Hillary only Democratic candidate to show up at AARP convention...

[SaveElmer]

Curious choice by the rest of the field, as the 55+ voting block is the most reliable and active voting group...making up 50% of primary goers...

Possibly a vivid manifestation of why Obama and Edwards are behind...but as ronnykmarshall would say...they probably aren't hip enough for Obama and Edwards...

Good summary by georgep at MyDD...

Here is where Obama (and also Edwards) are losing the nomination battle - in the trenches. Where are they when it comes to senior issues? Where are they when it comes to making their case to seniors? This conference drew 27,000 people to Boston. A good number of neighboring New Hampshire seniors are getting a close look at Clinton, none of the other candidates bothered to show. This senior convention and Clinton's showing is headlining articles in every New Hampshire newspaper and will probably picked up by many newspapers in communities with heavy senior shares.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/9/8/115743/9915

Hillary wowed 'em...

Sen. Hillary Clinton brought her considerable star power to an awestruck crowd of thousands of retirees yesterday, vowing to revamp Social Security, fix the nation’s health care system and end the “war on science.”

Clinton (D-N.Y.) turned on the charm, joking about her age and taking shots at President Bush during the half-hour speech to the AARP conference at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

“I turn 60 this year,” she said to loud applause. “Speaking for myself, I consider it the new 30.”

She saved her sharpest barbs for Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq and said Washington needs to “get away from no-bid contracts and cronyism.”

“I want to rebuild our standing in the world,” she said.

She also called for increased stem cell and biotech research, saying, “We need to end the war on science going on in America.”

Earlier, Republican former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke. The two were the only 2008 presidential candidates to accept the invitation to speak to the convention, which has attracted 27,000 people to Boston. AARP officials say 25 percent of all 2004 presidential voters were members of the organization.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/politics/view.bg?articleid=1030086

[ccpup]

1. Good for Hillary

but I would like to know why the other candidates neglected to attend. I mean, as far as I know, the older voters are the ones who vote in almost every single election ... including mid-terms! Curious choice on Obama's and Edward's part to not be there. :shrug:

[SaveElmer]

2. Very bizarre...

I don't know if they think the "change" they are trying to push would not be congruous with an older audience...

Seems to me it is a huge lost opportunity...speaking as a Hillary supporter I'm glad they weren't there...

[emilyg]

5. I'm in the 55+

Have never missed voting. Very curious.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

68. HOAX! HOAX! HOAX! That's why-- the other candidates are addressing AARP, on different dates!

This is nothing more than variations in campaign schedules and dates, being misrepresented by Hillary supporters as some sort of snub by the other candidates against AARP and retirees. It's an arrogant, transparent attempt at disinformation in the style of Swift Boat and other Republican dirty tricks. The other major Democratic candidates are addressing AARP gatherings (as well as fora, fundraisers, vote-canvassing efforts) on other dates in their calendars. This is nothing more than a classic misinformation campaign by the Hillary boosters. Do not fall for it!

[DURHAM D]

71. Why don't you post BO's and JE's schedule

for addressing an AARP gathering or any groups of a similar size?

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

80. Here you go

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=330

Again, they are addressing the AARP forum-- they are *not* snubbing the AARP!

[DURHAM D]

84. That is the debate.

What - 3000 people in the hall...

Not all will be seniors - that very important most likely to vote crowd.

Very different opportunity.

Obama not attending debate either.

Your repeated posts saying it is a HOAX is a HOAX.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

91. Give it up, DurhamD, you're full of it here, you've been busted and you know it

Like I wrote in response to you elsewhere:

"Yes, I do know the difference between a convention and a debate, and you are either clueless are pathetically dishonest in trying to play up differences in attendance in either as something qualititatively distinct! It's because of you and the other Hillary Clinton dirty-tricksters that a lot of us thoroughbred Democrats-- who may not have liked Hillary much, but have still considered voting for her in the general-- are so infuriated, that we will *not* vote for her at all!

