How is anyone surprised by this? That would be like being surprised that Arlen Specter is a spineless idiot. The Senate Finance Committee Vote was 14-9, and of course, that included Olympia Snowe’s traitorous vote. Her reason?

“When history calls, history calls.”

Historic legislation to expand U.S. health care and control costs won its first Republican supporter Tuesday and cleared a key Senate hurdle, a double-barreled triumph that propelled President Barack Obama’s signature issue toward votes this fall in both houses of Congress.

“When history calls, history calls,” said Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, whose declaration of support ended weeks of suspense and provided the only drama of a 14-9 vote in the Senate Finance Committee. With her decision, the 62-year-old lawmaker bucked her own leadership on the most high-profile issue of the year in Congress, and gave the drive to remake health care at least a hint of the bipartisanship that Obama seeks.

At the White House, Obama called the events “a critical milestone” toward remaking the nation’s health care system. He praised Snowe as well as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the committee, and declared, “We are going to get this done.”

Get that? Who cares about the policy or the legislation or the costs? It’s all about making history. But then, usually Congressional committees usually write the actual legislation first. In the case of Obamacare, there was only a summary to be passed.

Of course, she could still vote against the actual bill when the time comes. But then she’ll lose her status as the Democrats’ go-to gal for legislation that could ruin America and needs “bipartisan” support — and there’s always the chance to make history that she just can’t deny.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin