WaPo 11/18/05: Murtha's Democratic colleagues reacted warily to his remarks, while Republicans pounced. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), head of the House Democrats' campaign effort, said, "Jack Murtha went out and spoke for Jack Murtha." As for Iraq policy, Emanuel added: "At the right time, we will have a position."

Rep. Emanuel is EXACTLY the kind of craven Democratic leader that Maher was describing. Don't take my word for it, here's Emanuel in his own words:

AP 4/12/07: A memo from a top House Democrat says party leaders must not yield to White House pressure on Iraq and should cast President Bush as increasingly detached from public opinion. [...]

In a memo to party leaders, Rep. Rahm Emanuel says that as long as Democrats continue to ratchet up the pressure on Bush, the president loses ground.

If Bush continues to refuse to negotiate, his "continued insistence on a blank check for the war will only further damage his standing with the American people," wrote Emanuel, D-Ill., a member of the House Democratic leadership.

Emanuel said he believes Democrats should continue to push to negotiate with the president. Despite differences, "there are areas of agreement that should offer fertile ground for negotiation and compromise," he wrote.

"The president loses ground" is NOT the same as "withdrawing from Iraq". Emanuel sounds a hell of lot more interested in winning political games than actually doing anything about the disaster in Iraq.

Emanuel helped undercut stronger confrontation on Iraq funding the 110th Congress this Spring and continues to undercut it today.

The Politco 9/27/07: In closed-door caucus meetings, members say, Democratic leaders like Reps. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) have carried the day by warning that there is no appetite for such tactics in the districts of vulnerable Democrats, upon whom the party's new majority status depends.

I hope the press picks up more on how craven the House Democratic leadership has been in this debate. They have it coming. Iago gave better advice to Othello than Emanuel and Hoyer give to Speaker Pelosi.