To all the GOPers out there crying foul at President Obama’s recess appointments of 15 officials to influential posts, I have two words for you: John Bolton.

Although it is true that Bolton’s confirmation as Ambassador to the United Nations was blocked by a Democratic filibuster while Becker’s appointment was flat out rejected by the Senate, the underlying principle behind both actions remains the same - partisanship. Partisanship, which has risen over the past few years, has reached the point where any cooperation with the other party can easily be labeled traitorous behavior akin to Benedict Arnold turning over the plans of West Point to the British.

No one is a better illustration of this fact than Senator John McCain, whose “maverick” title is now coming back to haunt him in a tough primary challenge by uber-conservative candidate J.D. Hayworth. McCain, once the darling of the party for his willingness to cross the aisle, is now attacked for being too moderate.

Another example – Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer was recently confirmed by a Senate vote of 68 to 31. Samuel Alito’s nomination passed by 58 to 42 in 2006 and John Roberts was appointed to the Chief Justice seat by a 78-22 vote in 2005. With the exception of the controversial Clarence Thomas, no recent Justice before them had double-digit opponents in the Senate.

And who could forget “You lie!”?

With the passage of an enormous and life-changing health care bill through a back-door and underhanded process, is bipartisanship on life support?

Because if it is, a fix is needed. And fast.

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While debate and disagreement is essential to the Democratic process, working together is just as important. Serving as an elected official is not just about winning elections, showing voters who is the bluest or reddest or even always firmly sticking to a party platform. Because guess what? Fifty percent, give or take, of the country will always disagree with you if you strictly adhere to a platform.

Holding office is about more than passing the most partisan legislation possible in two, four, six or however many years – it’s about crafting policy that will benefit the country in the long run. Democrats and Republicans fundamentally disagree on many issues, but they also agree on many issues too.

The health care debate demonstrates the problem with our system perfectly. Both sides want health care reform, both sides want lower costs, both sides agree the system is broken. Why then did it take reconciliation to squeeze the bill through Congress with no Republican support? Because the Republicans were so firmly set in opposing the Democrats that they forgot what was at stake. Instead of compromising and working with the Democrats to create a bill that could help fix the system, or even creating a logical and decent bill on their own, they sat and pouted as the Democrats jammed through a bill that few Americans wholeheartedly support.

So to members of Congress, start cooperating before you lose the support of the 11% of Americans who approve of the job you are doing.