Colour coding Barack Obama's press team

Do not wear green.

That is the instruction issued by Barack Obama's camapign to reporters following him on his tour to the Middle East.

Apparently reporters have been warned that green is the colour of Hamas.

The instruction has perplexed experts:

"A ban on wearing green seems bizarre,” said Richard Bulliet, a professor of Middle Eastern history at Columbia University, who said the color is associated with the family of the Prophet Mohammed.

“I would hazard the guess that the campaign's concern is more with distorted—and religiously inaccurate—reporting by Obama's detractors than with any actual signal that might be conveyed,” he said, referring to false rumors that Obama is a Muslim. “You don’t want to have some blogger come along and say ‘Obama is showing his true color.’”

“I think they’re just being overcautious to a ridiculous degree,” Bulliet said.

Mohamad Bazzi, a professor of journalism at New York University and former Middle East bureau chief for Newsday, called the instruction “very strange.”

“I guess green is the ‘Hamas color’ — but it's also the color of Islam!” Bazzi said in an email from Beirut. “That's one way for the Obama campaign to alienate 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide.”

Comments

[Liam]

You're really struggling to nail Obama, aren't you Daniel? But this is laughable.

[Jimmy C]

I don't blame the Obama campaign at all for this instruction. They have every good reason to be cautious - given the rants and ravings of the far right!
And what's wrong with his campaign issuing such instructions anyway? Nothing! You can either put up with it, or leave his train - simple!

[Do]

“You don’t want to have some blogger come along and say ‘Obama is showing his true color.’” - I think people are smart enough to realize that a blogger that would disparage another for the color they wear, is a complete moron. I think a 10 year old could get that.

[James Callaghan]

anyone who votes for Obama is green alright. Similarly anyone who votes for McCain is green. The Americans have a great choice,a pair of traitors.

[Dan]

I find Professor Bazzi's comments unusual; not sure how many Muslims are in the US, but 1.4 billion muslims worldwide aren't voting for him. He does need to contend with the 150 Million or so Americans eligible to vote, or the 120 milion or so registered to vote, or the 60 million or so who will bother voting. If 20% of that group is none-to-fond of Islam (and that's a charitable rate, I think), Obama would be well-advised to keep an arms-length relationship with militant Islamic organizations and their colors. I think the guidelines are overkill and unnecessary, but it's his campaign.

[br0wer]

Is there anything wrong with being overly cautious? Why even go through the trouble of pointing this out? By reporting on this are you admitting that you have nothing substantial or meaningful to write about?

[Ben Bow]

Green, the colour of Islam,is also the colour of Peace! Perhaps Obama might consider Blue - to match the colour of bruising from rubber bullets coupled with white - the colour of unused bandages?

[moi]

Maybe Obama simply did not want his entourage to stick out like a sore thumb--as in, being a target.

[beu]

much has been said of obama being a muslim but thats not true there is choice and preference maybe his choice was green and it also signifies respect to ones nation hence putting on green does not qualify one to be a muslim not all that wear green are muslims.

[Julia Iskandar]

Given the paranoid fantasies and smears the poor bloke has been subjected to in the right-wing media, including Murdoch-owned and Conrad-Black-owned media here, in the US and in Israel, I think he's right. Most of the paranoid fantasies and smears were in the readers' comments, admittedly, and "only" by implication, wink-wink style, in the papers' correspondents' and op-ed texts, but he can't be too careful.

By the way, the most drastic example of "green is the colour of the Prophet" is in the flag of Saudi Arabia, which, on a green background, says in Arabic: "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet". Contrary to the Bush family and the "New Labour" and Conservative governments here, Obama doesn't want to be associated with THAT lot, the rich and corrupt - and ubiquitous - Saudi princes, on top of everything else.

[John OShea]

Daniel Finlestein..get a life..or a good hobby.

[Kyle]

" “You don’t want to have some blogger come along and say ‘Obama is showing his true color.’” - I think people are smart enough to realize that a blogger that would disparage another for the color they wear, is a complete moron. I think a 10 year old could get that."

It's been observed that despite their years on the job, we have an awful lot of nine-year old bloggers out there!

[Russell MacDonald]

Just another example of how paranoid Obama is. How does he expect to become President of the Greatest Country in the World?

[uche]

It doesn't matter what color that appear in the entuarage, the most important thing is that Obama is the man of the moment.Americans should not let this opportunity slip through thier fingers.

[Just wondering]

This article and the subsequent comments provide unrefutable proof that EVERYTHING is the fault of the "far right"! (WOW, they are powerful, aren't they?)

BTW, does this mean that all those people walking down 5th Ave in NYC on March 17 were Hamas sympathizers?

