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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: Moconservative

I didn't make this lousy deal. That SOB sold me out. I don't make lousy deals...


81 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:02 AM PDT by gridlock (BARKEEP: Why the long face? HORSE: Ha ha, old joke. BARKEEP: Not you, I was talking to JF'n Kerry!)
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To: sr4402

The problem of course being that Kerry can not explain both of his positions on an issue in one minute.


82 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:25 AM PDT by IamConservative (A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

When he starts to Flip Flop and the light comes on it will eerily resemble the "deer in the headlights look". That is what the libs are afraid of.


83 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:27 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick
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To: sr4402

If you were to paint a white stripe down the center of his face and make his hair blue, he'd just about match that flag behind him.


84 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:29 AM PDT by NJ_gent (Conservatism begins at home. Security begins at the border. Please, someone, secure our borders.)
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To: Howlin

Should be up later today in the first part of the third hour. It was hysterical!

They were all trying to seriously unravel Kerry's stance and by the end I'm not sure they even knew what they had said 2 minutes earlier.


85 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:50 AM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: mwl1

I think so; whatever it is, he's obviously upset because he can't manage to stay in the time alloted.


86 posted on 09/30/2004 11:25:58 AM PDT by Howlin (What's the Font Spacing, Kenneth?)
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To: ScottFromSpokane
look around in mock surprise and say "Sorry Jim, I thought we were supposed to have timing lights. Someone steal 'em?"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

87 posted on 09/30/2004 11:26:00 AM PDT by rocksblues (Sorry John, we remember and will never forget your treason!)
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To: sr4402

As someone else said, "he was for the lights, before he was against them". Bravo to whomever came up with that one!!


88 posted on 09/30/2004 11:26:12 AM PDT by conservativecorner
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To: sr4402
What staff member will Kerry blame this one on?

-PJ

89 posted on 09/30/2004 11:26:38 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (It's still not safe to vote Democrat.)
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To: sr4402
Kerry's guys said: "We'll bring a screwdriver," said a Kerry aide familiar with what several people called an angry exchange."

You said: This means that John F'n has not been able to limit his answers to less than two minutes in the practice debates.

It sure makes me think so too. I mean there was anger and threats! It really does sound like a desperation ploy because they KNOW those lights are going to be a big problem. Excellent!!

90 posted on 09/30/2004 11:26:42 AM PDT by DestroytheDemocrats
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To: sr4402
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.

I thought Ketchup Boy was an experienced prosecutor. Any courtroom attorney who is distracted by the warning lights needs to find a new profession. I can recall arguing a case before NY's highest court when the light came on and I asked the chief judge if I could finish my answer to the question and he said, "No thank-you. Please sit down." I think that's what J F'n is trying to avoid.

91 posted on 09/30/2004 11:26:46 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: LikeLight

Two thoughts:

1. Wire his lights in series with his microphone; snip one, snip both.

2. Am I to assume Kerry has a union electrician on his campaign staff? Surely such a big supporter of labor wouldn't deprive a union thug of a paycheck, would he?


92 posted on 09/30/2004 11:27:15 AM PDT by FirstFlaBn
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To: Alia
"sigh. Okay. Kerry campaign obviously knows Kerry can't listen to his hidden ear-mike (from his coaches) while simultaneously wondering if the blinking light is a supercoded message from his UN pals. No problem. Place the light on Kerry's tie pin."

I have a mobile DJ biz, and play live music. I have 4 sound systems,(small to rattle your fillings,) and you would be amazed at how hard it is at certain "venues" to get rid of unwanted noise or "buzz" that sometimes occurs coming out of the speakers,(ie neon, overhead lights, and sometimes even radio transmissions like police, CB etc.)

It would be funny if while they were testing his "ear piece",(if he tries to use one) that the timing light make his ear piece "buzz".......and now he can't use it !!

93 posted on 09/30/2004 11:27:26 AM PDT by musicman
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To: sr4402

Bright Lights! Bright Lights!

Where have we heard this before?


94 posted on 09/30/2004 11:27:32 AM PDT by kimoajax
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To: Kokojmudd

ping


95 posted on 09/30/2004 11:27:54 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Part of the Reagan legacy is to re-elect G.W. Bush))
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To: sr4402

Let Kerry argue for ninety solid minutes tonight, why he should be able to talk as long as necessary to fully explain his highly nuanced intellectual complex ideas about the world and our country's role in it and about Iraq and the economy and of course the United Nations and his time as a sailor in Vietnam and his anti-war efforts then and now sort of and how Bush has lied about wmd and about the family vehicles and environmentalism and about health care and about how his family won't reveal his wifes' financial records and he won't reveal his Navy discharge.


96 posted on 09/30/2004 11:27:54 AM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Howlin

Amen. Every single time that man or his looney wife open their mouths, his count drops. I say, let him speak. He's the best campaigner we have for Bush.


97 posted on 09/30/2004 11:28:06 AM PDT by Hi Heels (Proud to be a Pajamarazzi.)
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To: OldFriend

It would only appear to be a thought.


98 posted on 09/30/2004 11:28:12 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (Dan Rather, "I lied, but I lied about the truth".)
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To: LikeLight

I hate seeing your name used in vain.


99 posted on 09/30/2004 11:28:48 AM PDT by ClintonBeGone (Take the first step in the war on terror - defeat John Kerry)
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick

Plus his manly tan will shine bright orange.


100 posted on 09/30/2004 11:28:53 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (Dan Rather, "I lied, but I lied about the truth".)
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