Politics
Rep. Gary Miller's outtakes create hilarity
Outtakes from a campaign video shoot with Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, recently made their way onto the Internet and Democratic Congressional candidate Pete Aguilar pounced. The Redlands mayor's campaign put together a video that portrays Miller as aloof and not in touch with San Bernardino County.
- "It shows a guy who is out of touch after years in Washington and who is making fun of what it takes to connect to folks," Doug Herman, a spokesman for the Aguilar campaign, told media members. “His image is contrived to what he thinks it should be, not who he really is.’’ Aguilar's campaign shared the video on Monday.
- The video almost immediately got the political world buzzing. Blogs, websites and other forums shared it and the reaction could be described as impressed amusement.
- This. Is. Awkward. Outtakes of Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) filming campaign ad posted online bit.ly/LuQkZO
- Classic! RT @ShaneGoldmacher: This. Is. Awkward. Outtakes of Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) filming campaign ad posted online bit.ly/LuQkZO
- Amazing #CA31 MT @ShaneGoldmacher Outtakes of Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) filming campaign ad posted online hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2012/…
- Herman told media members that the outtakes were found on the YouTube channel of political firm Revolvis Consulting and they were publicly available. The videos have since been removed from public viewing.
- Pro Tip for @Revolvis: upload to "private" next time @ShaneGoldmacher Outtakes of Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) filming campaign ad posted online.
- Miller's camp did not ignore the video as it was soon featured on the lawmaker's re-election website, www.GaryMillerforCongress.com. On the website, campaign manager Chris Marsh wrote, "You should have seen some of the ones that weren't in the outtakes! It was a lot of fun making the videos, and even funnier when we got a chance to see them, like the outtakes at the end of a Jackie Chan movie. We learned two things: 1) never film near an airport and, 2) always read what the technician loads in to the teleprompter before you go live! I wonder if we need to declare an in kind donation to the Aguilar campaign for this?? Thanks Pete!”
- Jiu-jitsu or just odd? Rep. Gary Miller posts these outtakes (bit.ly/LuQkZO) on his own campaign homepage (garymillerforcongress.com)
- Marsh continued "Miller has represented San Bernardino County for the past 14 years as a member of Congress. Gary Miller does not live in Orange County currently nor has he ever lived in Orange County throughout his 23 years of elected service. He is registered to vote in the new 31st Congressional District."
- But, as is the case with so many things that go viral, others had their own ideas about what to do with the video's content. American Bridge 21st Century -- a super PAC that focuses on election-oriented research and fresh off a $1 million donation from financier George Soros -- decided to create their own attack ad with Miller's outtakes. The production likely resonated with many San Bernardino County voters. The Super PAC asked viewers to check out Miller "reacting to questions about his ethical lapses and shady real estate deals."
- The California Citizens Redistricting Commission last summer redrew the boundaries for political districts in the Golden State. The changes left Miller without a natural district to call home. Since 2003, the lawmaker has mostly represented Orange County cities in the House of Representatives, but to continue to represent the region, he would have had to challenge fellow Republican Rep. Ed Royce in the 29th Congressional District. Miller instead decided to head east and run for the 31st Congressional District seat.
- The 31st District includes a portion of Rancho Cucamonga and Upland as well as San Bernardino, Rialto, Redlands and Colton. Despite a barrage of mailers that Miller's campaign has sent to constituents in the 31st (thanks to a $1 million campaign war chest), the lawmaker has continued to be accused of being a carpetbagger. The drumbeat of criticism has been consistent in recent months and led up to the release of the video by Aguilar's campaign.
- San Bernardino County primary voters on June 5 will head to the polls. They will be able to cast ballots in Congressional District 31 for not only Miller or Aguilar, but also state Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga as well as Democratic candidates Renea Wickman, a former nonprofit director from Redlands; Justin Kim, a Loma Linda resident and a former congressional counsel; and Rita Ramirez-Dean, a Copper Mountain Community College trustee and an educator. The top two vote-getters will face each other in November.
- For a preview on the race, check out the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin's report at http://bit.ly/LdM0ID.
Share this Storify report by using the hashtag #millervideo.








