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* UPDATED x1 * Has Rodney Davis finally met his match?

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* You’ve all heard this by now…

At a rally with former President Trump on Saturday, Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois applauded the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, saying it was a “historic victory for White life in the Supreme Court.” Her campaign immediately responded, saying it was an error and she meant to say “a historic victory for right to life by the Supreme Court.”

“Mary stumbles while saying ‘Right to Life’ and the fake news vultures are out,” her spokesperson Isaiah Wartman said in a statement to CBS News.

Wartman said Miller has the “most Pro-Life voting record in Congress” and that she is the “proud grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren” who have Down syndrome.

The explanation there ain’t great. She wasn’t talking about eugenics, necessarily, so why bring up Down syndrome? Also, she has mixed-race grandchildren.

* Austin Schick…

During her portion of the speech, Miller also took shots at Davis and at multiple times called him a “RINO,” the abbreviation for a “Republican In Name Only.”

“Rodney Davis betrayed us by supporting Red Flag laws and voting for the disgraceful Jan. 6 witch hunt commission,” Miller said.

In the hour-long speech, Trump stuck to similar talking points since losing the 2020 election. Those points included claims that the election was stolen and slamming the January 6 committee that is in the process of investigating the insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol.

“The unselect committee are pushing a fake and fabricated narrative based on doctored video lies and testimony,” Trump said. […]

“The best thing that happened about January 6 was I paid $26 for a full tank of gas,” [Bloomington resident Althea Shonn] said.

* Jason Rosenbaum and Brian Munoz at St. Louis Public Radio…

Miller’s opponent in the GOP primary, Congressman Rodney Davis, said in a statement on Sunday that the first-term congresswoman’s “comments yesterday are just another part in a disturbing pattern of behavior she’s displayed since coming to Congress.”

“This is why it’s so important to vote in our Republican Primary on Tuesday and show the country Miller’s behavior is unacceptable,” Davis said. […]

After calling him an “establishment RINO,” Miller alluded to how Davis called for Trump to withdraw in October 2020 after a tape came out showing the then-GOP presidential nominee making vulgar remarks about women.

“If Rodney Davis had gotten his way, we would have had crooked Hillary Clinton in the White House,” Miller said. “And we would have had the most leftist Supreme Court in history.” […]

During an interview earlier this month with St. Louis Public Radio, Davis criticized Miller for being inaccessible to the media and emphasized that he’s built a stronger constituent service system since coming to Congress in 2013. […]

“A lot of the constituents, 80%, know that I’m a fighter,” Davis said. “I have fought Nancy Pelosi every election cycle. … Every election cycle, it’s been a race that has been at times the No. 1 most competitive race in the nation. These are the fights I’m used to.”

Donald Trump has messed with Rodney Davis’ mojo since Day One. It’s been painful to watch. Maybe he should’ve just run against Nikki Budzinski. It woulda been a race he knew how to win.

* Scott Reeder…

“I think this is going to be a very close race,” said Mike Lawrence, former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and a longtime Illinois political observer. “I think it is significant that Trump came and campaigned for her. I’ve said all along that could make the difference.”

* Media advisory…

Congressman Rodney Davis will hold a pre-Election Day media availability this afternoon in Springfield with Sangamon County Republican leaders. Davis plans to discuss his campaign heading into Election Day tomorrow, thank Sangamon County Republican leaders for their support, and take questions from the media. Details can be found below:

WHO: Congressman Rodney Davis, Sangamon County Republican leaders
WHAT: Pre-Election Day media availability in Springfield
WHERE: Sangamon County Republican Headquarters, 1132 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, IL 62702 (across the street from the Illinois State Fairgrounds)
WHEN: 3:30pm CT, Monday, June 27, 2022
RSVP/QUESTIONS: Aaron DeGroot, cell phone: xxxxx, xxxxx@electrodney.com

Congressman Davis also plans to hold two media availabilities tomorrow in Taylorville, one at 4:00pm CT and a second one after the polls close, exact time to-be-determined. The location will have tables, chairs, and WiFi access if media would like to work from Taylorville for the duration of the evening. Final details will be sent out later today.

*** UPDATE *** Rodney Davis press release…

Mary Miller has emerged from her Biden basement strategy. During one of those incredibly rare times Miller gives an interview, she has honed in on her closing message to voters just one day before the Primary Election: “I’m not a racist.”

This morning during an interview on WMAY, Miller was asked to say what she would tell an individual who may have heard her “white life” comments and thought they were racist. Miller’s response was in part, “I’m not a racist.”

