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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Treason? Anyone? Anyone?
In a way you have to feel sort of sorry for Coffman. He finds himself in a newly formed district that contains a lot of independents and Democrats. That requires he come off sounding at least half way rational, at the very least he has to show some outward respect for the President, yet he has to toe the line of the tea party crowd to raise the funds needed to be competitive. Respecting the President is the kiss of death with those people.
The Republicans are holding the tea party tiger by the tail. They can't let go, but they can't continue holding on. A lot of them, including Coffman, are in a tough spot. As a result Coffman comes off looking like a fool trying to say one thing to one group and another to everybody else. That doesn't work in an era where everybody with a mobile phone has a voice recorder in his or her hands at all times. Bet you the person who leaked the tape is never invited to another tea party event.
We need to find out whether the Democrat is up to taking advantage. Having watched him on the TV machine last evening I am not sure.
Can anyone believe this guy? When I first saw this video I was like "holy f'ing hell!" Either this guy is literally brain dead or someone who paid for his election (aka donor) told him to not say anything about this subject or the money would dry up. No one is that thick skulled, not even Republicans, not even Rush.
I seriously hope District 6 gets someone in office that has the brain power to think for themselves in November.
While the video was, well, both funny and sad and really strange, in all fairness it should be pointed out that Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) did publish a printed opinion/reply to all this on Wednesday in the Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20694265/mike-coffman-comment-was-inappropriate-boneheaded#ixzz1vnBXGOiK
IMO, not a bad apology, despite the continued use of "misspoke." The definition of misspoke includes: " To speak mistakenly, inappropriately, or rashly." The comments were certainly inappropriate (to the community at large) and also certainly rash (in regards to his chances of being reelected.) One question is whether the apology will upset those he sought to pander to in the first place. Another question is whether he will continue to make such statements when he is more certain they will not be recorded and disseminated.