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

[Athinker]

From Wikipedia

Religion and philosophy
The Libyan flag is completely green, in honor of Islam's veneration of the color.
The Libyan flag is completely green, in honor of Islam's veneration of the color.

Green is considered the traditional color of Islam, likewise because of its association with nature. This is for several reasons. First, Muhammad is reliably quoted in a hadith as saying that “water, greenery, and a beautiful face” were three universally good things.[53­] In the Qur'an, sura Al-Insan, believers in God in Paradise wear fine green silk.[3][5­4] Also, Al-Khidr (“The Green One”), is a Qur’anic figure who met and traveled with Moses.[55] The flag of Hamas,[56] as well as the flag of Iran, is green, symbolizing their Islamist ideology.[­57]

[nastyvirus]

Muslims watching the speech were probably laughing hysterically.

[Athinker]

Any one familiar with the Middle East knows that GREEN is the color of ISLAM. That is a fact.

[denlong]

It just calls out to matte something in the background!

[kburlz]

Someone needs to make a funny Colbertesque background on that backdrop.

[KNadine]

It seems as if John McCain's own campaign is trying to undermine him. Who thought the green screen would be a good idea - again!! AND who wrote that speech? I tried to watch the speech last night with an open heart (no way would I vote for him, but I wanted to be fair), knowing that McCain's oratory skills are severely lacking, I thought for sure I could close my eyes and actually hear substance in the speech - but nothing. For example, McCain said, the Democrats want to raise taxes and I am going to cut them. Okay, then tell me how you're going to be able to do it. Atleast Barack Obama gave a compelling argument stating how he would pay for the tax cuts. Now, depending on what ideals you have, you can examine whether you believe him or not, but John McCain offered NOTHING!! He just wants us to vote for him because he's a POW and has "character". That idea is flawed in itself, because if that was the case every person's character in Guantanamo Bay is being built as we speak.

[LanguagePolice]

Sam-

A reporter of your supposed stature, and your position with a major news and opinion blog, should be above this. This is lame. It's just lame. I noticed the green, and I said "OMG" to myself, but this is so trivial a reporter of your supposed stature should not have wasted time and electrons on it.

I'm not saying it's mean-spirited or attacking. It's just trivial. It's lame.

[IowaKid]

That may be true. But if Obama had forgotten to wear his flag pin on his lapel on his acceptance speech we would have never heard the end of it. If you don't believe just look at the picture above.

[magnetplanner]

The first time was worse. It was before he had his teeth bleached.

[Manor23]

Has McCain not learned anything? I cannot wait to see what Steven Colbert does with the Green Screen next week on his show. The last time McCain had a green screen, Colbert made mince meat out of him.

[maddie0001]

How would you expect someone to know that Walter Reed is a hospital in Washington, DC - not a middle school in North Hollywood, CA? http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/213806.php

And he's gonna find Bin Ladin?

[ochsag]

Check out TPM...the Walter Reed Middle School in No. Hollywood CA was obviously confused my some naive techno-geek for Walter Reed Medical Center when asked to retrieve an image of the latter. That is the most laughable, but probably explanation for the green screen... Shows how whacked and discombobulated McCain's campaign is behind the scenes - total seat of the pants stuff...

[athenasword]

Seriously? And they think AMERICA is stupid.

[simplyirresistible]

Does the green backdrop remind anybody of movie "Soylent Green?"

It was creepy watching really old dude John McCain standing in front of a projected scene of flowers blowing in the wind. It was like watching the suicide scene straight out of futuristic movie, ”Soylent Green.”

More:

http://healinganation.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/john-mccains-soylent-green-backdrop/

[evgolightly]

When I saw McCain standing in front of another green backdrop, I nearly fell over laughing!

What were they thinking?

The blue one wasn't all that much better -- his white head against the sky blue looked like ...the Greek FLAG!

Should have used the columns.

[CindyKay]

Poor Johnny , He wants to CHANGE. Well , I say Look John if You want to Change then just sign the consent forms & have the Operation !

[MJJM]

The uneducated white voters in OH and PA really don't care if someone wears a flag pin, they just want a white president!!

The only way a Black or Latino gets elected as President of the US is by magical transforming themselves to an uneducated white person. PERIOD!!!!

STAND STRONG
for CHANGE
or
FALL HARD
for the SAME!!!

[HUFFNAME]

Every voter in Ohio and PA, black and white. at any education level, is an individual. Each one of them has as much right to be respected and represented as you or I do.

Your careless, dismissive--and wrong--description of this group of Americans tells us a great deal about you, nothing about those you intend to describe.

Thanks for hopping on to Karl Rove's "Politics of Hate and Division" express. Let us know where it takes you.

[athenasword]

Actually, people I know in Ohio, along w/ my extended family are voting for O.bama. I don't know about Pennsylvania, but Ohio is still very much in play.

[pinellas]

Teehee - can't wait to see what the techies do w/ this 1 - the last time Stephen Colbert show had some amazing stuff....

[CaptainVideo]

The building sure looks like one of the mansions that McCain's multi-millionaire contry club Republican buddies lives in.