be a draft.

Her son is in college and I suspect that's where this is coming from.

However, this has prompted her son to join the Navy!!!

149 posted on 09/30/2004 1:01:10 PM PDT by OldFriend (It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given US freedom of the press)
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To: DestroytheDemocrats

"Evidently during debate practice Kerry could not keep his yammering down or clearly frame his positions in the time alloted. Heh Heh!! This is a very good sign."

It's a great sign ! I want to see his expression the first time the light comes on ...


150 posted on 09/30/2004 1:02:37 PM PDT by RS (Just because the Pajama Posse is out to get him doesn't mean he's not guilty)
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To: Conspiracy Guy
Why don't they mount Kerry's light on top of his head. When it comes on, it will appear that he actually has an idea!

No can do... false advertising restrictions and all...

151 posted on 09/30/2004 1:04:12 PM PDT by 70times7 (An open mind is a cesspool of thought)
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To: 70times7

It is probably in the 32 pages of rules somewhere.


152 posted on 09/30/2004 1:18:44 PM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (Dan Rather, "I lied, but I lied about the truth".)
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To: Howlin

this is ludicrous, i heard the Kerry campaign refer to it as GAME SHOW LIGHTS. any oral argument before a federal court of appeals has the same set up with lights. yellow to indicate you are getting close to the end of your allotted time and red when you have to shut up. these lights are perfectly appropriate.


153 posted on 09/30/2004 1:20:53 PM PDT by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

He's been AWOL from the senate so long he's forgotten these are the same lights used in senate hearings.


154 posted on 09/30/2004 1:22:34 PM PDT by OldFriend (It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given US freedom of the press)
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To: OldFriend

unless he wants to be able to feign ignorance of the time limitations, i can't figure out why he objects to them. to refer to them as GAME SHOW lights and make them sound undignified or unprofessional given that they are used in the Senate and in courts is just stupid.


155 posted on 09/30/2004 1:25:09 PM PDT by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy
this is ludicrous, i heard the Kerry campaign refer to it as GAME SHOW LIGHTS.

Hmm....maybe Kerry's worried about how the color of the bulb will "reflect" on his er...uh.....tan??

156 posted on 09/30/2004 1:27:50 PM PDT by Howlin (What's the Font Spacing, Kenneth?)
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To: Howlin

one of my big fears is that President Bush will be overcome with a fit of inappropriate laughter when he gets a gander at ole Orange Face across the way there...


157 posted on 09/30/2004 1:36:34 PM PDT by xsmommy
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To: Howlin
And let him droan on and on; the longer he talks, the worse his numbers.

I would grant him no such help! Remember, that classic 'RAT technique worked for Al Bore.

I prefer a mic disconnect switch 5 seconds after his time is "up".

If he can't wrap up an idea in 5 seconds, how can he run a country?

Gadzooks! this clown still thinks he is the spoiled princess speaking before a "pink" congressional committe!

158 posted on 09/30/2004 1:36:50 PM PDT by Publius6961 (I, also, don't do diplomacy.)
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To: sr4402
I truly hate this guy
159 posted on 09/30/2004 1:38:39 PM PDT by crushelits
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To: Publius6961
I prefer a mic disconnect switch 5 seconds after his time is "up".

How about a cattle prod?

160 posted on 09/30/2004 1:38:39 PM PDT by mewzilla
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