McCain confused about Walter Reed

[Ryan A]

McCain backdrop mistake (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/school_raps_mccain_for_using_i.php)

[Eric T Cheng]

I love this quote from the Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan:


As a strong believer in public education, I don't think the Senator is the most appropriate person to showcase one of the premier schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is unwilling to bring fairness and equity to No Child Left Behind and ensure that schools like Reed get the resources they need from the Federal Government. From what I've heard, that's not a priority for the McCain/Palin ticket.

[NoWayJose]

No one from the LAUSD board should be lecturing anyone about anything, except maybe if the lecture is entitled, "How Not To Do Things."

[Fooey]

I love this quote from the Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan:

Did he have any comments about McCain's clip on tie?

[Mordrak]

Did he have any comments about McCain's clip on tie?

Actually Fooey, he's not critiquing the mistake more so than McCain's policy on education and he'd rather not their school be associated with McCain. I hope you can see the difference.

[Andrew Mayer]

What is all this clip-on tie stuff? Is this a real thing or some broken metaphor you guys are trying to wear like a poor piece of neck adornment?

[Mordrak]

It's nothing, that's the point. Making a big deal about a slide mistake is about as important as investigating whether McCain was wearing a clip on tie.

[BlueJackalope]

Did someone say Backflip Botch? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuCYJ9HfGXE)
My mistake, it was as Backdrop botch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL84VTCushQ&NR=1).

[triggercut]

....Al Giordano respectfully disagrees that this is "nothing".


Contrast all that with the Obama team's unparalleled competence in pulling off a much larger (and logistically challenging) acceptance speech in an outdoor stadium rather than a smaller indoor arena. We heard plenty of attacks (and Chicken Little beak squawks) in the days before Obama's August 28 speech. Wing-nut ministers of the religious right were urging their faithful to pray for rain (and mistakenly conjured up a hurricane to wreck the first night of the GOP convention instead). The outrage-du-jour was based on an aerial photo of "greek columns" being erected as part of Obama's stadium convention stage. But once the speech had happened, there was not a whisper of complaint nor an iota of mockery. Everything about that night - the stage, the sound, the TV visuals, the whole package (not to mention the candidate's speech and delivery) - worked impeccably to reinforce the image of a competent and bold leader in control of himself and a nation's destiny.

Fox News anchors and GOP surrogates like to mock the suggestion that because Obama is running a half-billion dollar campaign organization so efficiently that it's an indication of his executive skill. While I agree that it's not a talking point the candidate or campaign should push, I also think that the way the Obama campaign has been and is being managed does show a candidate and a team that is "Ready on Day One."

That's because "Day One" isn't off in some distant future, and won't wait until January 20, 2009. The US government is often referred to as "the permanent campaign." Well, if Rush Limbaugh can cower the US Senate and destroy immigration reform by flooding the Capitol switchboard, as he did in 2007, imagine what a presidential cell phone text message to millions of supporters could do the first time Congress balks on an important reform. This year more than ever, the campaign is the rehearsal for governance.

The ways that candidates and their teams organize on levels large and small do indicate much about how they will govern. There is a competence gap between the Obama and McCain organizations, and it's become very evident in recent weeks from the methods for vetting and choosing a vice president and introducing him and her to the nation to the production quality of the conventions themselves.

The competence gap is growing to become a bona fide campaign issue.

[Mordrak]

....Al Giordano respectfully disagrees that this is "nothing".

I agree that mistakes like these, in aggregate can be used as an argument. For me, the choice and poor vetting of Palin, or the wikipedia pulled plagarism, etc, is more than enough to make me question McCain's judgement as a leader.

But if the Democrats want to try to use this, that's how they need to frame it, as one of many mistakes (and they need to list all of those other mistakes). The mistake by itself isn't an issue, because well, shit happens. If shit continues to happen repeatedly, then we can look for a systemic issue.

[Daagar]

It's nothing, that's the point. Making a big deal about a slide mistake is about as important as investigating whether McCain was wearing a clip on tie.

Or wearing a flag pin, maybe?

[Mordrak]

Or wearing a flag pin, maybe?

I agree, that was a bullshit criticism as well. However, the pin got traction because of nationalism. Tell me how you are going to tie a slide error to nationalism?

[Anti-Bunny]

So, you need permission to film a publicly owned building?

[Mordrak]

So, you need permission to film a publicly owned building?

No, you don't, but since it's a publicly owned building it shouldn't be used in a way that makes it seem like that government agency is endorsing a particular party. That and, I'm not sure the RNC has the right to use the image. Even if filming a public building is ok, did the RNC take the picture or license it themselves?

