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POLITICS: DEBATE PANEL NIXES KERRY CAMPAIGN REQUEST

(09-30-2004) - 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.

BOTHSIDES HAD STUPID REQUEST MATT ABOUT,LIGHTING,DISTANCE OF PODIUMS,MAKE-UP,PAN SHOTS ETC.......
I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DEBATE,NOT A STAGED NEWS CONFRENCE.

MONEY TALKS,B.S. JUST PILES UP.

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

Goose your missing the point. They signed a contract and agreed to it. If they can not reead what they signed not my fault. Makes you kinda wonder if they will read the treaties they sign if elected.


You agree to the rules then live with them. If these lights are that distracting to Kerry how in the hell can he focus on our needs.

Figures Kerry would be upset about signal lights since he's so damned long-winded.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Figures Kerry would be upset about signal lights since he's so damned long-winded.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
My thoughts exactly...

And it also surprised me that they'd elect to bring a screwdriver. I didn't think they'd know how to operate it... oh, wait, when you loosen screws you turn them to the "LEFT". Go figure.

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Benjamin Franklin, 1759