You realise these are fighting words, right? Lets be very clear about this. If he is a lone nutter from some predominately ultra-lib district, who is re elected sans opposition due to demographics, we can over look it . After all Nancy Pelosi is the speaker of the house.
From all appearances we have to conclude that this wasn't a concern at the time of utterance. Maybe we need more context. A transcript of the minutes of the meeting and the other ministers responces?
DF, You might want to take that trip you have been thinking about. Not just yet, but I would keep the bags packed.