There comes a time when one must put aside party lines and make decisions based on what is best for all. Those who truly care about the welfare of our country will realize that not everything is black and white, and much of politics comes in shades of grey. They must look beyond petty, personal desires. This week, many watched Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) with bated breath, wondering whether or not she would go against her party and vote in favor of the finance committee's health care bill. She did, and the response from both Republicans and Democrats has been mixed.
Snowe should be applauded for her ability to think beyond what the dominant members of her party wanted her to think. This isn't the first time she has gone against her party either. Just this year, she, along with only two other Republicans, supported President Barack Obama's stimulus package. She is also less conservative on social issues, disagreeing with the general Republican views on subjects such as stem cell research, gay rights and abortion. Yet one could say it is because of her strong beliefs, regardless of her political party, that her constituents believe in her. Regardless of one's political stance, anyone who has conviction in his or her beliefs is more respectable than someone who wears a facade and is inconsistent. Going against one's political party is not a sign of betrayal, but rather an acknowledgement of a greater sense of duty. However, several prominent male, right-wing media figures have launched attacks against Snowe.
There is Michael Savage, who stated on his show, "Jezebel is Olympia Snowe. Of course she has thrown over with the turncoats who have stabbed America in the back, dragging us into a socialized medical system against the will of the majority of the American people." And why is she Jezebel? Because this woman has a mind of her own? Because she disagrees with him?
Then there is Rush Limbaugh, who claims that Snowe is the voice of what he calls the "new castrati," which he has described as "those who have lost all manhood, gonads, guts and courage throughout our culture and our political system." Really? First, what about Republican women? And secondly, standing up to bullies (such as Limbaugh and his ilk) takes guts. Snowe is far more respectable than Limbaugh will ever be. These people need to grow up. Had Snowe been a man, would she be subjected to these same outrageous, immature insults?
Certainly, Snowe is not going to be in complete agreement with what the Democrats want in a health-care plan. She is, after all, still a Republican. But that should not matter. I, for one, do support government-sponsored health care, while I know that Snowe does not. But bipartisanship is not brainwashing the other side to agree exactly with what you believe. Bipartisanship is a compromise, which while painful, is sometimes necessary. There will be a struggle over the health care bill. There will be those who will be unsatisfied, just as there will be those who are satisfied. But as long as everyone is working as hard as he or she can towards his or her own personal conviction, then at least we can have faith that our government is not a total failure. Bipartisanship is rare enough that credit should be given where credit is due. We are first and foremost the United States of America, not two separate states consisting of Democrats and Republicans.
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