[John Many Jars]

So, you need permission to film a publicly owned building?

I don't know about this particular one, but after 9/11 lots of local regs and/or private policies about filming and taking photos have been passed.

[magnet]

However, the pin got traction because of nationalism. Tell me how you are going to tie a slide error to nationalism?

You aren't. You're going to tie it to general Republican incompetence, and hope that gets traction instead.

[NowhereDan]

I hadn't really thought about it, but when you do, Giordano is totally right. The Republicans are screwing up right and left while the Democrats are running smoothly - if nothing else, that speaks to the ability to assemble a team of competent people, which any president needs to do his job.

[Daagar]

I agree, that was a bullshit criticism as well. However, the pin got traction because of nationalism. Tell me how you are going to tie a slide error to nationalism?

You probably can't. But trying to get Alaska to leave the union...? Hmmm. Guess they should have had an 'Alaska First. Alaska Always' slide instead.

[Anti-Bunny]

No, you don't, but since it's a publicly owned building it shouldn't be used in a way that makes it seem like that government agency is endorsing a particular party. That and, I'm not sure the RNC has the right to use the image. Even if filming a public building is ok, did the RNC take the picture or license it themselves?

Wait, hold up, do you think it's a good idea for a government agency (as a whole) to EVER endorse any party? I don't.. Now, members of that agency speaking as private citizens are a different matter... And nor does this entail any endorsement.. If Obama uses a photo of the white house for his backdrop, that doesn't mean that the executive branch endorses him and no one would assume that.

[Jakub]

Wikipedia plagiarism?

[magnet]

McCain vs Wikipedia (http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_investigates_claim_McCain_plagiarized_spe ech_from_Wikipedia).

And that wasn't even the first time. Earlier, the McCain campaign had also plagiarized Rachel Ray (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24160593/).

[Tom Chick]

So, you need permission to film a publicly owned building?

I think you've missed the point, A-B. The McCain campaign apparently thought this was the Walter Reed Medical Center. They're being lambasted for being idiots, not for violating some rule about taking pictures of a school.

-Tom

[Aeon221]

imagine what a presidential cell phone text message to millions of supporters could do the first time Congress balks on an important reform.


How the hell is this a good thing?

[Lum]

Yeah, how dare Congress listen to the electorate!

[Aeon221]

Yeah, how dare Congress listen to the electorate!

No, how dare the president use popular appeal to pressure congress into doing something that they don't feel is right. Since when was that ok?

[BlueJackalope]

I think you've missed the point, A-B. The McCain campaign apparently thought this was the Walter Reed Medical Center. They're being lambasted for being idiots, not for violating some rule about taking pictures of a school.

-Tom


I think this is a content free issue. The quicker the Dems and Obama get back to the Issues and the policies of McCain the better ground they are on.

But, to show I know how the play the game - Imagine for a second that this had happened during Obama's speech...

Okay, now a bonus botch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTe8dDI3wz0&NR=1). (pain free)

[Mordrak]

No, how dare the president use popular appeal to pressure congress into doing something that they don't feel is right. Since when was that ok?

Umm, the president has never appealed to the people to influence congress before? I think that's pretty reasonable.

[NoWayJose]

What is all this clip-on tie stuff? Is this a real thing or some broken metaphor you guys are trying to wear like a poor piece of neck adornment?
You're obviously not reading the better blogs.

[NoWayJose]

I think you've missed the point, A-B. The McCain campaign apparently thought this was the Walter Reed Medical Center. They're being lambasted for being idiots, not for violating some rule about taking pictures of a school.

-Tom
Well, that does it. I am NOT voting for the backdrop video research guy. Sorry, Phil, I was with you right up until I saw that goddamned school and then I was like, "well, that does it. I am NOT voting for you, Phil Chrabaszewski, of Truckee. I don't know how you can look little Vanessa and Marie in the eye after that fiasco. I'm sure Evelyn is standing by you but what do you expect of someone DUMB ENOUGH to marry a guy who puts up a picture of a goddamned SCHOOL."

As for the rest of you, you're all just going to have to suffer through four or eight years of styrofoam greek columns because goddamn it if they can't get the goddamned building right then jesus christ we might as well just march right into the ocean.

[Lum]

Your point would be better made if the timeline wasn't like this:

Democrats: "We're going to hold our acceptance speech in a stadium, because we're totally awesome. Also, maybe it'll help us win Colorado."

Republicans: "HAW HAW! Greek Columns! It's the TEMPLE OF OBAMA!"

Democrats: (hold speech, which looks pretty much like a standard backdrop)

Republicans: "HAW HAW HAW! GREEK COLUMNS! Did you SEE? He's such a CELEBRITY he needs a TEMPLE! He thinks he's GOD or JESUS! Our campaign will be about issues! Like drilling for oil EVERYWHERE! Oh, and on that note, we're picking a soccer mom from Alaska for running mate. You girls out there will love it."

Democrats: (heads explode from Palin nomination)

Republicans: "HAW HAW, HAW HAW! They can't handle REAL AMERICA, like Sarah Palin, because they do things like TEMPLES, and GREEK COLUMNS, and COMMUNITY ORGANIZING! Also, 9/11. Now, let's hear from Mitt Romney who will tell us how we need to take the country back from the Democrats who've run it the past 8 years."

Democrats: (look for chunks of head from explosion)

Media: "Uh, can we ask Ms. Palin some questions about...?"

Republicans: "NO! YOU PEOPLE in the media are STINKY! Asking us QUESTIONS? Did you ask Obama about the GREEK COLUMNS? HUH? DID YOU? That's it, we're not talking to you any more."

Media: "Ooook then. We'll be over here with the Democrats, looking for head chunks."

Republicans: "SEE? They are TOTALLY in bed with the Democrats and their TEMPLES. Now, let's hear from our nominee, John McCain. Did you know he was a POW? Also, he knows Sarah Palin!"

Democrats/Media: "Hey, that backdrop you guys are using... we're pretty sure it's not what you think it is..."

Republicans: "WHAT? All the IMPORTANT QUESTIONS facing REAL HARDWORKING AMERICANS and you ask us about BACKDROPS to SPEECHES? Clearly the Democrats and the Media are OUT OF TOUCH with REAL AMERICA! Did you know Sarah Palin can field strip an AR-15 in under 45 seconds? Watch."

[bago]

But a guy who is so sloppy he can't remember what team he was leaking to the VC, or voted for the MCA, under which he can't claim he was tortured, or picks a VP who gets nailed on 5 lies during her acceptance speech, or can't even remember how many houses he owns. Who hires the very guy who smeared him in 2000 in SC for having a black baby, and then restricts access to his VP candidate for 25% of the remaining campaign? Seriously?

Getting the wrong VA hospital pic is the LEAST of my worries.

[bago]

Yeah, those god damned Greek columns, evoking the birthplace of democracy, Greece, and used in the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments.

[Lum]

then restricts access to his VP candidate for 25% of the remaining campaign

To be fair, he's actually restricting access to his VP candidate for 100% of the campaign that contains a VP candidate.

[JeffL]

Yeah, those god damned Greek columns, evoking the birthplace of democracy, Greece, and used in the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments.

Gotta own up: I thought they looked pretentious and stupid when I saw them right before the campaign. When Obama gave his speech, they were pretty OK.

But they could have had posters of Caligula up when Obama gave that speech and I wouldn't have cared.

[magnet]

Well, that does it. I am NOT voting for the backdrop video research guy.

The trouble is that the whole campaign is equally retarded. For example, shortly after the mix-up, the campaign manager pinned the blame on one of the advertising guys.

And then the next day, the campaign spokesman came out and said that they really meant to show the school all along. It's like watching Pee-Wee Herman.

[Eric T Cheng]

Yeah, those god damned Greek columns, evoking the birthplace of democracy, Greece, and used in the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments.

Aren't most of the buildings in Washington DC Roman-Greco-style architecture...?

[Eric T Cheng]

It's like watching Pee-Wee Herman.

...in a dark theatre...?

[Tom Chick]

I think this is a content free issue. The quicker the Dems and Obama get back to the Issues and the policies of McCain the better ground they are on.

Oh, I definitely agree, but it's still funny. Much like the comment about Palin's foreign policy experience because Alaska is close to Russia. I was just pointing out to Anti-Bunny that he was refuting the wrong point. He's pretty good at that. :)

However, I really did like Giordano's point posted by triggercut on the previous page: you can tell a lot by how McCain would run the White House by looking at how he runs his campaign.

-Tom

[bago]

Gotta own up: I thought they looked pretentious and stupid when I saw them right before the campaign. When Obama gave his speech, they were pretty OK.

But they could have had posters of Caligula up when Obama gave that speech and I wouldn't have cared.


