Whether you agree or disagree with the current health care legislation now making its way through the senate, there is no denying that it will be impactful and could not have been achieved without overcoming the hurdles of enlisting critical senators for its passage.
Heretofore, there has been a lot of discussion about the concessions and compromises (pejoratively known as deals) that were made to Senator Landieu and finally to Senator Nelson to make sure the democrats garnered a 60th vote to ensure cloture. I contend , however, that the 60th vote was cast by a rebulbican.
Arlen Specter is the unsung hero who made no deals for the current health care reform package.(Although, I am dismayed that deals had to be made, I am not discounting them, they were necessary).
Normally voting with Senators Snowe and Collins in crossing the aisle to vote against the conventional party line, Specter has quietly assimilated into the democratic caucus and supported its mission without fanfare since becoming a democrat in early 2009. I think, eventually, he will be recognized for the importance of his conversion of parties and the critical role he played in changing the landscape in the senate that will lead to the promise of universal haealth care in this country. Had Specter not switched parties, he would have, undoubtedly, voted with "the pack", and no measure of health care reform would have been accomplished. It is hard to igmagine him continuing to be a republican and casting the lone vote on this health care proposal.