Shame on AARP! I was lied to twice this morning.

[madfloridian]

I am just too too mad to be very polite about it. I called this morning just to express my desire that Novelli and AARP please stand up for seniors.

I was told they had not made a decision. As I was told that, suddenly I was looking at over 787 sites with Novelli standing and smirking with Bill Frist over the fact that AARP had thrown the weight of 35 million members to support their plan.

Just go to Google news. I called state headquarters here. They say the endorsement has NOT been made.

They were waiting on confirmation it had been made. It is all over the web that it has been made.

The state with the largest number of retirees has all day been telling callers the endorsement was not made. They lied. They can call it whatever they want. It is lying. The decision was apparently made by headquarters without the knowledge of the Florida chapter.

I am furious.

[jpgray]

1. Is this the Medicare business? (nt)

[madfloridian]

3. Yes.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20031117_849.html

Are these men not smirking? And the Florida chapters were telling me it was not true.

[jpgray]

22. That's really terrible, then. I'll call my dad about this right away

He's a member, and will doubtless raise holy hell about it. :)

[madfloridian]

24. Good for him.

I sure made em mad.

[redqueen]

2. Doesn't surprise me.

Union leaders back free traders.

Senior organizations back those that cut seniors' benefits.

In a nutshell: powerful people stick together, screw the hoi polloi.

[tnlefty]

4. You seem pretty polite to be so angry!

If only I could master that art.

Why do you suppose they are lying?

[madfloridian]

7. What the heck does that mean? I am too polite??

I don't know what is going on, but the top dogs did it without the chapters knowing. And yes, the first two lied. Then they admitted they were not given the latest.

They should have admitted that up front, so I would not suspect they had been told to tell the members that.

How angry should I be? I am seeing stars right now.

[tnlefty]

9. It was meant to be a complement.

often when I am extremely angry I am guilty of profanity, etc.

I was wondering if they didn't admit to knowing about the endorsement so that people would stop contacting them about it. Then the often used excuse, "not many people contacted us expressing their opposition", could be offered up.

[madfloridian]

12. Thanks for explaining.

I guess the teacher in me keeps me from blowing up sometimes. Had to take so much and smile.
I was furious though, and they were not happy I used the word lie.

I assign all kinds of stuff to them today in my anger. The call center is at Sunrise, Florida, and they must have been deliberately kept out of the loop. BUT...when I read to them the ABC article....they still denied it.

I have a headache. I guess we will lose the coverage we got through our employers now.

[Lars39]

5. I think AARP has been infiltrated, for lack of a better word.

A decision like that is NOT looking out for it's members' interests.

[Cleita]

10. I think so too.

They got their Trojan horse in all right. What we can do is withhold our membership money if they don't rescind. I think maybe we should start our own senior organization for Democratic or left leaning seniors and keep the conservatives out. What do you think?

[GR]

19. I'm For It...Would Like To Petition For The Ouster Of CEO Too..

Don't really know how to go about it. I called and gave them a long piece of my mind...

I think we should make sure our senators and reps know we dont support the AARP endorsement...

This is about the most outrageous thing I've heard of them doing.

[Lars39]

23. Sounds like a good idea.

Seems like any organization nowadays that has repugs in it is starting to be non-responsive to the people's needs and wants. How would it be kept *pure*, though? :shrug:

[Cleita]

26. Ordinarily special interests should be bipartisan.

However, in these new fascist times, I think we need to keep out the conservatives just like DU does. This is exactly how Hitler operated. He infiltrated every facet of German life down to their religion, boy scouts and chess clubs. It is becoming increasingly the same method that the conservative think tanks are doing. It isn't just the Republican Party, it's that the Republican party has been co-opted by these new versions of Nazis.

They now are going after organizations like AARP. If NOW starts endorsing pro-life stances, watch out. I have been somewhat leery of NOW recently especially when the ex-President of the California chapter, whose name eludes me right now, came out in favor of Ann Coulter's book "Treason" as being truthful and denounced Hillary's new book, "Living History" as a pack of lies. Oh she claims to be a Democrat too.

[shirlden]

6. I'm so furious I am sick to my stomach

Please, Duers.....call everyone you know in AARP and have them start screaming......NOW..Today....
I can't believe they have sold us all out like this.....
I e-mailed and am now going to call.

:argh:

If the Repugs can stop a movie of Ray-gun.....we can stop the AARP from committing this felony in our name.

[madfloridian]

8. Yes.

I guess the only number is 1-800-424-3410, and then you have to beg for the others. There is one in our phone book for another city.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

11. oh god

it sends shivers up my spine knowing that somewhere out there there is a union of old people. I mean, besides the homeowner's association, lol.

[madfloridian]

13. There must be something wrong with me, but your post sounds very weird.

:shrug:

[CityZen-X]

14. MC 900 Foot Jesus

There is an old tune by the group MC 900 Foot Jesus that is so relevant to our current society and culture, "Truth Is Out Of Style."

[redqueen]

15. Wow...

hadn't heard of them in a while!

I love that band's name SO much. :)

[CityZen-X]

17. Don't Worry

Like one of the lines state "don't worry, be happy, and have a nice day!"

[drfemoe]

16. So what are AARP members going to do about it?

I'm not quite the right age for AARP (right around the corner) .. but please tell me the members have some recourse! Can you cancel membership?

