Just when you may have thought that the low quality of political rhetoric in Washington could not get any worse, along comes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, to prove otherwise.
At a pro-choice demonstration outside the Supreme Court, which is considering a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, Schumer delivered what sounded to many ears like a physical threat to two of the court’s conservative justices: “I want to tell you, (Neil) Gorsuch, I want to tell you, (Brett) Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price.”
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement in which he said of Schumer’s comments: “Statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous.” Schumer responded that Roberts is “biased.”
After heavy criticism, including denunciations from liberals such as Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, who called Schumer’s comments “inexcusable,” Schumer took to the Senate floor and offered a wimpy nonapology: “I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They did not come out the way I intended I’m from Brooklyn. We use strong language.” He added he was in “no way” threatening the justices. He later “explained” he was talking about the price Republicans will pay at the polls if Gorsuch and Kavanaugh vote to uphold the Louisiana law.
The left regularly reminds us that words have consequences. They regularly condemn speech from conservative talk radio hosts they claim contributes to everything from racism to violence. But when they spew incendiary language it is fine with their fellow ideological travelers and much of the media. It’s good to be a Democrat.