Attorney General Tom Miller has just offered a public commentary on the 2010 election. Miller, a Democrat, won a seventh term as Iowa attorney general.  

“It was a great victory,” Miller said earlier today. “We didn’t comprehend it or celebrate it on election night because so many of our friends were losing, but I am deeply indebted to the voters of Iowa.”

This morning Miller took the oath of office for his new, four-year term as Iowa’s attorney general and he was given a chance to speak to the crowd. After thanking his family and staff, Miller began by talking about how difficult 2010 was for incumbent Democrats.

“It was a year in which outside groups spent more than $1.6 million to defeat me, but it was also a year when the voters stuck with me in spectacular fashion,” Miller said. “To win by 12 percent in this kind of year is truly remarkable and I am incredibly appreciative to the voters of Iowa for that.”

Miller called for new disclosure rules which would require nearly-immediate public disclosure of the individuals and groups who are donating to campaigns in Iowa.  As Miller stood in the center of the Iowa Supreme Court’s chamber, he cited the “outside” money spent this past year to defeat the three Iowa Supreme Court justices.

“That is not a good development in American politics, in my view,” Miller said.

According to Miller, there’s too much focus in politics on the demands of special interests, on partisanship and on “rigid” ideology. “There is so much frustration with the political process,” Miller said. “And the political process has gotten off track in Washington and in the states.” 

Miller offered a prescription, suggesting politicians should put the needs of “ordinary people” above party, ideology and special interests.

Listen to Miller’s entire speech here: Miller 6:00 MP3