Conventions, debates, fora, all of these are MAJOR EVENTS sponsored by the AARP, *that's* what counts. The major candidates cannot show up to every single event sponsored by the AARP or any other organization, they are going to have to divide their schedule up-- Hillary will show up to the AARP one day and not on another day, while the other candidates will show up to address the AARP on different days.

Yes, if the other major candidates just blew off the AARP and didn't show up at all to their major events, then indeed this would be a snub. But this is not the case-- they are simply showing up at different days, and the OP's highlighting of the convention itself (not to mention yours, Durham) is nothing but a transparent attempt to misinform Democratic voters. Too bad for you it's blowing up right in your face!" (FWIW Obama's participation in the debate is still up in the air, but the other major Dem candidates are a *certainly* for the AARP forum later in September, thus the original poster's assertion of a snub is a lie. More info: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=330 )

Rather than trying to pull BS like this and assuming that the rest of us Dems are stupid sheep for your dirty tricks, why not talk up the positives of your candidate as a progressive? As it is, you've done nothing but ensure that (1) your campaign has no credibility and (2) a very, very large number of us will never, ever vote for Hillary in the general election. How can we provide our support if the camp's supporters are trying to deceive fellow Democrats, ourselves? This is not something we'll tolerate!

[snowbear]

99. Muddy,

Is Mz Clinton your candidate of choice?

Sorry.. just trying to figure out why you're trying to clarify what a hardcore Clinton supporter reported.


Thanks.. sign me: confused :crazy:

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

101. Hi Larissa, I used to be a fervent Clinton supporter, now undecided

I was a big Clinton supporter during the 2000 Senate campaign but was angered by Hillary's stands on Iraq and bellicosity, economic stands against workers and other issues. However, I'm not against everything she espouses and at the present time, while I'm not leaning toward Hillary, I'm still undecided. (This is *not* the case for many of my Democratic friends incidentally, many of whom will not vote for her at all, even in the general election-- and most of them are definitely not the Netroots.)

My clarification and challenge to the OP here is just a matter of correcting misinformation, since I noticed it seems to be affecting many people. The Democratic Party is not supposed to be the party of Swiftboating and other dissembling tactics, and we definitely cannot be making critical decisions on the basis of misinformation. That's why I confronted it, wrote about it in another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3506313

[snowbear]

112. Awww Mudster,

me ---> <--- you

Between the time I asked you this question and now, I zipped upstairs and made my little girl some outrageously good waffles that I happened to find a recipe for on the net inbetween reading threads here. She wanted waffles and scrambled eggs for dinner..

Me, I'm a Clarkie - who - because he doesn't seem to be running this time around .. am about 51% Obama, and 49% Edwards..

And it's not that I don't love and respect Hillary Clinton. I do! I'd give anything to have a U.S. Senator like her. But the electoral map is one big red blob with a couple of blue dots on it if she's the Democratic candidate.

We've been through too many years of HELL with the most disgusting administration in history and we have to.... have to.... HAVE TO be extremely cautious in selecting our next nominee.

Aside from issues like Iraq, education, the environment, etc.. we need someone who has-

- Likability outside of one political affiliation
- Electability in every state in the nation
- A non-polarizing candidate
- A change in direction (I'm sorry, but 28 years of Bush > Clinton > Bush Clinton ain't it)

I know the HRC supporters here (bless their pea-pickin' hearts) work their loyal asses off on here posting the MSM polls that all favor her BIG TIME right now -- but those polls don't mean chit. They really don't.

Just look how the polling has turned out at live events where we knew that actual progressives (not John Q. Public who can say anything he damn well pleases on a random phone call) have voted.

The MSM blows off the results at those events, but I'd wager anything they're a much better indicator of how Democrats feel than some dude in his underwear in Peoria answering a phone poll that he's snickering about as he manipulates the response. Or maybe the Democrat in Tacoma who just hasn't had time to examine the candidates and is responding by name recognition at this point.

