Strange Bedfellows = Legislative Victory?

I couldn't decide whether this should be filed under "Realities of Politics," or "Sleazy Enough to Make You Queasy." An editorial today at Salon.com highlights the deeply troubling aspects of the White House deal with Big Pharma that might just pave the way for the red-headed stepchild of legislation, healthcare reform, to finally gain genuine traction.
As the columnist indicates, such a deal might be necessary to finally get reform over the hump, despite some of the ugly attacks emanating from the GOP camp. However, while successful reform would be a giant, freakin' feather in Obama's cap, citizens should be asking, "At what cost?" No, I'm not referring to the dollar amount necessary to provide health insurance for society's most vulnerable(the elderly, the poor, children). Rather, I refer to the precedent-setting deal between the White House and Big Pharma. If the only way to pass this type of legislation is by bribing opponents with extra-sweetheart deals, can we still cling to the myth of the democratic process as the true king in this country?