During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama repeatedly promised a new tone in Washington, an open, fair, and purpose-driven agenda with a bipartisan spirit. Instead, the tone is Washington has not only reached its lowest partisan ebb, perhaps ever, but the ‘legislative process’ under Harry Reid has deteriorated into naked bribery and ideological prostitution. While Mary Landreiu and Blanche Lincoln have showed themselves to be up for purchase, no member of the U.S. Senate has so drastically sold his soul and abandoned his principles as has Nebraska’s Ben Nelson.

Throughout the’ health care reform’ process, Nelson had been relatively up-front in voicing his objections to the bill, not merely because of his pro-life convictions, but because of the bill’s very nature. The most important insight into Nelson’s thinking emerged last week, following the effective failure of the so-called ‘public option’ along with the proposed Medicare buy-in for people as young as 55. In voicing his remaining concerns, Nelson put his finger not only on the great unknown – the ultimate cost of the program, but more fundamentally, the ultimate aim of the legislation:

“We don’t know what it’s going to cost. The second thing is I’m concerned that it’s– it’s the forerunner of single-payer, the ultimate singer single-payer plan, maybe even more directly than the public option.”

Nelson had repeatedly made clear his opposition to a single-payer system; one that would radically and fundamentally alter the relationship between the American people and their federal government. Far from unfounded, Nelson’s fears were right on target, for the proposed legislation is nothing short of the foundation upon which the greatest power-grab in American history will be built. President Barack Obama has spoken of his ultimate desire to bring about ‘redistributive change’ and has repeatedly voiced his support for a ‘single-payer system,’ and every Washington observer over the age of ten understands that once in place this legislation will be difficult to reverse and subject to alterations and expansion at the political whims of future Congresses – especially ones adept at never wasting a ‘good crisis’ in pushing through sweeping reform – perhaps something like the impending insolvency of Medicare in 2017.

Given these realities, and Nelson’s own adroit observation, his decision to reverse course and embrace this single-payer in sheep’s clothing for a price that Harry Reid was willing to pay is astonishing. Far from a new means of doing business in Washington, we have seen the convergence of the oldest and second oldest professions in ways impossible before the modern death of concepts like shame. Nelson knows his head won’t be on the platter in next year’s massacre of the Democrats at the polls – he’s not up for reelection until 2012 – while the honorable Blanche Lincoln will get hers, Nelson figures he’ll be off the hook thanks to American’s notoriously short attention span and a sweetheart deal for his own constituents.

He couldn’t be more wrong. Nelson will get his too.

Before that time comes however, there is a token of appreciation that all Americans can send Senator Nelson to remind him of how much we appreciate the federal takeover of our health care system that he allowed, despite his own convictions, and for a price. If Senator Nelson wishes to act the part of a prostitute, we encourage our fellow Americans to take a few moments out of their busy schedule to give him the chance by sending Senator Nelson a token of our appreciation for his newfound role: we recommend fishnet stockings, pantyhose and ladies panties, which can be sent to the senator at his D.C. office:

Senator Ben Nelson
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Enjoy the panties and fishnets senator, you’ve earned them. See you in 2012.