Ben Nelson loved voting for cloture when Bush was President

What a fraud. Ben Nelson is holding up the Senate health care debate over abortion and a couple other issues. He's threatening to prevent moving the bill forward by refusing to vote for cloture. And, this week, Nelson is that coveted 60th vote.

Funny thing, but Ben Nelson never used cloture as a weapon when George Bush's agenda was on the line. There are many, many examples, but here are where Nelson sided with the GOPers over the Democrats and Democratic constituencies:

On January 28, 2008, Nelson Voted With Republicans to Invoke Cloture On FISA Bill. In 2008, Nelson voted with Republicans to invoke cloture on a bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Even after Democrats took back the Senate, Nelson stuck with Bush on Iraq. On May 16, 2007, he joined Republicans in supporting Cloture an amendment that would require the President to withhold funding for military operations in Iraq if the Iraqi government fails to meet certain benchmarks.

On June 8, 2006 and August 2, 2006, Nelson voted with Republicans to protect the "Paris Hilton" Estate Tax breaks.

Oh, and big surprise, Nelson repeatedly voted With Republicans to invoke cloture on the ant-gay constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage. On June 7,2006, Nelson was one of only 2 Democrats to vote yes on the cloture motion on the bill that would allow for the anti-gay constitutional amendment. On July 14 2004, Nelson was one of three Democrats voted for cloture on the anti-gay constitutional amendment.

He's was also a reliable vote against another key Democratic constituency: Latinos. Nelson Voted for Cloture on Immigration Bill on April 6 and on April 7, 2006.

Nelson could be counted on by Bush to vote For Cloture on anti-environmental legislation. On December 21, 2005, he voted for Cloture on the Defense Bill allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR.)

There were numerous cloture votes by Nelson on Bush's judicial nominations, too.

Nelson is a hypocrite. But, he's in the spotlight now. And, the way this health care debacle has played out, thanks to the genius strategy crafted by Rahm Emanuel and Jim Messina, Nelson is calling the shots. Not, the President.