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AARP left out of health care debate?
While the MSM was lapping up GOP smears about "death panels", no one thought of asking AARP about it. Surely, an organization dedicated to advocating for the elderly would be opposed to anything that might harm their constituents, right?
I found this helpful page, where they warned people about myths and fearmongering:
AARP also has a site they are pushing, www.healthactionnow.org. It does a good job of debunking many of the GOP lies and smears. Check it out.
I found this helpful page, where they warned people about myths and fearmongering:
Myth: Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.
Fact: Health care reform will NOT give the government the power to make life-and-death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. Those decisions will be made by individuals, their doctor and their family.
Fact: No one, including the government or your insurance company, will be given power to make life-and-death decisions for you.
Bottom Line: Health care reform isn't about putting the government in charge of difficult end of life decisions. It's about giving individuals and families the option to talk with their doctors in advance about difficult choices every family faces when loved ones near the end of their lives.
AARP also has a site they are pushing, www.healthactionnow.org. It does a good job of debunking many of the GOP lies and smears. Check it out.
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I saw an AARP spokesman on Fox News and he did a great job countering the spin the anchor offered by way of loaded questions. I think they are indeed out there and they have a very diverse constituency across all political lines.
August 14, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wondered about this too while watching some of the televised Town Hall Meetings on my local channels. Although AARP has at times been criticized by some, I am glad to hear they are making the effort to get on programs and be heard. They do have a large base of members. It is to the point now where the average person doesn't have a lot of trust left. I think this is particularly true for many senior citizens.
August 14, 2009 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
AARP gave us the 'DONUT HOLE'...They leadership in AARP is mostly now under 40...It is about profitabilty...Look at the AARP mag.. how many insurance and pharmacological ads do you see!
They may be making weak attempts to sound helpful but that is BS...They recieve millions from HC corps lobbyists!
August 15, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The local AARP here in the Chicago burbs was helping Campaign for Better Health Care organize for health care reform. They were abruptly pulled out on orders from their Washington HQ.
But tonight on MSNBC I saw a AARP pro reform ad denigrating groups who are standing in the way.
Go figure.
August 14, 2009 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
good post, afrog. thanks.
August 15, 2009 12:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's doubtful AARP will completely withhold campaign finance dollars from pols who oppose health care reform. Meanwhile, Armey & Co have created these "senior advocacy groups" that may not have any actual membership to speak of, but who do have massive amounts of corporate monies to pass along to compliant elected officials.
The Washington calculation, therefore, is to "listen" to the latter groups as your "constituency," while keeping the legitimate senior advocates like AARP and the California Nurses Association at the margins for fear that they might muddy the waters by talking real issues instead of fattening campaign coffers.
Can we ever get to Health Care Reform without Campaign Finance Reform? It's difficult, but necessary. Keep up the good fight! It's never been more necessary than now if we hope to ever take back our government.
August 15, 2009 6:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point on CFR. The Blue Dogs, for instance, who are holding up HCR, are corrupt sellouts, not to the right, but to their sponsors.
August 15, 2009 7:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
On a side note: NYT had this
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/louises-second-act/
Louise Caire Clark is making a karmic comeback.
Fifteen years after she starred in the infamous Harry and Louise ads — the televised spots that are generally credited with having turned the tide of public opinion against Clinton-era health reform — she and Harry are back, angling for a shot at redemption, with a new ad campaign, “Get the Job Done,” in support of the Obama plan.
August 15, 2009 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fix healthcare by throwing self-serving politicians out of office
Why is it that when Barack Obama was running for President he attacked pharmaceutical companies and now he has teamed up with them to promote his health care plan? Why are all the tort lawyers big democratic supporters and multi-millionaires? Obama’s true intentions are so obvious that even the left is starting to express concerns. For example, on August 10, CBS Evening News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson filed a report stating that “the White House agreed not to seek price controls on drugs for seniors on Medicare and would not support importing cheaper drugs from Canada.” According to Attkisson, “The pharmaceutical industry is now so firmly in the President's camp it's developing plans to spend up to $150 billion promoting it with TV ads.”
According to the acting president of Public Citizen and founder and director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, Dr. Sidney Wolfe, “An all sort of off the record deal was reached that is very bad for the American public.” Other experts say that for their cooperation, Obama is allowing pharmaceutical companies to charge $50 for a $2 pill and is assuring them that there will be no changes to the laws that make it near impossible for less expensive generic drugs to reach the American market.
Unless tort lawyers, the pharmaceutical lobby and other special interest groups like the AMA, ADA and the AARP are dealt with to preserves the Constitution and the free market system, while also protecting the medical provider and consumer, no healthcare plan can work.
Cybercorrespondent
http://cybercorrespondent.blogspot.com
August 17, 2009 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink