A fractured Democratic side of the Senate voted 60-39 for cloture and the real health care debate will begin after the holidays.  While the House voted to affect the rights of women with their anti-choice measure, the Senate took the more anti-immigrant approach.

Just as the House Democratic leadership sacrificed the wishes of pro-choice women in a successful gambit to win the votes of anti-abortion Democrats last week, the Senate leadership has included provisions in its health-care proposal that would bar any aid to illegal immigrants and would restrict assistance to immigrants residing legally in the United States.

Is this an indication of what is to come from the Senate during the 2010 immigration reform debate?  Is praying for right-wing Democrats to vote for cloture the pro-migrant side’s best bet?

It seems Harry Reid is more interested in barring immigrants from even paying for insurance to save his own political hide.

But the Senate bill goes further, barring undocumented immigrants from participating in health insurance exchanges – even if they pay full price with their own funds.

Should bigoted commentary from Ted Poe in the House really surprise us?

“Our health-care system is in critical condition as a result of the debt incurred by those living here illegally,” said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble. “We are at the breaking point now because of this abuse…”

2010 is approaching fast, and Democrats need to tread lightly on immigration-related issues.  If they can bar health care, then what is next? Education?