If Representative William Delahunt from Massachusetts had to choose sides in that fight, it seems he would choose al Qaeda over Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff. At the end of a televised House Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, where Addington appeared under subpoena, Delahunt said that he was glad the world's most lethal terrorist organization finally got a glimpse of the low-profile official.

"I'm sure they [al Qaeda] are watching, and I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington, given your penchant for being unobtrusive."

You might think that whatever the state of partisan Washington it would be unacceptable for a sitting Member of Congress to hope that al Qaeda gets a chance to see a senior executive branch official, not-so-subtly wishing him ill. Apparently it's okay. Dana Milbank, the Washington Post's resident snarkist who included the exchange in his column, was more outraged that Addington's "unbridled hostility" toward committee Democrats than he was with Delahunt's odious comment.

Delahunt tried to walk his comment back yesterday. His explanation makes no sense. Powerline has more.

An apology -- at least -- would seem appropriate. I'm not holding my breath.

UPDATE: It's nice to see someone else who thinks it's outrageous.