On principle I agree, but if this was the only bill that they were going to get out of the Senate under the current circumstances then voting it down would have meant no bill at all, which is a defeat for the Republicans and that would be used against them in November. You can argue it's messy, but the only path they could take.
I happen to disagree with this premise, however, since there is a viable alternative. Frist, as Majority Leader, could simply schedule the House bill and force an up or down vote on it in the Senate. He'd put all of the RINOs (of which is unfortunatly all to favorably inclined) on the spot.
Since he'd never do that I'm afraid passing the current Senate bill was the only hope of getting something that was acceptable.
More Reps voted against the Senate bill than voted for it: 32 to 23.
Have you seen ALL that is in that Senate Bill??
I would rather have no Bill then what the Senate passed
As for Frist putting the House Bill alone up for a vote .. he can't because it would be voted down