DeLay apologizes for rhetoric in Schiavo case

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay apologized Wednesday for an "inartful" remark about judges after Terri Schiavo's death. But he refused to comment on ethics allegations against him.
DeLay met with reporters after a barrage of negative news stories that caused several prominent Republicans, including former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, to urge DeLay to answer his accusers. The Texas Republican said he would answer questions only about the legislative agenda.
DeLay did express regret for saying, after the death of Schiavo, that the judges who refused to reinsert the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube would one day "answer for their behavior."
Democrats have criticized DeLay's remark, which Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said could incite violence against judges.
"I said something in an inartful way. I am sorry I said it that way," DeLay said.
He said he favors an independent judiciary but made it plain that he does not intend to give up congressional efforts to rein in "activist" judges.