Saturday’s landmark U.S. House vote in favor of a massive health care reform bill is more than a political victory for President Obama and Democrats. It is a victory for the nation.

With so much inflammatory rhetoric swirling around the health care debate, Americans should not lose sight of the central issue: Nearly 40 million Americans lack health insurance. When they do receive health care, it is often in the most expensive form possible, in emergency rooms and for conditions that have worsened – and become more costly to treat.

Many of the poorest Americans already receive publicly financed health care through Medicaid and providers who must charge everyone else a little more to make up for those who cannot pay.

The close House vote was a result of much compromise, and there will be more to come as the Senate delves into the legislation. Few advocates of any position will get everything they want, and some may lose key elements.

The compromise that led to House passage, for example, included strict language limiting reproductive rights that not only prohibits federal money from financing policies that cover abortions but also will restrict, in certain cases, women from paying for their own such coverage.

Speaking of inflammatory rhetoric, U.S. Rep. Mark Souder seemed more interested in fanning the flames of opposition and xenophobia than accuracy when he said that the House bill would result in “free health care for the illegals who took your jobs.” The House vote specifically excluded the 6 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. from receiving benefits.

Americans will hear much more bombast in the coming days and weeks, first as the Senate crafts its own bill, then when House and Senate leaders negotiate the final version. Unfortunately, this will cloud the real issues, particularly that of costs and paying for the new coverage.

Still, though much remains to be done, the House vote was a huge step toward a healthier, fairer nation.