Privately, many Senate Democrats conceded that their leader was doing his job by protecting his members from a tough vote and making a politically painful decision. But the backlash from his party was intense.

Chuck Schumer has given Senate Democrats an out — drastically lowering the chances of a government shutdown Saturday.

In failing to demonstrate what they stand for, Democrats fumbled the chance to show why they deserve a return to power, centrists and progressives say.

"This false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi said as Schumer cast his vote for an extreme GOP spending bill.

House Democrats from across the party's ideological spectrum — united in their fury at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — are engaged in a campaign to get Senate Democrats to defy their leader.