Much has been made of the dilemma of Republican Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada. Would he abandon the president and incur the wrath of far-right, grass-roots GOPsters in his state by voting against the Senate health care bill? Or will he do what Gov. Brian Sandoval wants him to do–vote to keep the Affordable Care Act because it has manifestly helped the working poor in Nevada?
For once, it would have been refreshing to see a politician do the right thing for the right reason and then say it in un-nuanced, unparsed, non-press release fashion. To wit: “If this costs me politically, so be it. If political-career considerations are my main motivation, shame on me. I’m looking to represent constituents who need help, not partisans who need pandering.
“If helping those who need help is seen as a political liability, then I’ll plan on doing something more meaningful with my life. It won’t be hard.”