Wasn't Caligula an Emperor? Which would require an empire? With such little little bits such as Nero fiddling while Rome burned, Much like Bush playing guitar while New Orleans drowned? Oh, and sending armies off to barbaric lands to bring back treasure to fuel the out of control spending (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wolfowitz#Wolfowitz.27s_economic_arguments_pe rtaining_to_the_Iraq_War)?

[Anti-Bunny]

I think you've missed the point, A-B. The McCain campaign apparently thought this was the Walter Reed Medical Center. They're being lambasted for being idiots, not for violating some rule about taking pictures of a school.

-Tom

No, I didn't miss that point, I just think it's stupid.

[Tom Chick]

No, I didn't miss that point, I just think it's stupid.

So you decided to refute a point no one had made? Good move! :)

-Tom

[JeffL]

However, I really did like Giordano's point posted by triggercut on the previous page: you can tell a lot by how McCain would run the White House by looking at how he runs his campaign.

-Tom

And the same for Obama. It's very promising that his campaign had been so cohesive and effective from, dare I say it, day 1.

[Anti-Bunny]

So you decided to refute a point no one had made? Good move! :)

-Tom


"It has been brought to the school's attention that a picture of the front of our school, Walter Reed Middle School, was used as a backdrop at the Republican National Convention. Permission to use the front of our school for the Republican National Convention was not given by our school nor is the use of our school's picture an endorsement of any political party or view."

It's in the article, in the first post of this thread.

[bago]

Well, if the ad people

[Jakub]

It's in the article, in the first post of this thread.
You know, I'm fairly certain that wasn't the main issue being contended here.

[Angie Gallant]

It looks like the same people who came up with the OMG GREEK TEMPLE spin were also embarrassed of McCain's backdrop. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/us/politics/07schmidt.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin)


ST. PAUL — It was what aides to Senator John McCain describe as probably the worst night of his campaign. As Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic nomination before a cheering sea of faces on national television, Mr. McCain countered with a lackluster speech in a half-empty hall, posed in front of a pea-green screen that became fodder for late-night comedy.

Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser to Mr. McCain who worked on President Bush’s campaign in 2004, could barely hide his fury in the coming days, as he announced — to anyone who would listen — that he would personally make certain the McCain campaign would never again embarrass Mr. McCain.

“Fun Steve is dead,” Mr. Schmidt said.


At the Democratic convention last month, a team of McCain and Republican Party operatives dispatched by Mr. Schmidt huddled in a Denver war room sprung into action when they found what they considered a gem: a photograph of Mr. Obama’s stage set at Invesco Field that they thought looked like a Roman or Athenian ruin.

The room exploded with a whoop of “boo-yah,” and instantly went to work, pressing the perception to receptive reporters and producing heavy coverage throughout the Web, newspapers and cable news.

That sort of speed and spirit inevitably leads to some mistakes. Three months after Mr. Schmidt’s “Fun Steve is dead” declaration, there was Mr. McCain giving his acceptance speech at the convention on Thursday night. His backdrop? A shimmering screen of green, until it was switched over to a more dignified blue.

[Aeon221]

Umm, the president has never appealed to the people to influence congress before? I think that's pretty reasonable.

I'm glad you think that the president being able to override congressional opinion with ad populum arguments is a good thing. Me, I dislike it. It gets us things like, uh, I dunno, the Patriot Act, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan. It's abuse of executive power, it smacks of demagoguery, and it just downright isn't a good thing.

[Mordrak]

I'm glad you think that the president being able to override congressional opinion with ad populum arguments is a good thing. Me, I dislike it. It gets us things like, uh, I dunno, the Patriot Act, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan. It's abuse of executive power, it smacks of demagoguery, and it just downright isn't a good thing.

So the president should do nothing whatsoever to inform the public of his or her opinion on policy or bills moving through congress until he says yay or nay when it drops on his or her desk?

[Eric T Cheng]

His backdrop? A shimmering screen of green, until it was switched over to a more dignified blue.Did they not learn from The Colbert Report's John McCain's Green Screen Challenge (http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=171579) at all?!

Grab the new one here (http://a1926.g.akamai.net/downloadstor.download.akamai.com/10768/comedy/mccain_greenscreen/McCAIN_greenscreentwo.mov) by the way...

[Marged]

Stagecraft isn't Important like the issues and all the big things that should define elections, but there's no doubt that it matters. Just look at Nixon and Kennedy's debate. When I heard that they used a nauseating green background again, I seriously couldn't believe myself. Sloppy, sloppy.

[Andrew Mayer]

It's the chroma-keynote address.