President Obama’s spokesman cited the ambiguity of the statement, “there will be blood,” as he avoided condemning the remark made by a Michigan Democrat who opposes the imminent state’s right-to-work legislation.

“The president believes in debate that’s civil,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said today. “I haven’t seen those comments and I’m not sure that they mean what some would interpret them to mean. I just haven’t seen them.”