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from the Washington Dispatch
http://www.washingtondispatch.com/spect ... 00444.html


The Surprise of the Night at Democratic Convention: Balloons
Shortly after the acceptance speech of Democratic Presidential Nominee, John Kerry, the party made its only gaffe of the entire week. Despite a commitment to calm and positive speeches throughout the convention, the last few minutes proved hectic for the convention director, Don Mischer.

As John Kerry and John Edwards began their celebratory lap around the stage of the convention center, Mr. Mischer directed staff to release the balloons that should have swallowed the entire convention hall. As the balloons held firm, clinging to the roof the center, Mr. Mischer lost his cool. Over several minutes, Mischer shouted into his radio, "Jesus, we need more balloons. I want all balloons to go, goddamn. No confetti. No confetti. No confetti. I want more balloons. What's happening to the balloons?" Eventually the director of the event lost his cool and voiced his frustration by shouting, "All balloons - where the hell - there's nothing falling. . . What the fuck are you guys doing up there?"

Obviously unbeknownst to Don Mischer, his radio was mixed with the audio feed of CNN's live broadcast. Yes, every syllable was broadcast live over the air to the network that has carried the highest ratings during the week of the DNC convention.

At the end of the broadcast, Wolf Blitzer apologized to CNN viewers and explained that it was not a CNN host using profanity but the director of the event.

Sadly for Don Mischer, help was not on the way in his quest for a perfect balloon drop.

In all sincerity, I do hope that Mr. Mischer can look back at it and laugh. Mistakes happen, people lose their cool and in the end, all is forgotten.

Posted by Shane Cory at July 30, 2004 12:30 AM

"If you liked the first eight years of Clinton. You'll like the first four years of Kerry."
-John Kerry.

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