Just a few weeks after being hailed as a Republican savior and the future of the party, Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is now being called a traitor and "Benedict Brown" for voting to allow a jobs bill to reach the Senate floor.

It is a sign of how divisive politics have become in this country and further proof that there is a selfish element in this country more concerned with politics and the interests of a few than our overall well-being.

Four other Republicans joined Brown in voting to allow the bill to proceed. They too were criticized.

The Drudge Report had a picture of Brown that was tinged crimson.

"We campaigned for you. We donated to your campaign. And you turned on us like every other RINO," said one writer, using the initials for "Republican-In-Name-Only," who posted the comment on Brown's Facebook page.

"You've already turned out to be as big an idiot as Obama," wrote another poster. "Enjoy your one term as senator."

Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party, told the Boston Herald she did not approve of the vote because it included new spending; however, it also includes tax cuts.

"He's going to hear from us," said Varley. "In the end, this is stimulus spending -- and it's a disappointment."Brown simply voted to allow a jobs bill to proceed that would provide tax credits for businesses who hire or retain employees. It was a procedural vote. He has not yet voted in favor of the bill. It's crazy that some members of the public want to squelch even discussion.

According to the Associated Press:

The measure featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December, and giving them a $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year. It would also renew highway programs through December and deposit $20 billion in the highway trust fund.

In case conservatives have not noticed, this country is in the middle of the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Government estimates place the number of jobs lost since the economic crisis at 8.4 million and many of them are not coming back even after the economy recovers.

Brown, speaking on a call-in radio show, called the criticism ridiculous.

"I've taken three votes," Brown said. "And to say I've sold out any particular party or interest group, I think, is certainly unfair."

I'm not sure this one vote proves that Brown is going to support issues that are best for the people he was elected to represent, but the criticism certainly shows that there is a big element in this country that wants politics to be the deciding factor.