DeLay threatens judges

Tom DeLay released the following statement upon the death of Terri Schiavo:

Mrs. Schiavo’s death is a moral poverty and a legal tragedy. This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change. The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today. Today we grieve, we pray, and we hope to God this fate never befalls another. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Schindlers and with Terri Schiavo’s friends in this time of deep sorrow. [Emphasis added.]

Via Think Progress.

And Shakes gives Ted Kennedy his props this brave rejoinder:

Mr. DeLay's comments today were irresponsible and reprehensible. I'm not sure what Mr. DeLay meant when he said 'the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior.' But at a time when emotions are running high, Mr. DeLay needs to make clear that he is not advocating violence against anyone ... it is time for mourning and healing not for more inflammatory rhetoric, and responsible national leaders should understand that and stop this exploitation.

Comments

[Darryl Pearce]

Tom Delay said, ""The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today."

Where have I heard that speech before?

[Jesse M.]

Interpreted "charitably", maybe he just meant they'd answer for it after they die...if Chick tracts have taught me anything, it's that these guys are gonna BURN!!! Of course, being a Catholic, so will Terri...

[Amanda]

I thought he was damning us all to hell, but you probably have a better take on it.

[David]

He's giving the Lone Wolves their marching orders.

[graefix]

Going conspicuously without mention are the thoughts and prayers for Michael Schiavo.

I interpreted this statement as a warning that God would send all those judges (and Michael) to hell. I hope it's nothing more than that and that David is wrong.

[Shakespeare's Sister]

Thank you for the link.

I thought he was damning us all to hell, but you probably have a better take on it.

Amanda, I thought the same thing, but as I mentioned in one of my posts, just like his president, he’s good at doublespeak. It was to be sure a thinly veiled incitement to those who have dedicated the most recent shard of their fractured lives to the cause he championed--not saving Terri’s life, but turning her into an icon, the holy woman-child of the culture of life movement. Your work isn’t done, Father DeLay assures them. There are those who need to pay, and it’s up to you to collect the fee.

Which certainly doesn't preclude the possibility you posed that this is all a red herring to pull attention away from their attempts to eradicate the filibuster.

[Mrs. Coulter]

I also interpreted this as a reference to Judgment Day, which is Coming Real Soon, don't you know? Of course, that doesn't preclude some nut-job deciding to act as God's instrument of judgment...

[Erik]

Glad I came back to read comments ... I've seen no blogger recognize that DeLay was speaking in real Job-and-wrath-of-the-LORD language, which he obviously was.