The Lime Green Monster: McCain's Speech Widely Panned

It may be a superficial quip with Senator McCain's speech tonight, but as Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic noted, in presidential politics, "theatrics matter."

The choice of a lime green backdrop was, to put it kindly, not wise. Beyond representing a jarring visual for even the most colorblind political viewer, the set up was clearly a distraction from the speech itself. Take a look at some of the reviews:

Ambinder: "I wish I had a screen grab... but the green background is very weird and very jarring. On this stage, theatrics matter."

Matt Yglesias notes: "...it's interesting that he's shifted his aesthetic from his old black and white 'fascist' aesthetic to a new green and white Islamofascist aesthetic."

Andrew Sullivan: "From the re-branded green background to the silly attempt to capitalize on Democratic divisions to the Clintonian cooptation of an Obama meme - "a leader we can believe in" - McCain's opening gambit in the general election was, in my judgment, underwhelming."

Atrios: "It'll make you look like the cottage cheese in a lime jello salad. Always a good look for an older gentlemen... The aesthetics of McCain's speech, just mercifully completed before a slightly energized crowd of literally dozens, was awesome in how dreadful it was. No matter what Harold Ford thinks, who was somehow thoroughly moved by lime-jello McCain.

From TPM:

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This is not to distract from McCain's address; that too was poorly reviewed. The most biting of the criticisms came from CNN's Jeffrey Toobin, who intoned, moments after its conclusion: "That was awful! That was pathetic!"

Josh Marshall, over at TPM, noted: "Here's how bad it is. All the Fox commentators are giving competing explanation for why McCain's speech sucked."

But if you think this was strictly a liberal prerogative, here is a sampling of the Republican response to McCain's general election launch.

Here's Mark Levin over at National Review's The Corner: "Not to offend those who might be offended, but this speech is a mash and tough to digest. You have to get through the self-congratulatory praise of independence and commander-in-chief pose from the Senate, then you have to try to follow the inconsistency of some of his big-government ideas vs. his anti-big-government rhetoric, and his inconsistency even on his supposed strength -- the surge in Iraq vs. closing GITMO and conferring additional rights on the detainees."

Summing up GOP sentiment was prominent Republican media consultant, Alex Castellanos, speaking on CNN: "Last I checked this was not a speech-making contest, thank God."

Comments

[Bluedanube]

McSame seems to think that he is a man of substance. Kind of like silly putty or flubber.

[PhiloVance]

Making jokes of peoples names is uber uncool. And I doubt if you even know where the blue Danube is, or if it's even blue any more, or if it's even wet any more.

[fflores]

Straight talker? he could bearly stand up straight!

[mightylou1]

I have never laughed as hard as I did when I saw an old man who cannot talk, walk or smile have the nerve, to try to mock a real viable Presidential candidate Barack Obama. I cannot wait for the debates and whatever else the little old man has to bring on.

If the supporters of Hillary especially women want to go and vote for him, then they are crazier than Hillary and they care nothing about the Democratic Party or America.

[Lonely Moderate Guy]

So people who vote for McCain don't care about America?

Why do you have to say McCain is "an old man who cannot talk, walk or smile" all of which is not true. Can you not just make an arguement for your candiate instead of making blatantly false derogatory statements?

[Querent]

Yeah, I agree. He should have called McCain what he is: a shriveled, moronic gnome.

[dlbdpb]

I don't care what color it is, it won't keep me awake to hear what he says.
BORING, Boring, boring, zzzzzzzz..­..........­.....

[Tillie2]

Take it from any actress -- green lighting (whether directed or reflected) is the kiss of death. Or evil -- Why do we think the Wicked Witch of the West had green makeup?? Ummm, let's see....
Well, I guess we could say McCain is doing his usual self-destructive thing: lulling us into compacency before he totally reverses all his positions to wake us up....

[gianardil]

The last thing McCain needs to be pushing on Obama is town hall debates. I would put money down that after the first one there won't be anymore. The Repubs are terrible public speakers. Although we were blessed with the great communicator. Debates mean nothing because they are masters of the hate machine. They will go to Kenya and do everything they can to find out about his dad, mother, grandparents, and brothers and sisters, and go for the throat. That is why they don't worry about too much about public speaking. Although I have to say to BabsfromKS, your comment was hilarious.

