It would seem that Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was right: The Blue Dogs are all bark and no bite. Apparently liberals in the House have managed to buy off enough on the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass the legislation along a party-line vote of 31-28.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a bruising struggle, Democrats pushed sweeping health care legislation to the brink of passage in a key congressional committee on Friday, clearing the way for a September showdown in the House on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

As part of a last-minute series of changes, the Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to limit increases in the cost of insurance sold under the bill, and also to give the federal government authority to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices under Medicare.

The new provisions were part of an intensive effort Democrats have made in recent days to satisfy the conflicting demands of liberals and conservatives on the panel. “We have agreed we need to pull together,” said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee chairman.

The measure is designed to extend health insurance to millions who now lack it, at the same time it strives to slow the growth in medical costs nationwide — Obama’s twin goals.

The vote clears the way for a full vote on the floor of the House. Democrats are intent on passing ObamaCare no matter how destructive it will be for the quality of the nation’s healthcare. The fact that it will force millions off their private plans, plunge the nation further into debt, spike the already sky-high deficit, lead to rationing of care, and put bureaucrats in control of healthcare doesn’t matter to them.

All of this while members of Congress remain on their own, private healthcare plans. The same panel actually voted down a provision that would’ve required Congressmen and Senators to join ObamaCare themselves. Because remember: They’re simply better than you, and therefore they deserve quality healthcare. But you don’t.

It’s time to kick up the opposition, folks. Beginning on Monday we need to melt the phones, fax machines, and email inboxes of our elected representatives in Congress. The American people need to let the Washington elite know that they’ll be unemployed come January 2011 if they support this monstrosity.

Thanks to HAH.