Will Colorado's 6th CD Put Up With An Extremist Congressman Who Insists The President "Is Not An American?"

When far right extremist Mike Coffman picked up the mantle of racism and bigotry from longtime congressman Tom Tancredo and took over his seat in Congress, the 6th district was pretty rural and filled with an awful lot of primitive folks who get all their information from Fox and Hate Talk Radio. A typical political discussion Elbert County-- where Coffman won 80% of the vote in 2010-- might be between people arguing if Limbaugh is as conservative as Glenn Beck or Michael Savage or about how Obama hasn't confiscated their guns yet so he could win reelection and then confiscate their guns. The county is 95.22% white and the median family income is $66,740. It's the most right-wing part of the 6th district and it consistently skewers the election results towards Republicans. President Obama won Colorado in 2008 with 54% of the vote. He took 46% in the 6th district, his second-worst performing in the state. And in Elbert-- a mere 29%! They don't cotton to even moderately progressive ideas there-- and they don't cotton to black people. This year Colorado has been redistricted and the 6th is now officially a swing district with equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats and independents. Had Obama and McCain run inside these new boundaries in 2008, it wouldn't have been a 53-46% win for McCain. It would have been a 54-45% win for Obama.

So, of course, when deranged wingnut Mike Coffman decided to send a message to the storm troopers on the far right, he goose-stepped right down to Elbert County and made his crackpot speech about how President Obama isn't an American. Watch the video up top. It will give you some valuable insight not just about what Coffman said, but about the character of this man and about how cowardly and craven he is as a human being.

We first introduced DWT readers to Coffman's opponent, state Rep. Joe Miklosi, last October. At the time Joe told us why he had decided to take on Coffman and run for Congress and how he had "spent the last decade fighting to promote progressive values in Colorado. We’ve stood steadfast with those who are squeezed between Wall Street elites and an unresponsive government bureaucracy. Our dedication to individual empowerment and our commitment to fairness is reflected in a bluer Colorado... In 2004, I served as the Executive Director for the House Majority Project that won control of the State House for the first time in 40 years. In 2008, I became a candidate myself and was elected and re-elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives. Because of our progressive success, Colorado is stronger, more vibrant, and more livable. While keeping our state budget fiscally sound, our continued support for industries such as renewable energy and biotechnology has resulted in 5,000 new companies. Due to progressive leadership, 13,500 low-income children now receive school breakfast so they can focus their energy on learning instead of when and where they’ll have their next meal. We must continue to advance these progressive values. That is why I sponsored the Colorado Dream Act." But the social issues, for all their importance, isn't the main thing Miklosi is challenging Coffman on.

Energy policy is one of the most important issues in this campaign. The next time you hear the chant "Drill Baby Drill!” I hope you will join me with the call to “Build Baby Build!”

We must build an energy infrastructure for the next generation. We can put thousands of Americans to work building a world class energy grid, clean and renewable energy production, and energy efficient products for our daily lives.

Our dependence on foreign oil has been a defining issue since the 1970s, and our leaders are defined by their failure to act boldly. We cannot truly empower individuals if we are collectively held hostage by foreign energy. Foreign control of energy prices disrupts businesses and families, stagnates economic growth, and undermines cleaner, renewable energy industries.

The billions of dollars we lose each year are directly tied to our staggering trade deficits. Energy independence is both an economic empowerment and national security issue.

After that guest post, the redistricting ended and it became clear that the 6th CD would be a winnable race for a progressive Democrat with a record like Joe's. Blue America endorsed him and, eventually, even the DCCC came to the party. He's one of the only progressives they've given the nod to this year, among the trash heap of conservative and anti-Choice, anti-LGBT, anti-family garbage at the center of their efforts. Today you can find Joe Miklosi on the Blue America ActBlue page. I suspect that the reason Joe made it onto the Red-to-Blue program is because he is being heavily championed by progressive Boulder Congressman Jared Polis. Joe is a movement progressive and he's been getting support from NARAL, the League of Conservation Voters, DFA, Peace Action West, and other groups concerned with the issues and values that motivate progressives.