“I sincerely apologize for any damage my words have done,” said the freshman Congresswoman in a
Friday statement. “And I regret using a reference to one of the most wicked dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth.”
Miller made reference to Hitler during a “Save the Republic” rally on Tuesday in Washington, DC, organized by the conservative group Moms for America. His appearance at the rally came as protesters gathered in Washington in support of President Donald Trump. The following day, a mob violently invaded the U.S. Capitol while members of Congress counted electoral votes to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump.
“Each generation has a responsibility to teach and train the next generation. You know that if we win some elections, we will still be losing, unless we win the hearts and minds of our children. This is the battle. Hitler was right in one He said, ‘Whoever has youth has a future.’ Our children are being advertised, “said Miller, seeming to read prepared comments.
Miller’s comments met with rapid reaction.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat who is also a Jew, told reporters on Wednesday that Miller’s comments were “disgusting” and “reprehensible”. He suggested that Miller visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center “to find out how wrong Hitler was.”
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement that it “unequivocally condemns any leader who attempts to advance a position on the grounds that Adolf Hitler was ‘right'”, while Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said he invoked the name Hitler’s “in this or any other context is extremely offensive” and “disrespects the millions who died due to the odious genocidal regime of the Nazis”.
Miller’s Democratic congressmen in Miller’s home state asked the lawmaker, who had sworn a few days before her controversial statements, to step down from her House seat.
“It is absolutely disgusting, obscene and unacceptable for any American – let alone an alleged ‘leader’ serving in Congress – to claim that Adolf Hitler was right about anything,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth in a statement on Thursday, adding that Miller’s comments are “disqualifying for an elected American official”.
Deputy Jan Schakowsky, a member of the House leadership and a Jewish congresswoman, adhered to Duckworth’s appeal, having led a group of House Democrats the day before, condemning Miller’s comments as “disgusting” and demanding that she apologize.
Democratic representatives Robin Kelly, Sean Casten and Marie Newman are among those who have called for Miller to step down.
Republican Chamber Adam Kinzinger
denounced comments as “trash”.
Facing the blowback, Miller said in her Friday statement that “some are intentionally trying to twist my words into something contrary to my beliefs” and said she is “passionately pro-Israel” and “will always be a strong supporter and ally of the Jewish community. ” That statement had followed
a tweet from her office, which said the congresswoman’s statement was “a denunciation of the efforts of the dictators of evil to re-educate young people and similar efforts by the radicals of the left in our country today.”
CNN contacted Miller’s office for further comments.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Moms for America said Miller’s statement was “being taken out of context and used as a weapon against her”. They reiterated their support for Miller and they kept their statements and encouraged people to listen to all of Miller’s speech.
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