DailyKos: Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) admits using teleprompter in debate.

[MallRat]

http://www.dailykos.com/
KY-Sen: Bunning admits using teleprompter at "debate"
by kos
Wed Oct 13th, 2004 at 17:12:08 GMT

Bunning continues his erratic, bizarre behavior. He ran to DC to avoid debating Democrat Mongiardo side-by-side, demanding to do so by satellite. He also refused to have a neutral party ensure that he wasn't cheating -- receiving cues or coaching from his staff.

Now we know why -- Bunning did, in fact, cheat.

During a teleconference with reporters after the debate, the Southgate Republican would not answer whether he was using a TelePrompTer, a device attached to a television camera that allows the person on camera to read a script.
"We did exactly what was permitted in the agreement" worked out between the two campaigns, Bunning said Monday.

But after being questioned by reporters Tuesday, Bunning campaign manager David Young admitted a TelePrompTer was used, but contended it was permitted under the agreed-upon rules.

"Only the opening and closing statements were on a TelePrompTer," Young said in an e-mail response to questions.

"The debate agreement specifically said notes could be used and it did not specify a specific medium.

"Notes are notes," Young said.

Mongiardo campaign manager Kim Geveden called Bunning's use of a TelePrompTer "an outrageous abuse of the agreement."

Keep in mind that this agreement that Bunning keeps referring to was violated when he fled Kentucky and hid in the bowels of RNC HQ.

The story is getting major play in KY, and is a miscalculation on Bunning's part of epic proportions. Had he debated him in studio -- a debate, btw, that is only getting aired in a fraction of the state -- it would've been a quick story, no big deal, and Bunning could've ridden his big leads in name ID and the polls to victory.

Instead, his obvious cheating and erratic behavior has catapulted this race into the top tier of Dem pickup opportunities.

Unbelievable. Bunning is in very, very deep shit.

-MR

[Beetwasher]

1. This Is Amazing, If We Pick Up This Seat, Which Is Seeming More and More

likely, it will almost assure the Dems control of the Senate...

[von Staufenberg]

10. The good: Bunning's nuts; The bad: This is still Kentucky

Unfortunately, I have little faith in the voting practices of my fellow Kentuckians. Consider these nuggets: Bunning said his opponent looks like one of Saddam's sons; He says we shouldn't elect anyone whose name ends in a vowel (I.E. Mongiardo); He accused Mongiardo staffers of physically accosting his wife at the electoral gala known as "Fancy Farm." Yep, said she came away black and blue. These are but a few of his ramblings. Still, don't get your hopes up too high. (Just to put to bed the suspicion that I am unreasonably pessimistic--I've been saying Kerry will win for months. I'm just not as optimistic about Kentuckians.)
The movement of the polls is heartening, but freakin' Mitch McConnell is one devious, hardcore hardballer who will pull out all stops to keep propping up his "junior" colleague. Rural voters (the bulk of what we have here), for whatever reason, have swallowed whole the bile of this administration. Mongiardo started out at such a disadvantage in virtually all metrics (money, name recognition, etc.) that he has had a tremendous uphill fight to just get where he is now. Perhaps Bunning's debate debacle (unfortunately, less than 25% of the commonwealth will get to see it) may further shift the momentum. Stranger things have happened, but don't get too disheartened if Kentucky re-elects this nutjob.

[MallRat]

2. Latest poll 10/7: Bunning 43, Mongiardo 37.

Mongiardo was within striking distance before this scandal hit.

My good god... there is a very real possibility that we could win this seat.

:wow:

-MR

[cheshire]

3. This idiot Bunning is a republican spokesman. He says they are stupid. LOL

[yellowcanine]

4. It all depends on what the meaning of "notes" is. I don't know about you,

but when I was in public speaking class, we could always use teleprompters if the instructor said that "notes" were allowed. Yeah, right!

"Notes are notes," Young said. Yes, indeed they are, Mr. Young. And unfortunately for you and Mr. Bunning, they are not teleprompters. Go spin yourself.

[MallRat]

5. kick

:kick:

[napi21]

6. Anybody know how a teleprompter works?

I mean...in a debate, the candidates don't know the question. Can you do a live feed of the correct answer, or does the info have to be prewritten and just rolled up the screen?

[fishwax]

7. Go Mongiardo!

with many of the close races still tilting our way, this could put us over the top for control. Such good news.

I don't live anywhere near Kentucky, but I used to hear Jim Bunning on Don Wildmon's horribly right-wing American Family Radio, and he always sounded like a real nutjob.

[RedEarth]

8. What do you tell the children?

How do you explain to the children that your senator is a fucking cheater....is morally corrupt....is ethically bankrupt.....the poor children.

[VolcanoJen]

9. GO MONGIARDO, GO!!!!

Bunning gets weirder and weirder, and more detached from reality, by the hour.