Maybe the DNCC has kept track of the polling this summer and figures the Democratic nominee is officially in distress.  That’s the only explanation for a silly gaffe by the convention committee for the graphics on their credentials for those allowed to see Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field.  The holographic image uses an American flag motif with the blue field at the bottom, with Obama’s head emerging from it in one of the two alternating images (via the Weasel Zippers):

The viewers say with the stars and blue field in the lower left corner, it looks like an upside down American flag. Published flag etiquette states the stars should always be displayed in the upper left corner. An upside down flag represents an international symbol of extreme distress.

Matt Chandler with the Obama campaign says the flag is not upside down. He says it is a stylized flag designed to blend the stars on Senator Obama’s shirt with the flag blowing in the wind.

Yes — a flag blowing upside-down.  The DNCC would not even admit they used a flag:

“The DNCC community credentials incorporate patriotic design elements. They do not depict an actual American flag. The DNCC has full and complete respect for the flag and all rules of display.”

Take a look at the picture and see for yourself whether this depicts an American flag.  Blue field …. check. Stars …. check.  Alternating white and red stripes …. check.  Looks like the flag to me.  Maybe the DNCC isn’t familiar with Old Glory.

Flying a flag upside down is a distress signal.  Creating a graphic for a presidential campaign that includes an upside-down flag is a signal of a different kind — that the DNCC needs better management.

Update: Maybe the DNCC got the motif from their last nominee: