Subject: Did you see this?
From: "Rick Hegdahl" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:58:24 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Hunter, 

Did you see this? Unbelieveable. Rep. Mike Coffman is an extremist who is using his Veterans status to smear the Commander-in-Chief. Veterans know that American exceptionalism means holding ourselves to a higher standard, and that President Obama knows the same. Will you sign our petition calling on Rep. Coffman to end these smears? We need Rep. Coffman to know that if he believes in American exceptionalism, he should start leading by example. 

*Click here to add your name to the petition!* [ http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10734&tag=Coffman2 ] 

Sincerely, 

Rick Hegdahl
OIF Veteran
Outreach Director, VoteVets.org 

votevets.org [ http://www.votevets.org/ ] About [ http://www.votevets.org/about/ ] | Our Candidates [ http://www.votevets.org/candidates/ ] 

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
 
 [ http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10734&tag=Coffman2 ]Shocking and disgusting. Those are the only words I can think of for Rep. Mike Coffman's comments that came out last night, about President Obama. At a recent fundraiser, the Colorado Congressman said, "I don't know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. I don't know that. But I do know this, that in his heart, he's not an American. He's just not an American."
 
*SIGN OUR PETITION TO CONGRESSMAN COFFMAN, HERE* [ http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10734&tag=Coffman2 ]
 
Given the chance to apologize, the Congressman did – kind of.
 
"I misspoke and I apologize," he said in a statement, saying he does believe the President was born in America. "I don't believe the president shares my belief in American Exceptionalism. His policies reflect a philosophy that America is but one nation among many equals. As a Marine, I believe America, is unique and based on a core set of principles that make it superior to other nations." 

As a fellow Veteran, I can say all of us believe in American exceptionalism. As someone who served under President Obama as my Commander in Chief, I can say without a doubt, that his policies also reflect a belief in America's exceptionalism and leadership – most importantly, our ability to lead by example. That includes showing respect for other countries, cultures and religions, building alliances when we can, but also striking at those who do us harm – like Osama bin Laden. 

What undermines American exceptionalism, are comments like the Congressman made. They undermine our politics and our democracy - the very foundation of what makes America great. For him to do that while invoking his Veteran status as a defense is disgusting. And it must stop. 

*CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR PETITION TO CONGRESSMAN COFFMAN, HERE* [ http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10734&tag=Coffman2 ] 

Sign our petition above to the Congressman, calling on him to stop using his status as a Veteran to launch gutter political shots at the Commander in Chief. We need to stand up to this kind of politics, and let him know that if he truly believes in American exceptionalism, then he should start by leading by example, when it comes to our democracy and political debate.

_________________________________________

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