If you're a reporter or other mediahead, you'd be crazy not to want to cover an HRC v. Whoever election. When Senator Obama won the straw poll at the "Take Back America" Convention, and Edwards came in a close second Chris Matthews just rolled his eyes when the pundit on his show discussed the results.

Matthews wouldn't hear of it. He dropped any further discussion and of today continues to echo "Hillary's in, there's no doubt about it, she's in for the Democrats."

It's mind-boggling to read how some HRC supporters actually think the other side would have nothing to cover because in their opinion "it's all been covered before"

HA!!!

Maybe it gives them some sort of comfort to try and believe that, but we all know better.

No one knows how the election will turn out.. And there's always a good chance that the ultimate Democratic nominee is a darkhorse that is rarely brought up here. Stranger things have happened.

We'll know soon enough!

for your great response.

p.s. Do you like blues music? Not sure if you've ever heard of John Hammond, but I always catch him when he comes up to Anchorage!

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Maybe the other candidates recognise that AARP is less an

advocacy group than an insurance conglomerate. It does nothing but scam people into buying THEIR insurance policies over the ones the people already have. That is evidenced by the way they shilled for the so-called prescription plan which is just a giveaway to big pharma and the insurance companies that share their profits.

I think she showed her true colors, here.

AARP sucks.

[ananda]

37. I belong to AARP.

I haven't bought any of its insurance, but I took
advantage of its free tax prep service and that
was very nice.

AARP really does more than sell insurance.

Sue

[Honeycombe8]

58. True. They have a great magazine, too. But they make their money brokering ins.

or selling ins. That's their primary business. They are not really a down-home friendly organization for the 50+ crowd. It's an ins. brokerage firm that sells memberships to 50+ crowd for discounts to different things...and mainly to sell insurance to them....AARP getting the commissions from those sales. An ingenious business plan.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

69. Sue, again, this is a HOAX-- the other candidates are NOT snubbing the AARP!

The other candidates are merely meeting with AARP members and staff on other dates-- and also taking part in things like fora and fundraisers. There is *no* snub of the AARP here! Do not be suckered into this, it is nothing more than a blatant attempt at misrepresentation by Hillary boosters!

[DURHAM D]

77. Schedule please. n/t

[DURHAM D]

75. You have got to be kidding.

38 million members receive regular mailings. Do you think they are all brown shirts? 25% percent of the voters in the general election will be members of the organization. Probably an even higher percentage of the people who vote in the primaries will be members.

Stupid political move by the others.

Bush avoided (out of fear) the gathering in 2004 - Kerry spoke to them.

Gore spoke to them in 2000.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

66. This is a HOAX by Hillary boosters-- the other candidates *are* addressing the AARP on other dates!

People, please, do not take these sorts of posts at face value, don't be suckered so easily! The other candidates are indeed addressing the AARP, but they're so on different dates in their campaign schedule. It's the same way that candidates address other organizations such as the NAACP and the UNCF on different dates in the year. This was just a day that Hillary addressed them and not the other candidates-- they will do so on other dates. The Hillary boosters here are merely trying to spread disinformation-- they are trying to present this as a snub on the part of the other candidates, when in fact, it's nothing more than the other candidates having different campaign schedules to address the AARP (not only the large meetings but the fora, discussion panels, fundraising, canvassing for votes and other aspects).

This is nothing more than Hillary supporters trying to push a Swift Boat-style disinformation campaign.

[napi21]

109. I haven't chosen a candidate yet, but I checked JE's site and there's

nothing listed for today. http://johnedwards.com/events/

Also checked Obama's site and he was in Or. today. http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Neither has any events indicating Seniors or AARP events.

I suppose there could be something in the future that just isn't on their sites yet, but I think it's wrong of you to make accusations against the OP when it sure looks like that's what happened.

[sandnsea]

3. AARP was started by an insurance agent

Insurance companies are always wooing the AARP in order to sell insurance to their membership. Not the most objective position for an organization to be in when they say they're advocating for the people.

