October 01, 2012 04:50 PM UTC

One of the Dumbest Things We've Ever Read. Seriously.

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• by: Colorado Pols

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.