I really do not understand US Rep. Mary Miller
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Belleville News-Democrat…
A southern Illinois congresswoman voted against honoring police who protected the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, was one of 21 House Republicans who voted against the bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers, while 406 members of congress voted in favor of it.
Miller’s office did not return a request for comment Tuesday evening. […]
A violent mob forced its way into the Capitol building in January, sending members of Congress into hiding as the insurrectionists vandalized and looted the building.
Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of injuries from the riot. Capitol officer Howard Liebengood and D.C. officer Jeffrey Smith also died days after the insurrection. The bill honors them and other officers, including Capitol officer Eugene Goodman, who diverted rioters away from Senate chambers.
* Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association President Kristina Zahorik…
“Illinois continues to suffer embarrassment from the actions and comments of Mary Miller, now because she does not support honoring the heroes who defended our nation’s Capitol. 406 of her colleagues joined the bi-partisan vote and just 21 House Republicans, included Mary Miller, voted no.”
“Quoting Hitler, voting against certifying Electoral College votes, and now thumbing your nose at the officers who died and protected you and other members of Congress — Mary Miller, explain yourself, please.”
She really does need to explain herself. And maybe stop hanging out with this crowd…
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:29 am:
Illinois is not sending its best…
- The Ford Lawyer - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:29 am:
Thanks to redistricting, it looks like this critter is going to be my Congresscritter. Thing is, there are plenty of people here, even Republicans, who think she is just too extreme. If only someone with some stature would run against her.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:30 am:
The idea that Rodney Davis is afraid to take on Mary Miller *and* that Mary Miller is in position to stay elected is a great example of the racism, conspiracy theorists, and in this specific instance… embracing the insurrectionists… by refusing to see who the heroes of January 6th were.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:33 am:
From what I’ve read, the Republicans who voted against this claim they don’t like the fact that the resolution uses the word “insurrection” to describe the events of Jan. 6. Because, you know, these were just a bunch of regular tourists.
- Jonny B. Goode - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:36 am:
Her actions continue to be highly questionable, if not bizarre.
However, the author of the BND story writes:
“Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of injuries from the riot.”
At this point, it has been well established by investigators, legislative inquiry and mainstream media sources that Ofc. Sicknick’s tragic death was not a result of injuries inflicted by rioters. Let’s get the facts straight, so as not to call the rest of the story into question.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:38 am:
Pure speculation on my part but this seems to fit with the narrative of a small number of Republicans that what happened on 1/6 was nothing more than a peaceful protest.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:40 am:
Most of my thoughts about her are uncivil and would be better made via profanity.
So I will say that my decision to disengage with GOP politics in this state and in general is reinforced by people with her viewpoint.
The think I always wonder if this performance art by folks like her to get elected or do they truly see the world this way. Either way it is sad.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:40 am:
Most of my thoughts about her are uncivil and would be better made via profanity.
So I will say that my decision to disengage with GOP politics in this state and in general is reinforced by people with her viewpoint.
The think I always wonder if this performance art by folks like her to get elected or do they truly see the world this way. Either way it is sad.
- Hot Taeks - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:41 am:
The irony of her being a Freedom Caucus member is that she displays no freewill in how she votes. Always goes along with what her fellow Loonies decide to do.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:43 am:
So much for the GQP law and order and back the blue stuff I guess.
She is embarrassing.
- ChicagoVinny - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:44 am:
She’s firmly established herself in the insurrectionist caucus.
- Glengarry - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:45 am:
There’s nothing to understand. She is who she is.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:45 am:
With regard to the picture- I guess we know where the Village Idiot Conference was held.
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:46 am:
Since her husband was hanging out with the “peaceful protesters,” she must have felt that a vote in support of police protection was a vote against her own husband, you know, the three-percenter decal lover.
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:48 am:
=She really does need to explain herself. And maybe stop hanging out with this crowd…=
Technically yes, but that crowd is her people. She is who she is.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:48 am:
And she will be at her church Sunday making sure everyone knows she is the only thing standing between them and Gay Spanish Speaking Muslims from forcing Sharia law on the 15th District and taking their guns away.
And the voters in her district will buy it hook line and sinker.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:49 am:
“U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, was one of 21 House Republicans who voted against the bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers”
The extreme “law and order” crowd is against law and order. Surprising (not). Many cops and soldiers were allegedly among the insurrectionists. Fascism involves worship of military and police—using them to try to violently overthrow democracy.
- AttisLady - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:49 am:
So much for #BacktheBlue
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:49 am:
Indeed.
It is another instance of when someone tells you who they are… believe them.
To - OneMan -, bud…
My respect for you continued to grow and your rational and honest thoughts to everything these past couple years and the pandemic, it’s heartening to know rational people exist that once were “Republicans” see what has been lost these past years.
Until the Illinois Republican Party denounces Mary Miller and not be “disappointed” with Adam Kinzinger… the party can’t be considered a statewide party. Can’t. Impossible. No.
Be well, - OneMan -
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:49 am:
I can never take a “moderate” Illinois Republican seriously again, because they ignore the actions of people like Rep. Miller under their big tent. Unless someone is willing to stand up against this, they might as well be standing next to her at that podium.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:52 am:
You get what you vote for.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:57 am:
“and maybe stop hanging out with this crowd”
Please. She knows her base.
Over/under she tops her 2020 result of 73%?
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 9:57 am:
Can anyone prove Officer Sicknick’s strokes the day after he was attacked weren’t caused by the seditionists? Jonny? Anyone?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:00 am:
===but that crowd is her people===
That crowd is a bunch of DC publicity hounds and mopes. She may be drinking a weird flavor of Potomac water, but she’s clearly gone all-in on DC culture and is enamored with the spotlight.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:07 am:
I don’t know why we are pretending to not know what she is.
It’s not really a secret she wants a religious ethno-state, and she will do whatever she can to make that happen, including embracing fascism.
- 62468 - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:08 am:
When can one expect react from state and national law enforcement groups?
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:14 am:
—Can anyone prove Officer Sicknick’s strokes the day after he was attacked weren’t caused by the seditionists? Jonny? Anyone?—
In a court of law I suspect it would be easy to prove “but for causation” here. But for the attack he would still be here.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:16 am:
=== She really does need to explain herself. And maybe stop hanging out with this crowd…===
Rich is spot on. You can’t be who she is with these choices and not have to explain.
And to be fair too, I don’t understand her, insofar how can one choose what she’s become and where she sees herself at present and in the future, and to drill down further… how can Mary Miller see herself “backing the blue” unless Mary Miller sees backing the blue in honest concert with racism and conspiracy theories and those police who fought the insurrection are not who Mary Miller sees as real police?
It’s fair and honest, I don’t understand either.
- up2now - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:17 am:
We have representative government, and Mary Miller represents the 15th Congressional District pretty accurately. Mencken: “People deserve the government they get, and they deserve to get it good and hard.”
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:21 am:
Understanding Mary Miller?
A potentially interesting project
A bigot generally does a lot of erratic stuff
Is that enough?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:22 am:
=It’s not really a secret she wants a religious ethno-state, and she will do whatever she can to make that happen, including embracing fascism.=
Spot on. I suspect this applies to a significant portion of the new. GQP.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:32 am:
===but she’s clearly gone all-in on DC culture and is enamored with the spotlight. ===
I think there is a special risk to treating this like a normal behavior. This is how people get caught off guard by the leaders they don’t take seriously mounting a coup whose threat they didn’t take seriously and then being surprised when the security apparatus that they expected to be in place for such an event did not respond.
January 6th is the only warning shot we’ll get. Next time we may not be so lucky that the insurrectionists failed to capitalize on their successes when they occurred to achieve what their aim was.
Mary Miller was involved in the rally. Mary Miller’s husband is involved with one of the terrorist groups that participated. She’s not just suddenly enamored with the spotlight, she’s actively involved in this anti-democratic movement.
The fact that this anti-American and anti-democratic movement is giving her attention and elevating her on the national stage might just encourage her involvement, and feed her ego, but it’s also making it very clear that if she has any interest in having undue power — she’s going to find that power through this process.