Why is there no stopping the mad agenda of this WH?

edit: the announcement is on their website
http://www.aarp.org/

[Cleita]

18. This was an all of a sudden thing to all appearances.

Yes, we probably will have to start cancelling our memberships to get their attention. I guess emailing and phoning should be a start anyway and then we should sit back and see what happens.

If the AARP has in fact been taken over by the neo-cons, I think we should start another association for left wingers only. I think our goals are incompatible with the new conservative ideals of this day and age.

It used to be in that the needs of seniors were foremost before any politics. However if this is no longer the case, then the time has come to reorganize.

[young_at_heart]

20. I've just cancelled my membership

I sent them an email just now saying how disgusted I was and that after several years of being a member I can no longer support them.

[madfloridian]

21. Here is an email I got at 8:30 Friday night.

They really worked fast, or they had their heads together all week-end. Just read it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Grassroots Advocates,

There has been a flurry of news stories this past week about the proposed prescription drug legislation in Congressional conference committee, and where AARP is in the negotiations. Below is a press statement from AARP CEO Bill Novelli that spells out our current position.

Despite what you may have read, AARP has NOT taken a position on any proposed legislation. What we have done is encouraged the conferees to find a middle ground that accommodates the interests of both parties, while protecting the universal nature of Medicare.

AARP will not take a position to either support or oppose until we can review the final agreement and make a decision. Until then, we need to keep telling Congress that they must pass a meaningful drug benefit in Medicare this year. After all, this is all about getting the help to the people who need it, not to create political advantage for one party or the other. Please visit our web site at www.aarp.org/rx and send emails to your legislators to get the job done.

Thank you for all your help,

Sincerely,

Kevin J. Donnellan
Director, Grassroots and Elections

STATEMENT BY AARP CEO BILL NOVELLI ON MEDICARE LEGISLATION DISCUSSIONS

Several ideas being discussed in the Medicare conference committee could be a way to find common ground in the long-stalled negotiations over a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

We believe that it is imperative that both parties in both Houses of Congress give broad support to final legislation that will add prescription drug coverage and make other improvements in Medicare.

Some have criticized AARP for calling for bipartisan compromise on the issues, but this criticism is misguided. Our members and all Medicare beneficiaries need help now. The time for broken promises is over. While we would not support legislation that would jeopardize Medicare for today's generation of beneficiaries or generations to follow, we have the opportunity now to provide some relief to millions of older Americans. If this legislation is not enacted this year, a major opportunity will have been lost and politics will have triumphed over policy and public health.

We are encouraged by the prospect of adding additional incentives to persuade employers to continue to provide health benefits to their retirees.

Also, the idea of a premium support demonstration (or test of comparative costs) which is limited in duration and location, with strict standards of accountability and low-income beneficiary protections, could strike a balance on the most intensely debated issue in the conference.

AARP urges that not only the conferees, but all members of Congress work towards an agreement that could be enacted with broad bipartisan support this year.

In the limited time remaining, we intend to continue to work with both sides to achieve the best possible legislation for our members and all Americans.

This last statement is not true. He has been working the GOP committee. I just talked Graham and Nelson's offices, and they do not yet know what it is about. So much for bipartisan compromise.

[madfloridian]

25. Dean's statement on the Medicare deal.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/

Statement by Governor Dean on Prescription Drug Bill
BALTIMORE--Governor Howard Dean, M.D., issued the following statement today:

"The Republican Medicare drug bill is a real-life HMO: Huge Missed Opportunity. Instead of taking this opportunity to come together and provide a meaningful drug benefit seniors can count on, Republicans and the White House have put the interests of the drug industry and HMOs ahead of the best interests of older Americans.

"This bill drives seniors out of traditional Medicare into heavily subsidized private drug HMOs. Under this plan, seniors could end up paying more out of pocket than they receive in benefits, and retirees could end up losing valuable drug benefits that they worked hard to earn. And the poorest seniors -- 6 million or more -- would have worse coverage than today, yet be forced to pay more for it.

"Just as with the war, politicians in Washington will be under enormous political pressure -- this time from the White House, drug lobbyists and HMOs who are mounting a full court press to pass this special interest boondoggle. But, just as with the war and NCLB, the damage this bill causes to our seniors will come back to haunt this administration and those who support it for years to come. I urge Democrats to stand up for our seniors and stand strong against the special interests and political pressure. We will have a Medicare prescription drug benefit in this country that works for our seniors only when we change Washington, change presidents, challenge corporate special interests and change the direction of this country."

[dusty64]

27. Looks like aarp is

now joining the regime to dismantle Social Security. Read it and weep.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=224920&mesg_id=224920

[loudnclear]

28. You must understand: AARP is a big, conservative business with little

real interest or efforts to really help seniors. They just want your dues and the premims you pay for their insurance which is bogus as you will find out when it is time to use it. It's probably the most expensive insurance seniors can buy the return is not worth it. AARP is simple BIG BUSINESS! They are well organized, and have learned the fine art of bamboozling their clients. I hope the go down in flames along with the bogus prescription drug bill of the Republicans.

[shirlden]

29. Trolling on the AARP boards

Have been over there for about an hour and those folks are not happy. One man posted that AARP now stands for American Association of Republican Pleasers.
Many are complaining that their posts expressing opposition to this bill and the AARP endorsement are 'disappearing' from the boards. This is just making them more angry. I anticipate that AARP is losing a lot of members tonight, including this one.

:argh:

[dusty64]

30. Yeah and it gets worse,

they are teaming with the chimp to "modernize" Social Security now. A double whammy today exposing their REAL agenda.