A couple of weeks ago, Rep. Mike Coffman (R), whose Colorado district is increasingly competitive, lashed out at President Obama in a bizarre harangue. "I don't know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America; I don't know that," he said. "But I do know this, that in his heart, he's not an American. He's just not an American."
Coffman later said he was sorry for "misspeaking," but the controversy surrounding his remarks was significant enough that the normally-accessible congressman has refused to talk to reporters, and begun sending aides to public events.
This week, a reporter with the local NBC affiliate met up with Coffman. As this clip, by way of David Sirota, helps show, the brief interview really didn't go well.
The questions for the Republican weren't exactly unfair or even hard-hitting. The reporter just gave Coffman an opportunity to explain what he meant when he condemned the president.
But Coffman, rattled, was stuck repeating the same silly talking point, as if he were some kind of political robot: he "misspoke" (though he really didn't) and he "apologizes" (though it's not clear to whom).
Watch the clip; it's brutal.
Update: On Thursday, Coffman published an extended apology in the Denver Post.
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It seems that "misspoke" means "got caught lying and too stupid to admit it".
or ~ got caught being too stupid and lied to avoid admitting it ....
Or was told by his donors to say one thing if he was asked about it and to repeat it brainlessly until people left him alone.
"Misspeaking" means that the words used don't somehow convey the thoughts in one's mind. Coffman didn't misspeak. He said exactly what he meant to say.
Also, there has to be a recipient of an apolocy, or it's not an apology.
Other than those issues, Coffman's statement to the news reporter was right on.
I think it's hilarious when they get caught looking like a fool from simple questioning.
Someone needs to inform the dear Representative just what the definition of JERK happens to be:
Anyone who continues his ill-begotten temperment, unruly habits and ill-mannered rhetoric even after the folly of his behavior is pointed out! Yes, Coffman is a jerk, for he knows nothing of self-correcting humility!
Yes, voters in his district, he is an embarrassment to a civil society, our democratic principles, and more germane to you, the people of his district!
Reelect him, and I will not be the only one to think unkind thoughts about your political accuman! -Kevo
Guess who's really not an American?
(And could it be that some of these local news organizations would serve the public better than the national media at the NYT, WP, ABC, NBC, CBS, ...?)
Can we look forward to seeing this video on your show tonight? My part of Coffman's CD (we're inside both old and new boundaries) has many moderates and indies who have always assumed this guy isn't a wing nut. They need to see who he really is. And please keep mentioning Joe Miklosi as Coffman's opponent . We need all the attention on this we can get.
Misspeaking + Miscreants + Misdeeds = Radical, Right-Wing Republicans.
They simply are not accustomed to being called on their dog whistles by the corporate media representatives.
The religious right dog whistles that Obama, democrats, and liberals, are not real true Americans, nor real true Christians, has been blowing at air raid siren levels since 2000. The people that matter to them know exactly what they mean. They are more than happy to apologize in a broad general sort of a way that means nothing.
Umm, that will not fly. He did not just say "no comment" he blathered out the same line 8 times! As if he was being interrogated by an enemy and only stating name and rank! No one, not even mainstream Republicans, if the have a head on their shoulders, are going to back this guy, not after that sorry display of stupidity that gives even lemmings a run for their money with how dumb they are.
It was like his brain disengaged, he started to say something else at first but then dropped into his brain addled state and start repeating verbatim those words as if he spent 12 hours being told what to say; lights were on but no one was home.
It makes one call into question all of the other important issues he has spoken on, were those really his thoughts or was he being told what to say?
To me, what you said appeared to be something akin to a medium at a ritual to channel someone from the spiritual realm. It is the icon of the Republican party and their presidential nominees of late.
The trait of loyalty and ability to remember the lines. Ronald Reagan was an actor. He exuded a charm and cowboy image. Bush seemed to have the same traits, only he was endeared for his charming mangling of the language. People like those superficial qualities, but we see the script is a work of fiction or fairy tale and consequences are not a happy ending.
These people are puppets, the lack of conviction in their hearts, to look up and left to remember the lines. You could almost see Coffman searching his mental rolodex. Why value such empty politicians?
Oh, you reality-based fools. I'm a dope and I can see what's going to happen next. Coffman, through a spokesperson (naturally), will say that of course he COULD'VE answered any of those questions...BUT WHY SHOULD HE? Why should he do anything to assist the "lamestream media" with their incessant attacks on decent hardworking (coughwhitecough) Americans like him, just asking the questions his constituents want answered?
By the end of the week, he'll be hailed by the Malkinites as a hero/martyr and his refusal to answer those questions will be considered Braveheart-esque, a defiant stand against tyranny. Oh, and it'll be used as a fundraising tool. Mark my cyberwords.
Lest it need to be said, I certainly don't hope this will come to pass. I only know it.
I didn't count his repetition, but whoo-whee, that was telling… yet not much was said.
It's fun to watch sometimes, the crazy whipped up over here, but then shhhhhhhh….. we can't let the crazy out in wider audiences.
I know people pay attention to where they are, but this exemplifies how the wild theorists that are nudged are just being used for votes. Just vote for me, then turn around…. I apologize for that.
That's what I wish people would understand more, the usage of certain voters, then tossed aside.
Not just Republicans, but at least there were amends for some of it. We were waiting, not expecting the same sex marriage thing, but now… OK you are forgiven.
People need to hold feet to fire, so how does Coffman satisfy the wingers? I apologize, but send your money right away.
I feel sorry for the people of Colorado with this guy representing you. Robot or what?
