Why can't Cory Gardner say what he means?

Earlier this week State Representative and GOP 4th CD candidate Cory Gardner was asked if he thought President Obama was a U.S. Citizen. Gardner's response was, "the administration is trying to say he was born in this country." Beyond that Gardner wouldn't denounce the birther movement saying only, ""we can't disrespect people for having a different opinion."

Classy.

On Thursday Gardner tried to walk that back... a little. Here's today's Post,

State Rep. Cory Gardner indicated Thursday that he does think President Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen, despite his ambiguous comments at a public meeting this week.

Got that? Gardner indicated that the president is a U.S. citizen. Gardner won't actually say that he's a U.S. citizen, only indicate it.

And what did Gardner say,

"He's president of the United States," he said Thursday. "I'm saying that the best investigators were thrown at it."

What does that even mean? Why can't Cory Gardner answer a very simple and straightforward question? I don't understand why this is so difficult for him. If he believes the president is not a U.S. citizen he should just say so, instead he hedges his bets here. His hope is that he looks less like a right-wing loon to the press and general public without offending his base of right-wing loons.

I've been told for sometime that Gardner doesn't actually believe most of the right-wing claptrap that comes out of his mouth, that he's merely playing to the rubes in the base of his party. I have no idea what Cory Gardner really believes but then again, apparently neither does Cory Gardner.