DEBATE PANEL NIXES KERRY CAMPAIGN REQUEST (Via Drudge)

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[Michael Goldsberry]

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. 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.

[KE]

to all: It was reported on Fox News that the Kerry camp called the Bush camp for a meeting right away while they were in the hall to discuss this. The Bush camp told them NO.....No to a meeting, and a definite No to any changes. hahahahaha.

Karen

[Howlin]

Keep Fox on this afternoon; Fox says there could be a confrontation when Kerry goes to do his walk through.

[zencat]

This is like trying to setup a Bobby Fischer chess match.

[petercooper]

well they are distracting...

[Bob]

Rush has already hypothesized that Kerry's only game plan is to cheat, and probably ask "Are you safer now than you were four years ago?" to which Bush could easily say, "That's not the right question. The question is, 'Are you safer now than you were on Sept. 12?'"

Actually, I think a better response would be: "We felt safe on September 10. The next day showed us how wrong we were."

[Gucho]

LITTLE JOHNNY'S LIGHT

[Damifino]

BURGERFRICKEL!!

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

his NEW CAPS will glow like neon.

And so will his tan from a can.

[Baseballguy]

I hope they have security there and are hauled off for bringing a weapon to the debates!

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

I hope they have security there and are hauled off for bringing a weapon to the debates!

They certainly aren't bringing any intelligence to the debates!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

"I was for the lights before I was against them!"

[LDA78]

Good thinking. I mean everyone knows that good teeth a good president makes.

[Gabz]

The lights stayed!!!!!!!!!

[Howlin]

I love it!

[Howlin]

I hope it means he'll be in a bad mood! Snippy!

[GoLightly]

If anyone is gonna be FReeping this event, might I offer a suggestion for a prop to bring along? Orange juice & a vodka bottle, "Democrats will Cheat to Win".

[smith288]

However, Kerry's team contended that the agreement doesn't specifically say where the lights should be placed,

Then perhaps your negotiator should have made it painfully clear where you wanted them? Pretty poor negotiation for a lawyer ticket.

[nmh]

Well, John Kerry has a heck of a time trying to say anything ... imagine what blinking lights could do to his focus. It should be funny to watch.

[Gucho]

SUNTAN & BOTOX WARNING LIGHT

[LDA78]

We all know the real reason behind the request for removal of the lights....The Kerry camp was worried that they wouldn't be short enough to keep his chin from knocking into them.