[SaveElmer]

6. What does that have to do...

With candidates deciding to snub 27,000 seniors...a captive audience likely to vote Democratic...seems idiotic to me...particularly with the heavy coverage of the convention in New Hampshire...

But as I said, probably as good a demonstration of why Obama and Edwards are so far behind as you will see...

[saracat]

9. Because AARP was in bed with Bush?It isn't about the seniors.

[SaveElmer]

11. So 27,000 seniors show up to the Boston AARP convention...

And Obamards are snubbing them to make a statement about them being in bed with Bush...?

If that's the case they are even more politically inept than I thought...but hey, fine by me...I am sure Hillary will be glad to take their concession of their votes to her...

[saracat]

14. Well, thank god no senior in my family is voting for her! They won't in the primary

and they won't vote for her in the general they say.But hey each to his own! Personaly, I think the other candidates should have gone.I am only guessing as to why they didn't! I guess even Dennis or Richardson didn't go either? Hmm

[Clintonista2]

28. If the AARP is "in bed with Bush", then why did only Mike Huckabee of the Republicans show up?

You would think that with such a die hard repig crowd, all of the Republican candidates would be extremely happy to attend.

[porkrind]

46. Not a big deal.

Just because candidates chose to or not to attend the AARP convention, it doesn't mean that their policies are worth voting for. IMHO, Hillary's pro-corporate / pro-CFR / anti-populist planks would turn off any senior unless they were republicians or right-wing democrats.

[katmondoo]

4. As a senior citizen I am not going to forget this

[monmouth]

7. Me neither. She made a real point for me and I love her for it. The others

made a very large mistake. Now that I'm retired with too much time spent on DU, I'm being educated and have a keen interest in what interests the candidates. She's my girl now!

[Tellurian]

41. Isn't Oprah doing her fundraiser tonight for BO?

Good karma for Hillary on her solo appearance in front of the AARP. I'm sure they won't forget very quickly they were snubbed by the other Dem candidates!

[napi21]

110. It looks like Obama was in OR. today. See the link.

Obama hits familiar themes for enthusiastic Oregon crowd
Associated Press | September 08, 2007


http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

[CTyankee]

42. Like you, I am retired and spending much too much time on DU but

like you I do get educated!

As an Edwards supporter, I am disappointed that he didn't see an opportunity here. I doubt if most seniors link Big Pharma with AARP. I know I was angry when AARP endorsed Part D, so I am sceptical about the organization myself now.

However, 27,000 seniors, and so close to NH, that's a real shot and it looks like Hillary took it. She is one smart operator. Seniors all over will hear about this, I betcha. I'm sorry John didn't speak because I know he could have wowed them too!

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

74. No, CTyankee, this is a hoax, do not fall for it!

Edwards and the other Democrats have not snubbed the AARP! They're not dumb, they know how important the organization is, and they're addressing it on different dates! Don't fall for the disinformation campaign of the Hillary camp.

[dugggy]

106. AARP is not hard core progressive which is what Edwards is going after

Edwards is far left of H Clinton and left of Obama.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

63. This is a BS story, don't fall for it-- no snub here, other candidates meeting AARP different dates

Yet another classic piece of duplicity by some Clinton supporters to tar the other candidates. This is not some BS snub of the AARP or senior citizens by the other candidates-- the various candidates are showing up to meet and talk with the AARP on various dates. Hillary happened to choose this particular date, the other candidates are showing up on different dates. (This doesn't include forums, and various other canvassings of AARP and its members.) Pathetic, SaveElmer, truly pathetic to falsely cast this as a snub. Shameful.

[saracat]

8. Many seniors are disgusted with AARP.That may be why the others didn't go.AARP

has been really cosy with Bush and sponsored the prescription drug plan that is no darn good!All the seniors in my fgamily dropped AARP!

[daninthemoon]

13. Hadn't heard that, but wouldn't this still be the best forum to address

this vital demogographic? Seems like a huge blunder for ALL the other candidates to miss.

