(Thumbnail image: The Boston Globe)

Newly elected Republican Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts is sending shockwaves through Washington with his first vote. Brown went against his party and voted in favor of the Democrats’ new jobs bill. Some respect Brown’s backbone, while others say he’s heading for career calamity.

Brown’s vote helped break the Republican filibuster and advance the $15 billion jobs bill to vote. USAToday reports that Brown is showing his party he means business.

“Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., warned Republican leaders not to take his vote for granted, and today he followed through on that threat.”

And CBS political analyst John Dickerson says Brown is living up to his promise to be an independent vote.

“Now he can point to this vote and say to his constituents back home, ‘Look, I said I would do what I promised I would do,’ which is always something politicians like to be able to say.”

But AmericaBlog.com warns Brown that his colleagues might kick him to the political curb.

 “Let's see how quickly the teabaggers and other right-wingers turn on their new golden boy. They're not too tolerant of compromise.”

And MSNBC’s Chuck Todd suggests that if Brown wants to stick around, he needs to stick with his party.

“If this guy’s interested in serving more than four years in the United States senate, you know in just simply finishing this term, than he’s going to have to vote like a New England Republican on some things.”

Some are hailing this as a new day for bipartisanship, but many point out that the bill won't do anything big. The Huffington Post argues the bill will create only a tiny percent of the jobs that are needed, and says Brown’s vote won't mean much.

“How little was actually accomplished. … if all bipartisanship produces are bills that fall short, bills like today's, all bipartisanship will give us is failure.”

So does Brown deserve respect, or is he a traitor to his party? And does his independent voice mean political suicide?

Writer: Lauren Zima

Producer: Brent Davidson