Senator Mitch McConnell called Chuck Schumer’s threats towards Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh “unhinged and shameful.” Yet people on the left AND the right are attempting to pass it off as something said in the heat of the moment.

Congressman Steve Scalise, who knows what dangerous rhetoric can lead to, responded to Schumer’s threats.

https://twitter.com/SteveScalise/status/1235299202542063616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1235299202542063616&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2020%2F03%2Fschuminations-threatening-gorsuch-kavanaugh.php

Watch it again. Specifically watch Schumer’s face. Now read the exact quote.

““They’re taking away fundamental rights,” he said. “I want to tell you Gorsuch, I want to tell you Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.””

Yes folks, he meant what he said. There is no way that his threats can be construed any other way but as an effort to influence the Supreme Court on behalf of abortion rights.

His spokesperson made a valiant attempt to deflect.

““a reference to the political price Senate Republican will pay for putting these justices on the court, and a warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision.”

“For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said, while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices [Sonia] Sotomayor and [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes,” he said.”

Again, Chuck Schumer SPECIFICALLY named Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh in his remarks. However, lots of folks on the left tried the ‘but Trump did it too!’ gambit. But did President Trump THREATEN a sitting Supreme Court Justice? No. He suggested that Sotomayer and Ginsburg RECUSE themselves.

Chief Justice Roberts rebuked Chuck Schumer for his threats. As did President Trump. 

Again, read Chuck’s remarks. Watch how he said those words. He meant what he said.

A few folks over at Hot Air did some fence straddling.

“Come on, man. “You won’t know what hit you” is a rhetorical device relating to the politics of the issue; it’s not a threat, not in the Brandenburg sense and not in any realistic sense either. No one really thinks that pasty senior-citizen Schumer was physically threatening anyone, do they?

Even as a political threat, it’s empty talk. Schumer can’t do a damned thing about their decisions, and both he and they know it. It’s the kind of mindless hackery that has to arise from time to time to remind us of the value of lifetime appointments to the federal bench. Those reminders don’t come around often, so enjoy them while you can.”

Additional fence straddling here:

“I agree with Ed that Schumer’s threat is an empty one. The man is a putzhead, as Al D’Amato once famously said, and the left is never more feral and bloodthirsty than when abortion is involved but I doubt he seriously meant to propose physical harm. He probably got caught up in the moment — standing in front of the Court, whipping up a crowd about the cherished right of infanticide that’s not actually enshrined in the Constitution, still a little high from last night’s establishment demolition of Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday.”

Horseshit. Chuck Schumer was NOT caught up in the moment and all the fence straddling in the world won’t fix that. His rhetoric is the exact same type of rhetoric Maxine Waters has used multiple times. Eric Holder told the left to “kick ’em.” Bernie Sanders followers are violent and advocate for violence. On SNL a “comedian” thought stabbing the President was a great idea.

Larry Tribe, the very definition of a left-wing Democrat, slammed Schumer for his remarks.

These remarks by @SenSchumer were inexcusable. Chief Justice Roberts was right to call him on his comments. I hope the Senator, whom I’ve long admired and consider a friend, apologizes and takes back his implicit threat. It’s beneath him and his office. https://t.co/xbNnUeznRR

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) March 4, 2020

Even MSNBC’s Chris Hayes got a clue.

Having watched the Schumer clipa few times, it really was out of line! Not just for norms reasons (though I think those matter) but also because idle threats are dumb and expose impotence. Also the intelligence community stuff was weird and bad too.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 5, 2020

Schumer, when specifically naming Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, turned and pointed directly at the Supreme Court. Now think about it. If a Republican had said that and singled out one or two liberal justices on the court? That Republican would be exiting DC in less than 24 hours.

Senator Mitch McConnell delivered a blistering smackdown regarding Schumer’s threats.

Schumer’s response boils down to this:

Everything he said about Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh is super ok. Why? Because women’s right to choose is in danger. Therefore threats from Democrats against conservatives, even sitting Supreme Court Justices is super fine!

Schumer: "I shouldn't have used the words I did but in no way was I making a threat. I never, never would do such a thing and Leader McConnell knows that. And Republicans who are busy manufacturing outrage over these comments know that too."

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 5, 2020

Yes, yes you did issue a threat Chuck.  All the deflection and tap dancing in the world won’t change that.

Feature Photo Credit: Victory Girls Darleen Click