[saracat]

15. Who knows.It is odd that NO One went.

[Clintonista2]

30. Well, considering the contempt that Obama has displayed for the elderly in the past

It's not odd that HE didn't show up.

[daninthemoon]

49. contempt? that's a strong word. what did he do?

[Clintonista2]

54. Two things:

He made his discriminatory "Everyone knows alot of old people who have bad judgement" statement, then he made his "the baby boomers need to get over themselves" statement.

[enough already]

79. "Contempt?"

This is why I will never, EVER vote for her. Some of you assholes supporting her are just beyond belief. The idea that Obama would "display contempt for the elderly" is just beyond ridiculous. Fuck you and fuck your candidate.

[Clintonista2]

97. Wow, e-rage much?

Do you deny that he said any of that?

[Tellurian]

104. Obama Tells Boomers: "Get Over Yourselves"

Shushing the Baby Boomers




THE time has come, Senator Barack Obama says, for the baby boomers to get over themselves.

In taking the first steps toward a presidential candidacy last week, Mr. Obama, who was born in 1961 and considers himself a member of the post-boomer generation, said Americans hungered for “a different kind of politics,” one that moved beyond the tired ideological battles of the 1960s.

To make his point, Mr. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois in his first term in the Senate, announced the formation of his presidential exploratory committee in a video streamed on his Web site. He is tieless and relaxed and oh so cool.

Mr. Obama calculates that Americans of all ages are sick of the feuding boomers and ready to turn to the generation that came of age after Vietnam, after the campus culture wars between freaks and straights, and after young people had given up on what überboomer

****Hillary Rodham Clinton (who made her own announcement on the Web yesterday) called in a 1969 commencement address a search for “a more immediate, ecstatic and penetrating mode of living.”****

Yes, vote for a president that doesn't believe in age discrimination against any age of Americans! That would be Senator Clinton!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/weekinreview/21broder.html?ex=1327035600&en=b1368edf6827a3a9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

76. Yes, that's because this post is a HOAX!! Other candidates addressing AARP on different dates

People, please, do not fall for this-- it's a hoax, the other candidates are addressing the AARP on other dates. This is a disinformation campaign by the Hillary camp!

[daninthemoon]

93. I was kinda wondering if they were scheduled seperately. Thanx

[CTyankee]

122. We all gotta calm down. I am sure the other candidates ARE addressing other

AARP events. But this story was not about their venues; only about this particular one.

It would be a strange candidate, indeed, that went around pissing off seniors. It just doesn't make sense to me. Which is why I am not particularly concerned about this little tempest...

[RaleighNCDUer]

39. AARP is not a seniors forum - it is an insurance industry forum.

If they really gave a shit about seniors they would not have shilled for the medicare prescription plan which denies the government the ability to negotiate on drug prices ON BEHALF OF SENIORS.

[Honeycombe8]

59. You hit the nail on the head. nt

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

64. Daninthemoon, again, this is a HOAX-- the other candidates are addressing AARP on different dates

There are specific addresses of the AARP and other retiree organizations (not to mention fora, discussion panels, other forms of canvassing) that the other major Democratic candidates are conducting, just on different dates. Do *not* fall for this attempt at deception by the Hillary boosters. This is little more than a Swift-Boat style attempt at misrepresentation and misinformation on their part.

[Captain Hilts]

20. You never miss a chance to talk to people aged 55+. They vote. VFW, etc. nt

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

65. HOAX! HOAX! This is *not* a snub by Edwards, Obama et al of AARP, they're doing it different dates!

People, please, think skeptically about this, don't fall so easily for such an obvious hoax by the Hillary boosters (or paid campaign staff here, not sure which). Do you honestly think that Edwards, Obama, Richardson and so forth would be so stupid as to snub the single largest advocacy organization in the country, one that represents a critical demographic, dealing with fundamental issues for the 2008 election? This is a BS story!!! The other candidates are merely addressing the AARP on different dates-- Hillary chose this particular one, the other candidates are just doing this on different days (along with various fora addresses, panels, other canvassing of the organization and its members). This is nothing but a Swift Boat-style attempt at misinformation by Hillary supporters. Do not fall so easily for this!