I believed too that video evidence would be damning in the digital age but it's not.. Nobody cares! What the hell kind of statement is "in his heart he's not an American" and who buys into that bull@!$%# again exactly? I'd say this guy ended his term in Congress but that is not for me nor King Bernie Sanders to decide at this time.
That tape of Coffman saying Obama was not an American was never supposed to see the light of day. His voters weren't supposed to hear him saying that!
Don't you know this is what all the Republican candidates are saying at their fundraisers? This is what those old white rich guys desperately want to hear!! They want to still believe THEY are the Kings of Creation and that Obama "tricked" his way into office.
When given a chance to choose between the old rich white guys (by refusing to talk) and his voters (by giving a TRUE apology), Coffman chose the old rich white guys. I hope his constituents realize that!
Somebody should tell Coffman to just get a Magic Number 8 Ball and carry it with him all around. He'll give a much better answer that way.
First of all:
Well, now you should know....just ask Ken Bennet in Arizona. He should have a verification from the State of Hawaii.
Second of all:
And you know that how? After spending thousands of Colorado tax payer money on the 1-900 call to the best psychic in Colorado?
Moral of the story? Facts does not matter, give him any proof of anything, he won't believe....but by God he knows what a person's heart is like. After all the earth is flat.
What makes you think that Bennet hasn't been suborned?
I like the 8-Ball idea. In far too many cases, politicians' answers would make more sense than they do now.
Here's an interview with Mitt Romney using this technique:
Reporter to Romney: "Governor, should your experiences at Bain be on the table in this election?"
Romney: "My sources say no."
Reporter: "Mr. Romney, you say that you will be able to get unemployment down to 6% by 2016. But isn't that the level we will reach based on the approach of the Obama administration?"
Romney: "Cannot predict now."
Reporter: "As governor of Massachusetts, didn't you create a health care plan that was used as a template by Obama and the Democrats?"
Romney: "Without a doubt."
Reporter: "You advocate for additional oil drilling and the construction of the Keystone Pipeline. Do you truly believe that this will bring down oil prices?"
Romney: "It is decidedly so."
Reporter: "Many on the right question the legitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate. Do you believe that President Obama was born in this country?"
Romney: "Signs point to yes."
Reporter: "Finally, governor, do you believe that Republicans will not only take the presidency, but the Senate as well?"
Romney: "You may rely on it."
See. Doesn't that make a lot more sense than what we get now?
I watched this on the evening news last night half asleep .... and still laughed out loud.
An important further fact: this guy's district was redrawn by the legislature to make it more competitive. That's why he's so frightened of this story.
Kudos to the local NBC affiliate for refusing to let this matter drop despite the passage of several weeks.
This is good - reactions like this let idiots like Coffman know that you can't say that kind of trash and expect to get away with it. He's already let his true thoughts known, and now he's just trying to keep his head down from the backlash while winking at nodding at the base he's trying to appease. F*** him. I don't live in his district, (which is funny because I'm literally on the wrong side of C-470) but it's too bad I can't vote him out.
GOP (right wing) always thinks that if you don't agree w/them, then you are not American.
The fact that we pride ourselves on the 'democratic' way being the American way ~ that is merely another fact that eludes them .....
It sounds like he repeated the new GOP 5th amendment mantra. "I mittspoke and I apologized'. These 'afterbirthers' remind me of a "pointy-haired" boss in a Dilbert cartoon, without the charm,intelligence or 'pointy-hair'.
He was educated as a youth in non-American schools, so he was not brainwashed...I mean taught the true history of the United States, because as we all know you can only learn the true history of the United States in an American school. And anyone who has a passport under the age of 21...has seen too much to be a true American. There is no need to leave this country unless you are going to take a walk around Europe as part of your College summer break and then when you get back you put all of Europe down and say, wow I am so lucky to be an American...basically because of our plumbing and food. Mostly our plumbing.
I feel sorry for the reporter -- he must have realized after it was all over that he'd committed career suicide.
Actually 9News is in Denver, Congressional District 1, currently held by a Democrat. I think they will love this guy there!!!
I happened to be in Denver when Romney dissed a local reporter in Colorado. Denver news was ALL OVER it!!!
If Coffman was tongue-tied when asked about his "birther" position, what would he say to questions about him being a double-dipper and milking the system dry, while taking a "small government position":
He's living a good life at tax-payer expense. Should we all be so lucky.
2 Quotes come to mind.
Tommy Boy: That was awesome!
Shep Smith:Politics is weird. And creepy.
I'll take those quotes and raise you by one honorable Bugs Bunny, "what a maroon!"
This coward runs and hides. He says he stands by his apology, yet NOTHING about this issue is posted on his web site. This double-talking dork is my congressional representative, I'm so embarrassed!
This rote response to media questioning is now a staple of current political presentation. In Great Britain, Charlie Brooker in 'The Guardian' wrote about an infamous tape of the same behaviour in July 2011: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/03/charlie-brooker-stop-ed-miliband
Oh I'm not so sure about these apologies and supposed embarrassment. Too much of it is happening and I just don't trust the explanations. What is happening is they are keeping the idea in the air, hammering it all the time, so they apologize afterwards, but they have also kept the story alive, planting doubt in people's minds or reinforcing the doubt and mistrust that is already there. I'm not so sure that is not a plotted effort. Or am I just being paranoid?
No, you are not paranoid. It is clear what they are doing. Keep it out there, then say "we should be talking about issues".
These GOP win the grand prize for most toxic and completely useless congress ever!