Miller caused a media firestorm yesterday after she called the Supreme Court abortion decision a “victory for white life” during a rally in Adams County. Miller claims she misspoke, but she has a history of espousing extreme rhetoric. Just two days after taking the oath of office, Miller praised Adolf Hitler in a prepared speech in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, saying Hitler’s views on indoctrinating youth should be emulated.

Miller (no relation) was asked “Are you racist?” Her reply…

It’s so ridiculous. Not one person I’ve talked to that was at the rally, or heard it on TV thinks that I didn’t, that I didn’t stumble over saying ‘right to life.’ That’s all it was. I’m not a racist. I don’t know what else to say.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:24 am

Comments

“A lot of the constituents, 80%, know that I’m a fighter,” Davis said.

Problem is, there are thousands of “new” constituents that have never had Rodney represent them. Instead of “Where’s Rodney?” of the previous 13th, he’s now, “Who’s Rodney?” in the new 15th.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:32 am
Rep. Miller hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt, but in this case, “White life” wouldn’t even make sense … Black and Hispanic people are way more likely to get abortions than white people.

Comment by natty lite Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:34 am
I wish they could just tie, then both of them go away. Glad I’m in the 13th and not the 15th.

Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:36 am
Never NOT go full Trump.

That’s the lesson of Rodney Davis? Maybe.

Also… Mary Miller is exactly who we 100% know she is, there’s zero ambiguity

Davis tried to morph into something or another where he could sleep at night, while trying to appease the cultists.

In actuality, the more Davis tried to appease, it felt like the cult was more willing to repel him, with Trump’s blessing to do so.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:36 am
“saying it was an error and she meant to say”

What’s the excuse for why the crowd was cheering at that ‘mistake’.

“She wasn’t talking about eugenics, necessarily, so why bring up Down syndrome?”

They mixed up their packaged responses. The ‘oops that was a mistake’ defense for an accidental on purpose eugenics comment wasn’t supposed to happen until after the election.

And Bob’s your uncle - We all know what Mary Miller is.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:37 am
So if Mary Miller gets indicted for her involvement with the January 6th coup attempt after the November election will Governor Pritzker be able to name her replacement?

This is a question that pragmatic party officials should have answered and should be asking every voter of that district to consider but I think we have long since moved past the rational and onto the crazy.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:39 am
==Black and Hispanic people are way more likely to get abortions than white people. ==

I wouldn’t count on her to know that.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:42 am
good god she’s an international embarrassment. I found out about her latest crazy reading the Daily Mail. Georgia has theirs, Colorado has theirs and now we have our own white supremacist female member of Congress. It’s official. we can stop saying that electing women will fix everything.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:44 am
== “White life” wouldn’t even make sense ==

Rich, I’ll leave this up to you if you allow Youtube links, but I think a lot of people need to see this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzF3gU_OXFk

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:44 am
Trading a statesman for a supremacist, tough sledding for ILGOP. Many have danced on Rodney’s political grave mostly prematurely, this one is different though. Rodney has always threaded the needle as a moderate. His hard turn to the right against Miller was weird. He never kissed the ring and now he’s bout to be taken to the mattresses.

Comment by ILLannoyed Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:45 am
==I think a lot of people need to see this==

63 already had, but what does it have to do with Mary Miller? Use your words to defend your link.

Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:49 am
Mary Miller just got endorsed by the “White Lives Matter” folks who’ve been dropping racist literature in East Central Illinois. Seems like back in the day, that would have been considered a very bad thing for a candidate, and it’s scary that it no longer is.

Comment by CU Reader Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:50 am
===“White life” wouldn’t even make sense===

All the more likely that she truly meant it.

Comment by thechampaignlife Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:51 am
==So if Mary Miller gets indicted for her involvement with the January 6th coup attempt after the November election will Governor Pritzker be able to name her replacement?==

No, it’d go to a special election. The seat would stand vacant until then.

JB would get to pick the date of the special (assuming he wins re-election).

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:55 am
=== White life ===

Freudian slip or simply incompetent reading, it’s noteworthy that neither Trump nor she gave a thought to the so-called misstatement.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:56 am
Socially DIstant Watcher

If you can’t deduce the relevance of TheInvisibleMan’s link, that really speaks more to your ability to comprehend pretty simple inferences.

To the Post: Mary Miller is another example of a self-defeating white supremacist, i.e. a person who disproves their own belief (white superiority) by their own existence (a deeply inferior person).

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:57 am
=Davis tried to morph into something or another where he could sleep at night, while trying to appease the cultists.=

Not entirely the same, but very similar to what Richard Irvin did. We’ll see if they suffer the same fate.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:58 am
===All the more likely that she truly meant it===

Meh. Watch the video. She stumbled. Shoulda fixed it in the moment, but it was a high pressure situation.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 11:59 am
===No, it’d go to a special election. The seat would stand vacant until then===

I should have made a winkie face.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:01 pm
This race has been interesting to watch. Both racing to define themselves as the most despicable.

