McCain's Lime Green Background Returns

One of the more memorable moments of the general election was when, after Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination, John McCain gave a competing speech against a lime green backdrop. That set looked like some something like pea green and was an exclamation point to one of the Senator's worst (and most ridiculed) speeches on the campaign trail.

Well, during his acceptance speech during tonight's convention, it's back. McCain is pictured once again speaking in front of a large lime-green backdrop. I'm told that the bigger image is supposed to be grass (I'm watching from the convention itself, and they place the press practically behind the stage). But the effect for viewers not in Minneapolis is the same.

From June:

UPDATE: It was, I've been told a picture of a lawn in front of a random house. The screen changed about ten minutes in to a sky-blue backdrop which may not be all that more effective.

LATE UPDATE: Reader LA identifies the mystery property.

"It's not a house.... it's a Middle School in North Hollywood, California. A little irony... it's Walter Reed Middle School. My son goes there.... in a decidedly Democratic neighborhood, I might add. McCain's campaign used the very same photo that appears on one of the school's websites... http://walterreed.tech.googlepages.com/home (The "Tech Academy" is one portion of Walter Reed. The photo is of the entire school.) I'm friends with the person in charge of that website... I've sent an email to ask if he knows who owns the photo.

MORNING UPDATE: The RNC team may have meant to put Walter Reed Army Medical Center behind the candidate, and accidentally used Walter Reed Middle School instead.

Comments

[JackND]

""The RNC team may have meant to put Walter Reed Army Medical Center behind the candidate, and accidentally used Walter Reed Middle School instead. ""

It would seem that he vets conventions imagery about as well as he vets vice presidential candidates.

[HazelPethigFan]

It was news in Minnesota that at the DNC they put up a picture to honor Senator Eugene McCarthy and some DNC staffer labeled it "Joe McCarthy" That still irks me. How can anyone with the slightest interest in politics not know who Joe McCarthy and Gene McCarthy were? Just some guys from flyover land I guess.

I am surprised the Reps didn't jump on this.

[durbinlover]

John McCain was just trying to make the speech more interesting by making it a green screen challenge! The man knows he needs help from the Colbert nation.

[OfficialA]

I love Jimmy Carter, but the funniest moment ever in convention history was his invocation in 1980 of "Hubert Horatio Hornblower­...err... Humphrey"!

[Java2]

The green background suits McCain altho it doesn't mean he supports GREEN because his VP Choice doesn't think we really have problems with Global Warming.
The McCains are soooo tacky, him with his $500.00 shoes and Cindy with her $300,000.0­0 dress or was it a Uniform on Monday nights and there are people in the USA living on the streets

[Jabo22]

We can only hope that he mistakes "White Casltes" for the "White House"!

[gretchenart]

He and the RNC care so little about the returning soldiers they cannot even distinguish between Walter Reed Middle School and the Walter Reed Medical Center? Compassionate conservatism indeed.

[foxflood]

And this kind of confusion is exactly what his administration would do. Especially in "support of the troops."

Ineptitude and arrogance, the Republican way under the current regime.

[UncommonSenz]

"Oh, it gets even better. That school was also used as the backdrop for Matt Santos speech announcing his candidacy on The West Wing (Santos was modeled on Obama).

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccains_speech_backdrop_was_us.php"

Oh my sides... can't... breathe... from laughing..­... make it stop.

So let's recap, for those playing along at home.

Some genius decides that McCain will look fabulous delivering a bad speech to literally tens of people in front of what looks like a Holiday Inn sign.(He also chooses to do this on a night Obama delivers a high profile speech so the contrast is that much more stark). He gets rightfully savaged by the press, and one would think the campaign might learn from that nugget of "experience".

Instead, campaign runamok hastily chooses a canned photo of Walter Reed middle school when they meant to choose Walter Reed Hospital. The full image looks like some random mansion, which only reinforces the whole house issue. The close up recreates the same nauseating lime green backdrop and to top it all off, the building shot was used in the fictional campaign of a left-leaning presidential candidate who stood for every ideal that McCain abhors (and ties him to the "celebrity" thing).

They say that a campaign can provide some inkling into how an administration might govern. These guys are seriously not ready for prime time.

[mbh78213]

At least in the "West Wing" episode the school as backdrop made sense. What was Johnny Mac trying to accomplish? Does he think people will confuse him with Jimmy Smits? He wishes.

[abigail1]

atlanta better prepare. if there continue to be problems in Georgia, they might get bombed by mistake!

[JC1c1]

Oh this is hilarious. The man cant even run a good campaign, and you repubs expect him to run the country. Did anyone of those idiots check to make sure it was Walter Reed Medical Army Center. NOPE all they saw was Walter Reed and put it up there.

Yes he cleary chooses to surround himself with the highly intelligent. I didnt think there could be a worse administration than the bushs, but if McCain gets it, he could pass Bush with flying colors.

Dont you love how his campaign has learned how to use the internet.

[MegInPA]

Ok, now THAT is funny!

[TrevorAlan]

I noticed that too. It changed to a blue at some point. And it may have cycled through a couple house/lawn pictures, but the effect in the close-ups was grandpa in front of that wrong color again.

[reno 77]

I expected Swamp Thing to jump out of the background.

[bibb]

Doesn't matter what you put in back of him, he always looks like a doddering, old man. And what's up with his shoulder's, is he stiff or something??? Looks like he's being held up like a scarecrow.

[Hufferton]

To be fair, part of his immobility results from his war wounds and POW mistreatment.

However, one of the convention speakers, I think the nut from TN, said that McCain "cannot even salute his own flag" because of his restricted movements, which is not factual. Look at many photos of him with his hands on top of his head and video clips of his hand far above the position of a salute (I am a veteran and learned how to salute like all other soldiers). Videos show McCain saluting.

[garbagehead]

oh, tell me you are kidding, bibb?!? This is one area you DO NOT want to make fun of McCain on... his shoulders are stiff (and arms) due to the restraint positions used on him as a POW in Viet Nam. Same reason his teeth appear so even... he lost most of them at the same time.

Catch up before you criticize!

[BigLib]

Bibb is and idjit.

[Shellly]

Someone goofed. they were aiming for the walter reed hospital. too much time spent researching sen. obama.

[muffler]

President George H. W. Bush, Inaugural Address, 1989:

"I've spoken of a thousand points of light -of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the nation doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I'll ask every member of my Government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they're not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in."

[ajax2]

Speaking from experience, lime green probably matches McCain's toenails.