AARP Decision Followed a Long GOP Courtship

[kskiska]

By David S. Broder and Amy Goldstein

Thursday, November 20, 2003; Page A01

AARP's decision this week to endorse Medicare prescription drug legislation, a step that caught Democrats by surprise, was the product of years of cultivation by the Bush administration and top Republicans on Capitol Hill.

The dialogue that led to AARP's seal of approval for the $400 billion measure, providing the first prescription drug benefit to seniors while opening the Medicare system to private insurance competition, included intense discussions in recent weeks with House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.) and a private conversation between President Bush and AARP President James Parkel.

The AARP endorsement "didn't happen overnight," said Thomas A. Scully, administrator of the agency that runs Medicare. "We spent a lot of time working with them over the last three years."

The action by AARP, which represents 35 million members age 50 and older, has substantially increased chances of the bill's final passage in the next week. But it has produced a backlash from members and fierce criticism from Democrats, who have been the group's traditional allies. The repercussions could be felt in next year's campaign, when the support of older voters will be a goal of both parties.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63594-2003Nov19.html

[bvar22]

1. And the top management of AARP,

those in positions to receive favors are facing a revolt by the membership for selling out!!!

[GinaMaria]

14. what revolt?

Their money was taken and used against them. The goal is to pass this bill and start the privitization ball rolling. Once that happens AARP is useless. It will evaporate. It's another puke dirty trick. Get the privitization they want and get rid of an opponent (AARP) at the same time. The only hope is to get enough senators to block this. Either way I think they ruined AARP for good.

It's an important lesson to check thoroughly those on boards of organizations we support. The 'honor and integrity' party has been using infiltration for a while. They are all too glad to take away your voice and destroy democracy.

This is another way that they keep our side on the defensive. Who knows how many other coups are in the works? They can pull these things out and our guys are left scrambling to help the people who elected them. Wonder why they hate Americans so much?

[pippin]

2. Claude Pepper must be turning

in his grave. Anyone remember him?

[Dover]

3. **

/

[ninkasi]

4. My husband and I

both former AARP members, are no longer members as of yesterday. I'm still e-mailing the bastards with my opinion. They will lose membership over this, believe me. We might be older, but we aren't stupid.

[mbperrin]

5. We're with you! They're two members more short

than yesterday!

We are older and we probably are stupid, but we're not THAT stupid!

E-mailed the bastards AND called!!!!

[stewert]

6. Add One More.........

My 79 year old father got his AARP renewel letter today, he laughed at it, and threw
his membership card in the garbage. He had me write a letter to them and print it out.

He is going to mail it back to them in their pre-paid envelope. In the letter he says he
will not renew his membership, and he is going to take his $12.50 and join the Alliance
for Retired Americans.

[saigon68]

10. Beautiful Bride and I Quitting.

They can Kiss my fat ass.

[Born Free]

7. I suspected they were leaning toward the right wing

I was extremely dissapointed with many of the articles in the AARP bulletin over the last few years. As the bush team went through the social security money ( there are articles on line via Goggle from August of 2001 showing the bush team tax cuts forced the government to use social security --- they knew it before 9/11) the AARP basically sat back and did nothing and the only articles they did run was telling some seniors they must learn to live with less. I told my wife several times there was something really fishy about all of this, suddently they no longer cared, just spread the message that Anerica changed so now seniors must learn to get along with less?


However, they are not alone, look at Greenspan - heck the so called genious during the Clinton years has changed his philosphy completely to act like a dope when it comes to fiscal responisbility.


I don't care what democrat gets the nomination ( any of the real democrats as opppossed to the "yes" men) heor she has to be better. We are reaching a real crisis here in America. The bush team is destroying America as we grown to know it, changing everything over to a new system for the rich and powerful.

[cthrumatrix]

8. I hope all of you see "how planned" and calculated our govt. is....

note the passage of the energy and medicare bill....info comes out over the weekend....(low visibility)

shrub plans his UK visit same week...get's all the press


massive UK protest planned for today....and now the Turkey bombing

the point is ...much more is planned by those in control....hint...shrub is not the one "in control"...he's the puppet

the aarp agreement is just like the "patriot act" bill ready to be voted on 6 weeks after 911...funny how that works...and such a coincidence that "anthrax" arrived same day as Patriot Bill where they cound not review it

More to come ..... homelnad defense was created for when "the people" rise against their own govt.

[dusty64]

9. The link

has been exposed. The aarp leader has long standing ties to newt gingrich and is probably a rightwing plant. You've got to give the extreme right points for patience and vision though, evil as they are. If our side can stop the infighting and become half as organized there would be NO stopping us.

[BadGimp]

11. Covert Opps: This is why the GOP thugs keep winning

The GOP has clearly infiltrated the AARP. The campaign likely took 3 or more years. A detailed investigation will reveal this if one is ever conducted.

What a strategically brilliant move by the GOP and pulled of with deft precision. You really have to sit back and just admire these criminals and traitors of democracy for their skill and dogged determination.

They don't wait for the fight to come to them. They take it to the enemy in every area the enemy is strong.

This is why the GOP thugs keep winning, and the Democrats keep getting their collective a@@es handed to them/US.

[dusty64]

13. Yup!

Loathe them as I do, you've got to at least hand it to em. They've got their shit together. Its about time the "leadership" of our side woke up and realized they've been in a war started by the extreme right about 10 years ago and start fighting back. Its time to drop the "Mr./Ms. Nice" crap and get down in the trenches, the fate of the World depends on it!

[0rganism]

12. I predict this will be a phyrric victory for the GOP

Under 20% of the AARP membership supports this bill, from what I heard. Some of those members are republicans and moderates who will change their voting after this.

It's looking especially grim for the AARP. There will be changes at the top before this is over.

[RedEarth]

15. This will continue as long as the Democrats don't start playing

hardball politics just like the Republicans have been doing over the last several years. Frankly, I am very worried that unless the Democrats can get their act together, things are just going to get worse....not only from a national standpoint, but, also on the state level. The Democrats are in dire need of strong, effective leadership right now.

[wabeewoman]

16. Letter from AARP

This is the automated response my husband got when he canceled his membership. Also saw the commercials on TV. Wonder how many will be fooled by those. Also see that Diane Feinstein may back the bill....

THIS AUTO RESPONSE IS BEING SENT DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF EMAIL
REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

Thank you for your recent communication. Your feedback is important.

AARP has endorsed the bipartisan Medicare bill which includes a
voluntary prescription drug benefit for everyone in Medicare.

We believe that millions of older Americans will be helped by this
legislation. While not perfect, the legislation represents an
important milestone in the nation's commitment to strengthen and
expand health security for its citizens.

The bill will provide the following:

- Low prescription drug coverage for those in need: people with low
incomes, including those who depend on Social Security for all or most
of their income;

- Substantial relief for those with very high drug costs, and modest
relief for millions more;

- A substantial increase in protections for retiree benefits; and

- New mechanisms to push down prescription drug prices.

An unprecedented $88 billion will encourage employers to maintain
existing health retiree benefits. It will also help speed generic
drugs to market, add new preventive and chronic care management
services as well as protect poor seniors from soaring prescription
drug costs.

Again, thank you for contacting us.

Should you need additional assistance, please reply to this message.

AARP Member Service
Contact AARP (http://www.aarp.org/contactaarp)