I can’t help but think Kevin would be unhappy with a Miller win. Not only would he lose a good mouthpiece for his sham committee to attack the 1/6 Committee, but as one of the crazies she may not support his soul-selling quest to become speaker.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:03 pm
The reality of the circumstance is that Mary Miller’s own history gives little wiggle room to a reality that a person was introduced by a former POTUS, on that big stage and her words slipped to a word that clicked, even if her written words says otherwise.

Also the reality is Mary Miller is exactly who she is, slip up or not. It’s not like the slip redeemed her in her past words.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:07 pm
It may have been a gaffe, but the audience heard and applauded white lives and that’s just as telling as her gaffe.

Comment by Dankakee Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:07 pm
I’m not a Mary Miller fan, but in watching the video of the “white life” speech, it’s pretty obvious that she stumbled in speaking. I think she meant to say “right to life.” As another poster said, “white life” doesn’t make sense. She’s not a great orator. She should have correct it right then and there.

Comment by up2now Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:12 pm
- Also, she has mixed-race grandchildren. -

So does my grandmother, sadly she’s still racist. The gaffe was clearly a stumble, the explanation is a little more concerning.

Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:12 pm
I tend to agree that she didn’t mean to say it. But Mary’s whole approach to politics is “never give anyone who disagrees the benefit of the doubt,” so reap, sow, etc.

Comment by vern Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:17 pm
She probably says white so much it’s a default word when her mind blanks.

Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:27 pm
I can’t help thinking of MTG, Boobert, and Mary Miller as a right-wing version of the Squad.

Comment by MoralMinority Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:34 pm
Even if the “misspoke” excuse were true, how does that excuse the people in the crowd who cheered after she claimed a victory for white life?

Comment by wildcat12 Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:44 pm
George Wallace resurrected in drag.

Comment by vole Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Miller 56%- David 44%, Davis gets a gig with Liz doing SNL skits.

Comment by Redneck Bill Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:06 pm
Oops there it is.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:10 pm
===That’s all it was. I’m not a racist. I don’t know what else to say.===

You *can* misspeak at a rally and have very racist thoughts, or a husband who might be like 3%…

Mary Miller is exactly who she is

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:12 pm
=It may have been a gaffe, but the audience heard and applauded white lives and that’s just as telling as her gaffe.=

It is Mendon, they don’t even try to hide it.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:22 pm
-Not one person I’ve talked to that was at the rally, or heard it on TV thinks that I didn’t, that I didn’t stumble over saying ‘right to life.’-

The people who cheered it didn’t. You could have corrected them. Then they would have booed you.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:29 pm
White life. Elmer Fudd or Sigmund Freud?

Comment by Big Rocker Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:30 pm
Davis’s very own spokesman misspeaks—even when he writes! Aaron de Groot writes in first sentence about “she has honed in on her closing message to voters”. It’s HOME IN. Ask the Ghost of Kiev or Adam Kinzinger, lol.

Comment by Pungent Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 1:39 pm
Here I sit in Effingham County, and tomorrow I can pull a GOP ballot and be able to vote for Mike Bost unopposed, or I can ask for a Demo ballot and have a choice of two candidates I’d never heard of before I looked at a specimen ballot. Why does the 15th Congressional District get all the fun?

Comment by up2now Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 2:31 pm
It’d be interesting to see how many Dems will be motivated to pull a GOP ballot tomorrow after Miller’s “white life” comment. After all, there’s nothing to lose in the Dem primary besides a competitive SOS election with baggage ridden candidates.

Comment by Voting2022 Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 2:48 pm
===It’d be interesting to see how many Dems will be motivated to pull a GOP ballot tomorrow after Miller’s “white life” comment.===

Not many. That’s not how it works in any big/small capacity

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 2:53 pm
= Not many. That’s not how it works in any big/small capacity=

In a razor thin election and Davis wins, it would have made all the difference.

Comment by Voting2022 Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:41 pm
=== In a razor thin election and Davis wins, it would have made all the difference.===

This isn’t a dorm room, I have no idea what this even means.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:44 pm
===In a razor thin election===

Yeah, I’m thinking that may not be the case.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:46 pm
===may not be the case.===

That’s the direct response. I didn’t feel compelled to…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:54 pm
“Donald Trump has messed with Rodney Davis’ mojo since Day One. It’s been painful to watch. Maybe he should’ve just run against Nikki Budzinski. It woulda been a race he knew how to win”

My thoughts exactly….

Comment by Gordon Willis Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:39 pm
I won’t be pulling a Republican ballot tomorrow. Rodney can have whatever is coming to him. He’s earned it.

Comment by historic66 Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 5:39 pm