[Frank Upton]

He's just another slick politician promising us the Moon on a stick.

[DJ]

I have to say, just telling his staff not to wear green is making him look guilty. If he truely is not muslim, then he should not worry. When people say, "oh my gosh, he is wearing green!" Then he can say " I happen to like the color of our nature. The trees are green, the grass is green. I am a Republican, and I am not that judgemental. I don't think most people are. Everyone needs to quit being so trivial!! Grow UP !!

[Faqi]

Why bring this up at all. Yes Green is the color of Islam and no one in the right mind wants to be associated with Islam right now especially Obama who has been called at various time to be closet Muslim - whatever that means. Its the right wing media that keeps on harping on silly stuff like this. Obama is the best option for America to gain some respect in the world which Bush and his cronies have squandered.

[Jimbo]

Since Obama is unable to make up his mind about the future of Jerusalem, is it any wonder he issues strange orders?
Another American politician to condemn the Palestinians without having the faintest idea of what was said, and how it was translated. I think he is a very thick opportunist!

[Jesse U.]

Daniel, really? What kind of journalist are you. You should be writing for the National Inquirer or for Fox News. Barak Obama is going to be the new leader of the free world. He has the insight, the intelligence, and charisma a good leader should posses.

Not far off the subject is the other candidate. Mcain is a 72 year old man with the memory of, well a 72 year old man. He has been a prisoner of war, in the senate since shortly after I was born. But, does being a prisoner of war make him a any better to lead the US? Because he was in the military??? I am in the military does that qualify me to be president?

Obama is an intellectual man. That is a change we need in the White House. Instead of the corrupt money hungry, right wing, Christian (when it's convenient) Conservative, group who are getting even more rich off this war while the average American feels the pain, and its getting worse.

The world wants Obama, and America wants Obama. Time for a new face for America, and that face is Barak Obama.

P.S. Russell Mcdonald: What makes THIS the greatest country in the world? How many countries have you been to? I have been to a lot of great ones.

[Tina]

I am a business major. In all introduction to business courses, the textbooks say that when designing a website a green background should be avoided, for it's religious uses in some countries. If a green background on a web page could offend, I guess a green shirt could too.

[Bernard Keane]

Aloha:

I would like to point out that most of the world's military wear green.

[MBA]

Here in the States we are not impressed with the Big O (Obama). You can't talk about his big mouth wife, his color, his hood, his lack of experience, his non-resume. The list is endless and growing. We're hoping he'll find a nice ghetto in Europe and decide to stay there. This clown isn't qualified or capable of leading America or her troops. It's affirmative action at its finest.

[BCS]

Just another liberal trying to be "politically correct". BamBam is way out of his league!

[DBG]

This one is so simple its trite.

The reporters were told not to were green for the simple fact that it messes with the greens creen overlay done when editing video.

This is no big thing - he plans to use some of the new footage for campaigns and websites. thats it people.

[TCI]

Is TimesOnline a Muslim publication? I noticed it has green in the title. I have always wondered who the green were in the phrase '...it doesn't matter if you're black, white, yellow or green...' Live and learn!

[Eve]

Any one who thinks this is over caustious is fooling them selvs. This is the game of 'politics'. Get used to it. Has everyone forgotten that in America it matters who you put in your audience? It matters what collor tie you were, or if you were a tie for that matter. It matters whether the collar of your windbreaker is up or down. And why does it matter? Becuase there will always be a reporter, critic, blogger, voter who wants to analyze the choice and use it to illustrate some point. Like, for instance, this article, that takes a behavior out of its original context and tries to make it seem really bizarre.

[J.S, Peyton]

To MBA: His "hood" and "go back to the ghetto"? Where all black people belong, right? Obama got to where he is through hard work, education, intelligence, and thoughtfulness. If that's Affirmative Action, sign me up. If, as your name suggests, you actually have an MBA yet spout inanities like that, I'd say perhaps you yourself have been the recipient of undeserved reward.

And speak for yourself when you say "We in the States" because I am impressed and continue to be so everyday.

[Who Me]

The subtle message of control is the bigger issue. If elected will he start dictating to us what we can and can not wear, say and do? Shame on journalists, the supposed guardians of First Amendment rights, not to point out that the candidate is laying a foundation to control more than budgets and legislative bills.

[rigmarole]

Could you all stop with the silly name calling. Can't you bring across your views in a more intellectual way. At least Obama, the man that some of you are trying to debase can. And MBA What are you trying to say about Obama. You are threading on thin ice with the comments about his big mouth wife and hood. If I did not know better I would think you were an ignorant racist.

