On Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed sweeping health care legislation in what President Barack Obama called "an historic moment for our nation and for American families."
Historic, no doubt, but it may be remembered as - and is already being painted as in the media - a bill full of concessions that still will not bridge the partisan divide.
According to The Associated Press, the close 220-215 majority included only one Republican, while 39 Democrats voted against the bill.
A main point of contention between liberal Democrats and their more conservative Democratic colleagues is abortion access. As the public option would provide government-funded health care to millions of Americans, some "blue-dog" Democrats oppose the idea of spending federal dollars on abortions.
But because private insurance plans often cover abortions, most Democrats are in favor of providing these services. Not to mention the fact that those who would benefit most from the public option, low- and middle-income Americans who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, are part of the population that most often needs access to abortions.
With a strong majority in the House and a near supermajority in the Senate, why do the Democrats feel it necessary to bend so much on critical issues, only to face the same Republican opposition they would without the concessions?
Do dissenting "blue-dogs" pose such a threat to the passage of key legislation?
The Democratic Party needs to steal a play out of the Republican playbook and whip its voting block into lock-step if they hope to pass any substantial legislation.
Otherwise, the Democratic majority will be wasted at this pivotal time in American history.
