Sent out two letters just now about the AARP betrayal

[jpgray]

One to the various campaigns, and one to Saul Friedman, who has been monitoring this bill for some time. I encourage you to write a letter to the editor, to write, call and fax your Senators and do everything possible to stop this bill. Here are the letters:

November 18, 2003

Mr. Saul Friedman:

I want to congratulate you on your series of articles on the prescription drug bill currently being vetted in Congress. You made an apt prediction about the "political winds" taking away the AARP's line in the sand for a better bill--as you no doubt already know, the AARP has wholly endorsed the bill seemingly overnight. Reports from MSNBC and statements from the organization's own website confirmed the news today, but phone calls to several offices yielded some strange answers to our complaints--the AARP representative on the other end assured us that they had not yet endorsed the bill, while the information was right in front of everyone on television and online. The change here seemed a swift one to many involved, since skepticism seemed the order of the day in weeks past based on AARP statements. Those past releases have been turned on their heads--full support has been proffered to those opportunists and highwaymen who back the bill, and many AARP members--those same 35 million who are touted in the support release--are furious.

If you want heartbreak, head to the AARP's own online community. There are many stories similar to the one you inlcuded in your article from earlier in the month, and, from the online perspective, members are abandoning the organization in droves. Why is the AARP doing this, if, as you too have seen, so many of its members are vehemently against the new legislation? Why has the AARP sold out? I wish I knew the answers to those questions. If you in your capacity as a journalist should ever come upon those answers, please don't be selfish with them--there are millions of seniors in the USA who have been stabbed in the back by the organization that was supposed to protect them. If I could find the words to express my outrage, I would use them here. If I didn't think you were aware of the bill's grotesque paddings of crony capitalism, I would give a full account of its injustices. It seems Roosevelt's New Deal is being quietly euthanized one step at a time, and we will all be the poorer for it.

Yours,
J. P. Gray

And I'll use the Kerry letter for the three campaigns I sent letters to:

November 18, 2003
Kerry Campaign:

This is an issue the Kerry camp should be front and center on before anyone else--this bill has galvanized seniors across the country. The AARP has just presided over a mass betrayal of its 35 million members by supporting this bill filled with graft for drug and insurance comapnies and long-term euthanasia for Medicare. I have included a few statements from seniors, from the AARP's own forum--all of the statements are of this nature--they are more than furious, they are seeing the New Deal they helped create die one part at a time, and the organization that supposedly represents them is spoiling for a piece of the corpse. Here are a few of the statements:

"I feel betrayed by AARP. I no longer wish to be a member. James Caputo San Diego, CA"

"You'd better get active right now if you want to preserve what little we have left of our way of life. Make some flyers, or get some. Start decorating your town with information on the true intentions of the money-grubbers. We're on our own, obviously."

"What right does AARP have to support the Bush Administration drug program for medicare. If enacted, it will destroy medicare. It will privatise medicare and only help healthy republican seniors. You didn't represent me Member number 077351911 3. You need to emphasize Ted Kennedy's objections and not endorse Bush like you did yesterday 11-15- 2003"

"My wife and I are in our fifties and are political activists. To our dismay, we find the AARP leadership have become turncoats and are supporting our political enemies and their privatizing agenda. We are aware of the Boomers who will now bail out of AARP after this Munich-style betrayal of the interest of the older American population. Indeed, the general American population when you think of the ramifications. Power to progressive organizations and no power to AARP anymore! David & Roberta Rosheim"
"I am out of here. I can't believe that AARP backed the Medicare Bill that is going to cost all seniors money they can't afford so big business can make more. How can you actually claim to support seniors? Please, send my magazine so I have my number and can quit."

you can read much more here: http://community.aarp.org/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=rp-health&ctx=65536

Please, Senator Kerry--this is a fight that needs to be fought. You have campaigned without PAC money, and your health care plan is built on the foundation of Medicare--we need you now more than ever, and you're the man for the job. Please, do what's right.

Yours,
J. P. Gray

You should SEE the fury in the AARP forums over this backstabbing--it's a force from those who are active at the ballot box, and well-informed to boot. Please don't let this bill get through! Don't let them euthanize the New Deal one step at a time.

[0007]

1. Excellent

[NJCher]

2. thanks for sharing your letters

Your last paragraph leads me to believe we haven't heard the last of this.


Cher

[Nay]

3. I sent my furious letter to the AARP website last night.

My hubby is sending his today. I hope they are overwhelmed with howling members, because this is a total betrayal of their membership. I wonder how much of it has to do with AARP offering "financial services" and wanting to get a piece of the pie if SS is privatized? I would hate to think they were that venal.