Ron Fournier reports that aides to John Kerry had an "angry exchange" with the Debate Commission about the placement of timer lights on the lecterns for tonight's presidential debate:

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.

Gee ... will they stamp their feet and hold their breath until they turn blue as well? The Kerry campaign agreed to the timer lights and the provisos that the lights be visible to both the live audience and television viewers. Where else but the lecterns provide that viewpoint? Did the Kerry campaign expect that the cameras would be pointing downwards at the candidates' feet?

Just when you think it's impossible for the Kerry show to get more juvenile, their aides threaten to unilaterally dismantle a podium because they didn't read the agreement they signed, or didn't think the prerequisites through very well. It doesn't build a great deal of confidence in the team that Kerry would bring to the White House, if elected.

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» Lights, Camera, Complain from The American Mind
Kerry Edwards aides want signal lights removed from the lecterns before tonight's debate. Captain Ed calls it a "temper tantrum."... [Read More]

Tracked on September 30, 2004 1:13 PM

» Lights for Losers from OnionWrench
The Kerry campaign's whining about timing lights at the debates tonight. Once again, we are treated to yet more sophomoric attempts by the Democrats to throw out any bothersome little "rules" that they don't like. [Read More]

Tracked on September 30, 2004 1:16 PM

» Kerry Steps In It Before The Debate Even Starts from Irreconcilable Musings
Captain Ed points us to an AP article that discusses Kerry not wanting to follow the rules he agreed to for the debates: From the AP article: Democratic candidate John Kerry's campaign demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a [Read More]

Tracked on September 30, 2004 2:32 PM

» Rules of Engagement from Ed Driscoll.com
Christopher Buckley explains some of the lesser known rules encompassing tonight's debate. Senator Kerry's going to have to work extra hard to avoid violating paragraph #98. (Via Polipundit and Betsy Nemark.) Update: On a more serious note, it's been l... [Read More]

Tracked on September 30, 2004 5:32 PM

» The Prince and the Pea from Sue Bob's Diary
Captain Ed over at Captains Quarter writes about “Kerry’s tantrum” over the timer lights located on the candidates’ podiums... [Read More]

Tracked on September 30, 2004 6:06 PM