The bribing of Sen. Ben Nelson, (D) Nebraska, to get the 60th vote to pass the Senate health bill was classic backroom Chicago-style politics.

Not quite the bi-partisanship, C-Span transparency or the transformation of Washington politics as usual that he promised in his campaign of ‘change’.

It actually looks more like the socialistic segue to a Marxism dictatorship that he meant.  But we have quickly found out that President Obama often says what he doesn’t mean.

In an appearance on CNN with John King, Sen Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina called it outright ‘bribery, and a Ponzi scam using Enron accounting practices.”

Sen. Graham questioned the constitutionality of the Nelson pay off.

Under the Deal states could choose to prohibit abortion coverage in plans offered through insurance exchanges that the bill would set up for people who lack coverage through their jobs.  It is less restrictive than the House bill.

According to the Washington Post, “Nelson also secured full and permanent federal funding for his state to extend Medicaid eligibility to everyone below 133 percent of the federal poverty level.  The bill would require all states to do so, but Nebraska alone would not be required to pay a portion of the additional cost after 2016.  And he won concessions for some nonprofit insurers and for providers of supplemental Medicare coverage from a new insurance tax, and he was able to roll back cuts to health savings accounts.”

Nelson appearing on the same talk show denied that the Dem leadership purchased his vote.  “These were negotiations for changes in the bill to make it better,” Nelson said.

He said he reserved the right to vote against the bill if these changes were not upheld in the final bill and that if the public option is in the final bill he would vote against it.

He denied betraying the supporters of pro-life.

All polls across the board show that the American people are against health care reform, further solidifying that this is a bill that Obama wants to ram through the Congress at any cost ignoring the court of public opinion.

The White House believes they are in the ‘red zone’, a football analogy of being on the one yard line to push this bill through – despite public opinion – to achieve their goal.

It is interesting to note that this is an Obama Democratic driven move with an intra-party fight from blue dog Dems not being any more satisfied than left wing liberals because neither are getting what they want and fearful they will pay the price at the polls during the 2010 elections.

Even the unions are upset.  Andy Stern, President of the SEIU, who made more visits to the White House this year than anyone else, is not happy with the way in which the bill requires payment and is upset over the fact that the bill will cause taxes on the middle class.  “I am happy with the President, but this is an affordability issue,” he said.

This year-long effort by the Obama administration is equivalent to having a daily spoonful of Cod Liver Oil shoved down your throat whether you want it or not.

If and when this bill is rammed through, it will then be up to the court of public opinion as to whether the Democrats maintain control of the Congress in 2010.  It will also be up to the people in 2012 as to whether they want to prevent further erosion of our constitution and a further move to Marxism under the Obama administration.