Reporter Kurtis Lee of the Denver paper solved a few mysteries yesterday related to the absence of embattled incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Coffman from public events over most of the summer and so far this fall–ever since Coffman’s now-infamous remarks asserting that President Barack Obama “is just not an American” were made public.
Two significant developments were brought up to date last night by Lee, the Denver paper’s reporter assigned to cover the CD-6 race: first of all, he’s no longer taking the Coffman campaign’s word for what constitutes a “public event,” presumably after our media critic friend Jason Salzman detailed how events represented by Coffman as “public” were really anything but. Now that Kurtis Lee isn’t buying the Coffman campaign’s excuses, they’ve shifted to another explanation. And we’re frankly astounded by this one.
Apparently Rep. Coffman, decorated Army and Marine veteran, is worried about “paid political professionals who are out there to disrupt whatever I do,” and claims that groups like Fair Share Colorado are making it “difficult” to hold public events in his district.
So, it’s good he’s not trying to characterize unannounced nonpublic events as public now.
But it shouldn’t be necessary for us to point out that Coffman’s race against Joe Miklosi in CD-6 is just one of dozens of contentious House races this year. And in case you were somehow Pollyannishly unaware of this, there are “paid political professionals” in all of them.
In the specific case of Fair Share Colorado, they appear to be organizing ordinary residents of CD-6 to attend Coffman’s public events–and in the absence of events, they’ve staged a few protests outside Coffman’s offices. In no way do they appear to us to be any more malevolent or “disruptive” than any other political group you would expect to see in any contested election.
In short, Coffman is making one of the most ridiculous excuses we have seen in recent politics for hiding from voters. The idea that Coffman can’t handle an opposition group of the kind that exists everywhere, in every competitive congressional race in America, and that these opponents are somehow so nasty and “disruptive” that he can’t hold public events…it’s just completely, indefensibly nonsensical. We’re glad Lee figured out the “public event” ruse, but we’re rather gobsmacked that he quoted this laughable excuse uncritically, and with no response from Coffman’s big scary “paid political professional” opponents. It’s possible that Kurtis Lee, a green reporter, simply needs a few more election cycles to understand how deeply silly this is.
Either way, Lee did secure a promise from Coffman to respond “specifically,” even personally, to any question submitted via Coffman’s website! Now we just visited, and couldn’t find any place to actually ask a question–perhaps they’re still rolling this feature out. But you can also call the campaign at 303-791-6453, or send an email directly to info@coffmanforcongress.com.
When you do, please be extra nice, because Coffman evidently gets scared very easily.
Full story: One of the Dumbest Things We’ve Ever Read. Seriously.
Miklosi will likely have significantly out raised Sal Pace this quarter. The Miklosi campaign is surging while no national money is going to help Pace. Joe’s ads are weak but the independent committee ads on his behalf are great. The stupid ad with Joe waving Canadian flags is hard to follow and not a great effort by the NRCC.
This would explain why the incumbent Congressman in CD-05 doesn’t do public events, either.
Especially not debates, where an unpaid political un-professional (his opponent) might challenge him to explain hisself.
Which is fine–I guess he is afraid of a few activists. However, when he says HE answers questions, is Coffman answering the phone at headquarters?
he’s such a coward, I can’t believe they ever let him wear a uniform.
Do you think that ordinary voters would approve to stalking people in their homes and videotaping their neighbors?
Because I don’t. I think the groups targeting Coffman have gone way over the line.
Remember when you were going on and on and on an on about Gessler’s brave crusade to maintain the integrity of the vote and all that dribble…?
Then we learn about which side is really committing fraud…and right here in our fine state and then you came on and {crickets}
You have no standing or integrity here troll.
Just saying.
of a TA
ever using nummbers
The thick-headed idiocy and lack of any self-perception does seem sadly reminiscent.
Is it appropriate to hide in the bushes at a public official’s house and harass neighbors?
Someone with a long, LONG record of not answering questions has a lot of nerve making that demand.
