New Dem concern: GOP may just vote for watered down package of health care fixes, and claim hero status

It's a valid concern. The Republicans can then claim credit that they stopped the Democrats' evil death panel-y plan. This is the danger of not fighting back effectively each and every time the other guy punches you in the face. The lies, the attacks, accumulate and start to do damage in ways you didn't expect. Now, ironically, even agreeing to some weak-tee health care changes might help the GOP more than it helps Democrats.