Keeping their feet to the fire...

From the Brad Blog:

Poor Rahm and the Democrats. They've not even been sworn into the Majority yet, and they're already having their feet held to the fire.

We suspect this won't be the last time. Particularly if the Dems decide to play it safe instead of taking seriously the clear mandate for accountability they received at the polls last November.

Gold Star mom Cindy Sheehan, who lost her son Casey in Iraq, joined other protesters on Capitol Hill today to lobby Congress Members for a swift end to the War in Iraq. They interrupted a Democratic press conference today, held to announce ethics reform packages, with chants of "De-escalate! Investigate! Troops Home Now!" Rahm never stood a chance.

Of course, he might have seen it coming. This was on the Gold Star Families for Peace website today:

Walk the halls of Congress with Gold Star Families for Peace. Lets let the 110th congress know what is expected of them from Day 1. We will be insisting that an immediate exit strategy from Iraq be implemented. We will insist that all funding for the War stop and the money spent on rebuilding Iraq. We will be insisting that hearings begin immediately into Bushco's crimes against humanity and the lies told to the American people. We will demand IMPEACHMENT.

Fox "News" deemed to tell the story. David Edwards, over at RAW STORY, covers it along with the video.

UPDATE: New York Times blogged the incident tonight, and if you care to put any stock in those dreaded "bloggers," they described the reaction of Emanuel and the other Dems this way:

Mr. Emanuel and incoming Majority Leader Steny Hoyer consulted briefly and decided to leave their lectern and return later. "Looks like we’re taking a little break," Mr. Hoyer said as he and Mr. Emanuel rushed away.

Ms. Sheehan, meantime, was happy to take over the Democratic microphone, not to mention the captive audience of reporters. She called for a greater role for the peace movement in the new Democratic majority, which she said is ignoring the people who put them in power. She called for an end to financing the war.

"And these are not requests," said Ms. Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq. "These are demands."

The Democratic leaders did, later on, return to the microphones. Ms. Sheehan, who first emerged as a prominent protester against President Bush at his Crawford ranch, vowed to be around all week.

The Dems have got to realize that if they fail to act on the voters' mandate of November 2007, their defeat in 2008 is almost assured.

Now, as you probably can imagine, FOX News just couldn't resist showing this one. You can almost feel the sneer as they introduce the tape.