Need an explanation of Kerry's part in the debate rules

[qanda]

In the media it seems both campaigns are being given equal responsibility for coming up with the debate rules. However, I thought the Kerry campaign just wanted the debates to happen and so agreed to the majority of the Bush demands without much of a fight.

Can someone point me to the breakdown of who came up with the various demands? I think it will shed a lot of light on this whole story.

[Canuckistanian]

1. I'd like to know, too

Good question.
The wingnuts are spinning this out of control, as if Kerry was the one doing the whining about the conditions.
Is it all Bush-Cheney demands and if not what did the Kerry camp want?

[CityDem]

2. Baker and Jordan

Jim Baker and Vernon Jordan worked out the deal. According to Cahill, the most important point was to have 3 debates. After the repubs conceded the 3 debates (which really wasn't much of a concession), Jordan and company dropped his pants, bent over and grabbed his ankles. Thus we have all the limitations regarding the podiums, temperature, flashing lights, no questions by the candidates, etc. We were left with dueling press conferences.

[beaconess]

6. I'm sorry, but I can't stand any more of this slander agst Vernon Jordan

Before anyone else smears Jordan as some kind of a stupid patsy, I suggest you learn something about him, since I doubt that anyone who has even a cursory knowledge about this man would have the nerve to attack him the way he's being attacked by DUers.

Among other things, Vernon Jordan is one of the most highly respected civil rights leaders this country has ever seen. He came from nothing and with little more than his own determination, hard work and commitment has risen to the top of the pack. This man marched, and fought, and struggled and risked his life to secure the rights we take as our due. This man survived being shot in the back by a white supremicist who didn't like seeing him riding in a car with a white woman.

I'm sorry to be so vociferous, but I deeply resent seeing DUers belittle and besmirch this great man in such a nasty, hateful way. There's a reason that John Kerry has him as a top adviser (as Bill Clinton did during his campaign and presidency). Jordan knows the ropes, he's smart as hell, and doesn't put up with any crap. And just as important, he's extremely discreet and, thus, does not run around town or the airwaves talking about himself, his negotiations or his colleagues. Because of this, no one really knows what was involved in the negotiations and, thus, the speculation about what Jordan supposedly gave up or did wrong is worthless.

Vernon Jordan is most committed, savvy, briliant and competent people we have in public life. Right wing nutcases have denigrated him for decades in just the kind of tones you are using. He deserves better from our side.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I posted this earlier about debate officials joking about Bush demands --

it was Bush all the way:

Link to the thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x916502


SUBJECT: Debate official jokes about "flares," "campfire" to satisfy Bushie demand

...that candidates stay in their designated spaces. Are they that embarrassed that their candidate's physical stature is as slight as his intellectual and Presidential (sic) stature?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58088-2004Sep28.html

....At the debate site at the University of Miami, in Coral Gables, workers assembled six tractor-trailers of production equipment as officials from the Commission on Presidential Debates continued to chafe at demands from the Bush-Cheney campaign for rigorous enforcement of unprecedented debate restrictions designed to limit chances for the candidates to interact directly. One debate official said jokingly that the Bush campaign was so insistent about keeping the candidates in their designated spaces that organizers were "thinking of using flares or building a campfire" to satisfy the GOP handlers. Instead, the organizers will settle for strips of tape that are likely to be visible to television viewers, officials said.

Kerry campaign officials said they were happy Bush had agreed to all three debates and cared little about the rules, some of which the commission said are unenforceable because camera angles are controlled by the television networks. Bush confidant Karen Hughes said the aim of the rules was "no gimmicks, no tricks, no sudden surprises."...

[rumguy]

4. we need tougher negotiators

just getting three debates is not good...

[Hamlette]

5. Kerry acted like a real president in the negotiations!

Bush acted like a scared child who had to have everything his way!

Kerry did what was right. Stupid rules won't mean a thing except everyone is spinning this as Bush being a baby.

Kerry won this round and I won't HEAR of Vernon bending over. Let's fight about something that is important and tell them: we'll take you anytime, anyplace, anywhere because we will win. There are no fu*king rules in a knife fight and this is going to be bloody...on both sides.

Let's rumble.