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Kerry Campaign Complains About Lights
Hat Tip DrudgePOLITICS: DEBATE PANEL NIXES KERRY CAMPAIGN REQUEST 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. "I thought he was droning on a tad long..." 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. Tsk.. Tsk.. Do that and we will rap your fingers "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. And we'll have a Taliban doctor ready to amputate... 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." "As I said... I thought Kerry was droning on a tad long..." 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. Oh Geez! Lawyers swarming like flies. GET THE RAID! The commission is a nonprofit and nonpartisan corporation that has sponsored all the presidential debates since 1988. Posted by: BigEd 2004-09-30 |
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