It just makes her and those like her more dangerous, and meanwhile here at home her husband Republican colleagues won’t vote to condemn his words and actions.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:34 am:
Don’t think her stances are the right ones to take as a public servant, ethical human, or member of the reality-based community.
But as political tactics? I totally get it. She won’t be outflanked on the right by anybody in her GOP primary when the new maps are drawn.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:37 am:
===But as political tactics? I totally get it===
Only if you believe a slide into fascism is a legit campaign tactic.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:44 am:
===Only if you believe a slide into fascism is a legit campaign tactic. ===
That’s generally the problem with fascists.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:49 am:
I wish I could say I don’t understand. My problem is that I’m having trouble coping with the wholesale acceptance of the Millers by so large a segment of our society. If things don’t change, our democracy will not last.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:53 am:
=I can never take a “moderate” Illinois Republican seriously again, because they ignore the actions of people like Rep. Miller under their big tent. Unless someone is willing to stand up against this, they might as well be standing next to her at that podium.=
This is spot on. If they can’t stand up, condemn this AND say out loud that Biden is the legitimately elected President of the United States, then they are all Mary Miller.
- Incandenza - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:53 am:
== Only if you believe a slide into fascism is a legit campaign tactic. ==
Most of the GOP is fine with a slide into fascism so long as they are the ones in power. They are gearing up across the country in many state legislatures to have the ability to overturn the presidential election
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:57 am:
A Hitler quoting Congressperson that is cool with the overthrow of the government. There really isn’t much more to understand.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:59 am:
=This is how people get caught off guard by the leaders they don’t take seriously mounting a coup whose threat they didn’t take seriously and then being surprised when the security apparatus that they expected to be in place for such an event did not respond.=
This is true in an almost absolute sense.
People no longer pay attention to history, and fascists ALWAYS wrap themselves in the flag and patriotic slogans.
Every fascist of he last century has come to power through a gradual process rather than a single act. Go and read the stories, they always signal their intent by their actions even when their words are full of patriotic platitudes and promises to save the country.
And they build a cult of personality.
Sound familiar?
This is how it happens every single time, but we ignore history every time.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 11:01 am:
Almost makes you miss Shimkus…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 11:33 am:
notice that across the nation, the far right, Trumpers, are doubling down. the harassment of elections officials, the ignorance about the insurrection/treason of Jan. 6 SUPPORTED BY PUTIN, they are all about justifying the actions/opinions to move in any way they can to get back to power….election 2022, very important.
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 11:43 am:
The threads of our democracy are being pulled at little by little each day.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 1:11 pm:
There is an unavoidable fight coming.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 1:43 pm:
Mary Miller’s Twitter page is a hoot to read. Too bad she does not engage with the responses.
- OurMagician - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 1:45 pm:
Back The Blue, right Mary?
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 1:57 pm:
It doesn’t happen in one fell swoop…inch by inch…step by step…they will not stop attacking democracy of their own volition…beware.
The defense of democracy is every American’s duty…and privilege.
Get ready to defend your Country.
- don the legend - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
According to the Daily Yonder: In 2016, 62% of voters lived in a county either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump won by 20 percentage points or more. This year, 58.2% of voters lived in one of these landslide counties.
Trumpster insurrectionists like Mary Miller have nothing to answer for. They are exactly like the large majority of their constituents.
- filmmaker prof - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 3:53 pm:
“January 6th is the only warning shot we’ll get.”
This. Restaurant quality as people here like to say.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 4:57 pm:
—Almost makes you miss Shimkus—
Who knew sane and competent was such a high bar?
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 8:39 pm:
This is the only warning shot we’ll get. Oh please, take off your tin foil hat and put your dog whistle down.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 8:47 pm:
=== This is the only warning shot we’ll get. Oh please, take off your tin foil hat and put your dog whistle down.===
Those unwilling to see insurrection or those in Congress who are not bothered by insurrectionists… probably the same people Mary Miller counts on supporting her.
- Coco - Wednesday, Jun 16, 21 @ 10:17 pm:
Someone at the BND needs a geography lesson. I’m not a fan of Mary Miller, but it’s odd they referred to Oakland, IL which is southeast of Decatur as being in southern Illinois. I live in southern Illinois. Oakland is nowhere near here.