That’s rich coming from someone who just drops the talking point and runs away. Never answered any of my questions, that’s for sure. And since when do questions like “when did you stop beating your wife?” really require a response?
but, no, it would not be appropriate. But, I’m sure you will be doing it in 30 days
and, for God’s sake — stop it, now!
Were the police called? There is a police report – show it.
Was litigation intitated. Someone was served – prove it.
Are there pictures? show them.
If this is just the delusional rantings of a cowardly congressman- man up and own that.
now seemingly gone, and the visits were mentioned in a Westword blog post.
This seems to be the only remaining video of these people at his house.
It’s a shaky excuse, seeing as how he is doing other events, but it did happen.
But if Miklosi gets to blow off events because he’s totally winning, I don’t see why Coffman doesn’t get to not schedule any. Wait, they can’t both be winning, can they? Something here is silly. And it’s lots of things.
Westword link: http://blogs.westword.com/late…
Not someone ‘hiding in the bushes.’
See, those things are different.
I did say that most of the videos have been taken down, this is just the last one standing. Westword’s quote says “staked out”, which I wouldn’t say I did if I walked up and rang a bell. Although Westword is super conservative and would totally skew things to favor Coffman, right?
Here’s a diary with a whole comment thread dedicated to it, http://www.coloradopols.com/di…
Colorado Fair Share is creepy. They were wrong. It happened. Move on.
but I can tell you I have met the staff at Fair Share. They are good people who want good government. Many of their volunteers are senior citizens who have lived in Aurora a long time and are as disgusted as anyone here that Mike Coffman pretends to be “a neighbor like the rest of us” — someone who eats in the restaurants here, walks his dog in the park, and actually lives a middle class lifestyle. They are not radicals or “creeps”, droll. When they knocked on his door, I told them I thought that was going too far. Others told them the same thing. So, they stopped.
I applaud their Fair Share’s efforts — namely, to expose Mike Coffman for what he really is — a multi-national corporate tool who spends his time flying around getting big checks from millionaires and billionaires who buy his votes with campaign donations.
You wrote that about these incidents.
This, too, about going with CFS to talk to Coffmaan: “If asked, I would have refused to approach him on his private property.”
I didn’t call anyone a radical creep. I called this behavior creepy, that’s what this particular thread is about. You think it’s wrong, but “creepy” is too far? Whatever. I’m sure it’s fine.
I meant actual you know stalking. and hiding and stuff.
The guy doesn’t make himself available- it’s cool, most elected officials are similar.
If he would actually represent me, i wouldn’t mind.
Which is super different than stalking, provided you are the police. Oh well, I guess it’s all the delusional rantings of Westword.
Is there a police report?
Cause that’s a game changer there, doc. Ya got one?
Game changer, indeed!
I shouldn’t judge your judgement of delusional rantings, you seem to know first hand. My bad.
If you’re talking about the situation in Florida, the RNC took swift action. Same in Colorado, even though no problems were alleged here.
to do the very work he was busted for before, asking him to first hide his involvement with the new company. All in critical swing states.
In CO we have video evidence of how it works on the street.
I’m talking about fraud. The real thing, not some fantasy imagineered BS. What are YOU talking about?
That registrations of people with fake information only rips off the people paying the person getting the registration. it will not be election fraud because these “votes” will never be cast. Pay attention, will you?
Fucking liar.
bottom line.
Republicans can’t afford more than a couple of paid staffers for this website?
We are less than 40 days from a presidential elections and no new writers to tickle the fancy. I can’t muster any excitement to reply to this stupid shithole. Oh for the days when clever h-man or the last true conservative to grace our presence Laughing Boy would stop by and say something that made me think instead of guffaw.
like the one Romney is pulling in Northern Virginia?
After choosing Paul “let’s just privatize Medicare – ie, kill it to save it” Ryan as running mate,
and
pissing off the hardworking voters of Pennsyltucky by acknowledging that the bailout of the auto industry was no better than a big fat welfare check
the best news is Romney talking Virgil Goode seriously.