Rahm Emanuel the Weak

On Friday's edition of NPR's All Things Considered, journalist Michele Norris interviewed Democratic Representative Rahm Emanuel in a story titled Democrats Rise Along with Emanuel's Ideas. The interview made a point to note Emanuel's 'toughness.'

"I'm surely not going to be a Democrat who, I believe, loves the moral victories — that is, losing. I'm just not into that," Emanuel says. "You got to find somebody else who likes a string of losses. That ain't me."

More than any other individual, Emanuel is cited as the architect of the Democrats' campaign to regain control of the House.

As chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emanuel handpicked tough and telegenic candidates. And like Muhammad Ali before a prize fight, he taunted GOP incumbents in vulnerable races with press releases and verbal jabs.

And he also irritated some fellow Democrats with his "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude. Emanuel is now fourth in line in the House leadership – chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. But he has been a force in Washington since he arrived in the early 1990s as a staffer for President Bill Clinton. Emanuel once sent a dead fish to a pollster. In Washington, he is both revered and feared.

It is not necessary to vigorously dispute NPR's claims, or even Emanuel's own words about his discipline, firm control of the caucus, and strict enforcement of the party line. All the proof I need was summed up very succinctly during this press conference in which Emanuel was tamed by Cindy Sheehan [Cindy Sheehan, the "My audiences are filled with 9/11 truthers"].




In the ensuing months, there was no question: Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats were forcibly bent to the will of Cindy Sheehan and the far left antiwar cabal.

Rahm Emanuel. Tough as nails... when it comes to sternly lecturing peevish House members behind closed doors. But when his feet are put to the flames by the fringe membership of his base, he caves in like a wet paper bag.