[mindchanger]

I was all for O, but anyone covering his eyes, ears and mouth for twenty some years - not to mention his intellectual wife - and then resigning under pressure from their "church", cannot be trusted for leadership of the World. At least according to what's considered common sense...

[Nancy]

For the first time, I have no desire to vote in a presidential election. I do not trust Obama. I think the man has a screw loose somewhere--certainly he is not what he seems...and I DON'T base this on republican reports, by on my own observaions. I don't think he's what he appears to be--not a Muslim, but a closet Christian fundementalist, perhaps?

[Patricia Kennedy]

Bernard Keane says "Here in the States we are not impressed..." and continues on and on, ad nauseum.

Honestly, Brits we are not all such asses as he. His need to bring up skin color and other racial slurs shows just how low some Americans can go. (In case you hadn't already noticed.) In fact, MANY of us here in the states hope that Barack Obama can lead us out of the conservative-led morass where we have squandered our treasure of dollars, people and good will.

[Sassy]

Oh what a bunch of "Obama Idiots" what intellect, if he didn't have a script in front of him he would sound just like you idiots and if it weren't for George Bush we'd all have our heads handed to us on an "Al Qaeda Platter".
There is no one who wants peace more than we do but do you really think Obama is capable of keeping America or your sorry behinds safe. Remember you all depend on us for your safety .... "Remember WWI and WWII"

[Daniel]

Oh dear. How foolish people are. Green tends to buzz on video. That's why it is always advised that people should avoid green - and red - when appearing on television. Duh.

[Thinking Dove]

For some reason, everyone neglects to mention that Obama spoke at a Free Concert.

Maybe all those thousands of young Germans turned up for the two bands that were playing instead of coming to hear a speach in english.

Nah, Obama’s charisma is so powerful it transcends language.

More Kool Aid anyone?

[jbigbootee]

I would have thought Mr. O'Bama would be proud to flout the color of his Black Irish heritage: Green for the shamrocks of Auld Eire.

[Esther]

MBA - are you tring to do some form of post-modern satire here? Because if you're genuinely trying to establish you racist credentials, you're about forty years behind the times. You sound like someone who still hasn't figured out why a fine piece of entertainment like "The Black and White Minstrel Show" was cancelled and is petrified that the "womens libbers" will get the bomb.............

[Daly]

Did anyone ask about the green? Stenven Colbert's Comedy shows in American have had great fun with the color green; McCain has been the butt of most of the green having used it as a backdrop. Somehow with TV magic the color green can be overlayed with whatever you'd like project onto it. for example if you have a green sweater on, using technology a button or image could be overlayed onto the color giving the appearance of something not wanted.

[Originalfuture]

This is just another instance where people seek to make something out of nothing. This is what I will refer to as "bridging the gaps." Something I learned in college the first semester. You can offend people of different cultures, ethnicity, race and gender; without even realizing your mistake. This situation shows me he was smart enough to know that as simple as it may seem, green is a color that would have offended people in the Middle East or sent the wrong message to some group. When you go to a job interview for a management position in a fortune 500 company your not going to wear flip flops and a tee shirt that says "gang banging for life." He used his better judgment and foreseen the issues that would have occurred if he hadn't. Would you turn your back to a Japanese whiles he was bowing to you??? It would offend that person right. When dealing with the public you should know as much about the other party you are meeting as not to offend them!

[D. Kelly]

the fact that you're all trying to justify yet another ridiculous headline about BO shows how whipped you all are! WHO CARES!!!

well I'm sure he said that b/c of this or that- no one knows, no one cares. idiots.

[gxb]

O'bama is an empty suit, no matter what the color.

As long as there is no 'Ross Perot' candidate this fall O'bama cannot win.

[TPL]

Wow, all of this support on here for Obama. I had no idea the World was full of so many idiots. Well, actually I did, but I never knew where to find them all until now. All of this gullibility and ignorance reminds me of a situation 70 years ago. Many people felt they had finally discovered an answer to their problems, and they were promised great changes. These same people appeared in large crowds to hear a fiery orator put forth his vague and illogical ideas. The crowd cheered him on, and waved their hands in his presence. Everyone felt they finally had a tenacious, intelligent, and glorious uniter before them. They Listened, they Followed, and they gave him Power. 7 Years Later, 50 Million lay dead.

[scobra]

obama is simply running a strict race. he knows how ridiculous the press is and how stupid the average human really is. obama is dealing with reality as i hope he does if and when he gets into office.

[scobra]

yes listen to the idiots. Obama has outclassed them all.

[The Law]

Is this what passes for 'comment' in the '2much Information Age'.