Illinois congresswoman condemned for Hitler remark before DC rioting
(The Center Square) – Illinois’ newest member of Congress faces widespread backlash after quoting Nazi leader Adolf Hitler at a political rally Tuesday before violence broke out Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, who represents the 15th Congressional district in southeastern Illinois, addressed a crowd at the “Moms for America” rally. She said: “Hitler was right on one thing, whoever has the youth has the future.”
Miller was in Washington D.C. to contest the election results before rioting and looting broke out at the Capitol building. Miller eventually voted in favor of objecting to the results from Arizona.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish, did not hold back when addressing the comments at a COVID-19 news conference on Wednesday.
“Let me be clear, Hitler got nothing right,” Pritzker said. “This reprehensible rhetoric has no place in our politics.”
Pritzker said Miller needed to visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider, who announced last month that he is stepping down, said Miller’s comments were “disgusting.”
“That language is wrong and disgusting,” he said. “We urge Congresswoman Miller to apologize.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, said “invoking (Hitler’s) name in this or any other context is widely offensive and disrespects the millions who perished due to the Nazi’s hateful, genocidal regime.”
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll of Northbrook also condemned Miller’s statements.
“I’m in complete shock that our newest Congresswoman from Illinois would quote one of the worst monsters in our world’s history,” Carroll said. “Maybe she should educate herself as to the context of that quote and how hurtful this is to my community and the impact of Hitler’s efforts.”
Miller easily won the November race for the 15th Congressional District vacated by retiring state Rep. John Shimkus and vowed to stand with President Donald Trump by objecting to what she calls “the tainted election results.”
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