This is a dumb way to go about something as important as health care; but recall Obama wanted something passed by August break, didn't matter what.

From The New York Times:

Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, said Democrats were moving to expand Medicare “without really understanding the ramifications.”

“I just don’t think it’s a policy we should embrace,” said Ms. Snowe, who discussed health care with President Obama in two private White House meetings in the last week.

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, said Friday that he did not know details of the proposal put together by Mr. Reid in an effort to break an impasse over the legislation.

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said Republicans were exasperated because they did not know any details of Mr. Reid’s proposal, which could affect one-sixth of the economy.

Responding to Mr. McCain on the Senate floor, Mr. Durbin said, “I would say to the senator from Arizona that I am in the dark almost as much as he is, and I am in the leadership.”

“Most of us know the fundamentals, but we don’t know the important details,” Mr. Durbin added. He said the secrecy was frustrating to Democrats as well as to Republicans.