85 House Democrats to Leave AARP Amid Medicare Backlash

[madfloridian]

85 House Democrats To Leave AARP Amid Medicare Backlash

This gives statements from various House and Senate members, and this hogwash from Novelli himself:

SNIP..."AARP Chief Executive Officer William Novelli estimated that as many as 1,500 people had resigned their memberships by Wednesday afternoon. He said that was a relatively small number and that he doesn't expect a long-term rift within the organization or between AARP and its traditional allies on Capitol Hill...."

This is a lie, because in an interview with either Forbes or CNBC, he said 6000 had resigned by then. He is lying. I can not find the interview, but it was yesterday...which was Wednesday.

A speaker for AARP made light of the calls by saying this:
"Other groups that oppose the legislation are jamming AARP lines with angry calls from their members....."

Hey AARP, that is your own members calling!

Graham's stand is not very firm, but I assume it means a NO vote:
""I disagree with AARP. I think they've made a seriously bad mistake," said Graham, whose office has received almost 250 calls criticizing the AARP decision, compared with less than 100 in support. "But I think at least for the foreseeable future, the way to deal with that is not to leave but rather to try to be a voice inside of the organization for change."

[jiacinto]

1. what happened exactly

nbt

[jiacinto]

2. what happened exactly

nbt

[madfloridian]

3. They endorsed the Medicare bill against members' wishes.

They worked with the Republican leadership to forge this bill while the Democrats were often left out of the loop....that is...except for Breaux and Baucus. They have strong ties to the insurance industry.
See www.americanprogress.org

See the link on the right side of the chimp picture.

[Faygo Kid]

4. So very disappointed - and a member

AARP has become increasingly fat, happy and corporatist. They are smug and unresponsive. Time for new leadership - they need to get out of DC once in a while. Great for those who work there; otherwise, forget it.

[Walt Starr]

5. Graham is full of shit.

"But I think at least for the foreseeable future, the way to deal with that is not to leave but rather to try to be a voice inside of the organization for change."

BULLSHIT! That argument does not now, nor has it ever, held water.

That's like saying that if the Democratic Party came out and endorsed chimpy, you should stay in the Democratic Party "to try to be a voice inside of the organization for change."

Fuck that shit. The only thing these oprganizations understand is the bottom line. If enough members quit paying dues, they'll get the picture.

[onecitizen]

6. You know, I've tried to stay.........

optimistic over everything. But I'm beginning to tire. I don't have any strength left. But I'm getting old and sick. I'm counting on you guys to fight back for us. At least I'm hoping. But I would understand if you too were tired of it all.

[madfloridian]

8. Hey, I will keep fighting for you.

I am no spring chicken, but I am too mad too stop. I hate to hear you sound so sad. We will get back at them some day for putting us all through this.
Hang in there, onecitizen...

:grouphug:
Group hug.

[onecitizen]

9. AAhhh thanx madfloridian!!

In fact, your message picked me up again!! I've been following your posts since yesterday afternoon. They help me a lot. Thanx again!!

One

[Mari333]

7. I quit and so did my husband and we asked for a refund!

The volume of calls to AARP was immense today...I was on hold for half an hour...Looks like everyone is quitting YAY!!!!!!! Hit em where it hurts....THEIR POCKETBOOKS.

[Tansy_Gold]

11. On hold with the Phoenix office 20 minutes this morning. . . .

. . . . because their phones were so jammed with calls related to the Medicare legislation. (That's what the recording said, not just my assumption!)

Hubby and I will not renew our membership.

I'll be looking at the Association for Retired Americans tomorrow.

[KoKo]

10. Good Catch! The discrepancies! obviously AARP Leadership isn't

Internet Savy! Thanks for this post!

[ignatius]

12. I e-mailed them and dropped my and my husbands membership.

I told them it was a pork project for Pharmaceuticals and insurance companies and shamed them for selling out their members. Their website wasn't the most user friendly, but I eventually found the contact spot.