[MsLiz]

The Republicans will look for dirt on Obama in Kenya? Well the Democrats will have to get some dirt from the Panama Canal Zone on McCain. The connection is equally slim and irrelevant.

[MrKINOKO]

I wish someone would verify 100% that Hanoi John was in fact born ON THE MILITARY BASE IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE, and not in fact off campus, like I would think it was done those days in ancient Latin America. If he was not born physically inside of the 'Canal Zone itself, but maybe by a midwife off-base, then by Constitutional Law he cannot become President. I am officially offering to go to Panama and snoop around, if Obama gets me a ticket and some travel money (Tequilla is an amazing investigative tool, so I'll need lots of it). But in all seriousness, something like that could disqualify McCain in mid-campaign.

[dizmo4]

The toughest part of Obama's campaign is over. compared to Hillary, McCain is a pussycat.

I think you'll see a more aggressive Obama that takes McCain on head on. Obama won't have to worry about being portrayed as "beating up on a woman." There aren't any super delegates to have to persuade. There's on dispute about some states counting and some states not. Compared to the convoluted democratic primaries, the general election is very straight forward.

[Dane1911]

Good point, but alslo Obama knows the number one rule. There is a way you fight family and then there is another way you fight your enemies....Obama know that important rule, even though Clinton didnt. McCain is not family so he shall be dealt with accordingly.

[fayted]

John McCain more of the same, was trying for a new role in the movie (drums) the creep show in the scifi channel, good luck "my friend"

[me1issa85]

cottage cheese in lime jello. i love this post. mccain is beyond pathetic. his speeches are horrible. its hard for me to watch or listen to his speeches. he is an awful speaker and would be an awful president. his lack of knowledge about important issues is shameful.

obama 2008!

[Diplomacy]

Senator McCain's speech was PAINFUL to watch, and very poorly delivered with inappropriate 'creepy' smiles. It was like listening to a Grade 7 full-class Speech Contest & his delivery would be scored at the bottom of the class. The audience was just as bad with off-key applause, boos & chants.

This is the best the Republicans can do on a big night event?

And, I thought that venue was in Louisana? Since when is Louisana an 'all white' community? Very little diversity in that group assembled.

PATHETIC!

[Tennwoman]

Those creepy smiles were all I could focus on. Each time he delivered a lame one-liner followed by a cheesy grin, it conjured up images of those creepy cat pictures circulating on the Internet in which pictures have been photo-shopped to depict felines with human teeth. As my 8 year old niece would say, "ewwww, gross!"

[fayted]

Watching John (never surrender) McSAME, gave me the chills this man is really scary, that awful laugh of his almost made me puke, his teeth are so yellow Cindy Mcnever should take her husband to a dentist, and oh my goodness can you notice when he talks his mouth opens just a little, he looks like a puppet or a dummy (where's the ventriloquist?) anyway it was so painful last night to see him it remind me of when I was in labor, all I could think oh God make this go fast, ewww

[MsLiz]

Labor was better, at least you had a sweet face to look at when all the pain was over.

[ebethgay]

I hope Senator Obama does take Senator MCain up on the offer of the town hall meetings. I was moderately unimpressed by Senator McCain's speech last night - although it was a nice break from the pundits for a few minutes. When I watched Senator Obama's speech this morning (fell asleep during the punditry waiting for the speech last night), I felt true inspiration and felt trust in him. Senator Obama needs to bump his message up against Senator McCain's every chance he gets and that should win him the election.

[MsLiz]

Republicans will come for McCain and go home saying "Si', se puede!"

Well, I can dream can't I?

[PublicusOrator]

If one of the central focus of criticism is the decor of backdrop and McCain's grin, then the Democrats have a great deal to worry about.

[Foohog]

Making that goofy smile every time he thinks he delivered a killer line only makes him look like a really bad speachmaker, which he is.

[Foohog]

And I'm obviously sometimes a bad speller.

[MsLiz]

eh, you're a peech.

[GravitonX]

Look for McCain to use Hillary's lame Xerox joke next.