From today’s New York Post:

Cheney said he backed efforts to help save Terri Schiavo’s life, but strongly disagreed with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who wants retribution against judges who blocked restoration of her feeding tube.

“I don’t think that’s appropriate . . . There’s a reason why judges get lifetime appointments.”

Rule of Thumb: If Cheney says you’ve gone over the line, you’ve gone way over the line. (Hat Tip: Armando)

On Thursday, responding to Terri Schiavo’s death, Tom DeLay said:

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

For the safety of the state and federal judges involved, Sen. Ted Kennedy asked DeLay to clarify his remarks:

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. People in this case have already had their lives threatened. In just the past few weeks, judges and their families in this country have been brutally murdered.

DeLay refuses to do so. In today’s New York Times, DeLay spokesman Dan Allen says:

Objective observers know that Majority Leader DeLay was once again expressing his disappointment in how the courts clearly ignored the intent of the legislation that was passed. To suggest otherwise is simply obscene.

Allen’s comments do not address, explain or clarify what DeLay meant when he said “the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior.” Specifically, who are “the men responsible”? And in what way will they “answer for their behavior”?

Moreover, DeLay intentionally passed on the opportunity to state unequivocally that he is not advocating violence. As a result, he continues to put Judge George Greer, several federal judges and Michael Schiavo at risk.