“On Sunday morning, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson told TV viewers nation-wide that the threat posed by liberal judges is “probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings.” When an incredulous George Stephanopoulos asked if Robertson really believed that these judges posed “the most serious threat America has faced in nearly 400 years of history, more serious than al Qaeda, more serious than Nazi Germany and Japan, more serious than the Civil War?,” he responded, “George, I really believe that.” [1]

These comments were not made in isolation. In fact, Robertson’s statement is only the most outrageous example of a growing effort from the extreme right to whip up an intense fear and hatred of American judges — including comments from Republican congressmen and senators intimidating, threatening and even justifying outright violence against judges. [2] The strategy is designed to build support for the Republican “nuclear” scheme to break the rules and stack the courts — and it is poisonous to our democracy. It must stop here.

That’s why we are launching a national petition demanding that Bill Frist and Tom DeLay publicly reject Robertson’s statement. If they do, it will send a clear signal that this type of dangerous incitement against officers of the law is not welcome in our democracy. And if they don’t, it will send an equally clear signal about how far they are willing to go. Please sign today.” (Move On)