I’ve been trying to call my Georgia Blue Dog representative, John Barrow, all morning. Busy. Busy. Busy. When, finally, I got through his voice mail apologized that there was no one there to take my call, but invited me to leave a message. When I got the beep, the invite was rescinded. His voice mailbox is full.

I called back. Again.

This time I got an answer. I told the man who answered that the voice mail was full. He said that he was not surprised. I said that I was calling to argue that Barrow should sign on to the health care bill. He said he’d be happy to pass that along, and asked where was I calling from.

Milledgeville.

He asked is there anything else he could do for me today. I said he should take down my name. He could have asked to know my name. He could have wondered on what basis I am supporting the bill. You might even think Barrow might have extra staff around since, as the man said, it’s not surprising that there would be calls today.

So I called the local number. The first time I got hung up on. The second time no answer. The third time, “The mailbox for [Barrow voice] Congressman John Barrow [/Barrow voice] is full. Please try again later.”

A wholly unsatisfying experience.

John Barrow will vote no.* “We can do better” my arse! John Barrow has no interest in what a local constituent might want. He has no interest, even, in recording the yeas and nays. His eyes are on a bigger prize:

The talk in Georgia is that John wants to run for the Senate in 2014 and that he thinks a NO vote on HCR will be smart positioning for that race. He seems to be making the bet that a NO vote on HCR will be forgotten by then. Hell, he seems to be making a bet that Democrats will forget his betrayal by the fall and support him with DCCC money, fundraisers, grass roots support and ground troops for his re-election. He seems to feel that even if he votes to kills HCR that Democrats will still rally to support him in November and that they will support him again in 2012 and then get behind him when he runs for the Senate in 2014.

I’ve sat with John Barrow in the local coffee shop. My partner was raised as his neighbor. I defended him when he was gerrymandered out of his lifelong home, and when Democrats targeted him (along with neighboring Blue Dog Jim Marshall). I remember, too, that Obama cut an ad for his campaign:

OBAMA: He’s already standing up to the lobbyists and the Republicans who go right down the line with George Bush. Now we need him in Congress to help reduce gasoline prices, provide access to affordable health care for every American. … John’s not afraid to take a tough stand to do what’s right.

Not afraid? He won’t even record constituent calls! And that ad is no longer on youtube. Shocker, that.

I’m telling you, here, now, today, that if John Barrow votes no I will vote for the Republican next time, come what may. Hear me clearly, that’s a promise. I already live in the red, red rump of the most reactionary element of the Republican party. They are on the wrong side of history. And John Barrow is right there with them.

* Bishop, the other Georgia fence-sitter, will vote yes.