[Forkboy]

67. Is there info somewhere along those lines?

That would be very, very nice to see posted here. ;)

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

82. At your service, my friend

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=330

The implication of the original poster is that the other candidates have been snubbing the AARP, which they manifestly are *not* doing! This forum is just one example of the involvement of the other candidates in AARP and its events!

[DURHAM D]

85. Look - don't you get the difference between a convention

and the debate? It really isn't that hard.

HOAX HOAX HOAX - YOU.

Still a dumb political move by Edwards and Obama.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

89. Nice try, but your straw man is pathetic

Yes, I do know the difference between a convention and a debate, and you are either clueless are pathetically dishonest in trying to play up differences in attendance in either as something qualititatively distinct! It's because of you and the other Hillary Clinton dirty-tricksters that a lot of us thoroughbred Democrats-- who may not have liked Hillary much, but have still considered voting for her in the general-- are so infuriated, that we will *not* vote for her at all!

Conventions, debates, fora, all of these are MAJOR EVENTS sponsored by the AARP, *that's* what counts. The major candidates cannot show up to every single event sponsored by the AARP or any other organization, they are going to have to divide their schedule up-- Hillary will show up to the AARP one day and not on another day, while the other candidates will show up to address the AARP on different days.

Yes, if the other major candidates just blew off the AARP and didn't show up at all to their major events, then indeed this would be a snub. But this is not the case-- they are simply showing up at different days, and the OP's highlighting of the convention itself (not to mention yours, Durham) is nothing but a transparent attempt to misinform Democratic voters. Too bad for you it's blowing up right in your face!

[DURHAM D]

92. A "thoroughbred Democrat" would not post your angry drivel.

Edwards and Obama skipped the Big Event - no way to change that.

Obama is skipping the debate - no way to spin that.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

95. What angry drivel? You mean, being incensed by disinformation by one candidate's campaign

against other Democrats? I am for the Democratic Party and its values first and foremost. And one of the most important things about being a good Democrat is respecting basic rules of conduct-- i.e., not blatantly misrepresenting the views and intentions of other Democrats. This is Republican-style Swift-Boating. Bullshit has been called on you, you know it, and you just can't take it.

[DURHAM D]

98. You are just angry at your candidate for making

a dumb political mistake and are taking it out on others.

Goodbye.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

103. Who is my candidate DurhamD? Can you read?

I don't have a candidate yet, I'm undecided. In fact, I used to be an especially fervid Clinton supporter, but became angered by her Iraq War stands and her economic stands which are in favor of rich corporate executives, but against American workers. (Her fundraising stream helps to explain a lot of that.)

Look, even with this, I still haven't ruled out voting for her entirely-- although her recent statement about "leaving open the option to use nuclear weapons" against non-nuclear states has almost pushed me over that edge-- but you and other Hillary supporters should know, that there are millions of other Democrats who are different from me and will not vote for Hillary at all, even in the general election if she's nominated.

The reason is partly her policies, but also, many Dems are infuriated at these kinds of underhanded tactics. You and other Clinton supporters like you are doing Hillary tremendous damage with these sorts of things, because we can see through them. To the extent that Hillary herself is promoting these sorts of things, even holding a war room to personally attack opponents like Edwards and Richardson, she's angering the Democratic base so much that she's guaranteeing a defeat for herself in the 2008 general election if she's nominated. We're not stupid, and transparent attempts like this that take us for being stupid only turn the Democratic rank-and-file only more intensely against her at all levels, it's a lesson that you need to learn.

[sufrommich]

117. How is this disinformation?

Did the other candidates show up for the convention,or not? Does the OP state that the other candidates will never speak to AARP or it's reps?I don't get your point. The fact that they choose not to attend the convention seems pretty cut and dried.

[Tellurian]

102. Call the Wambulance...

They're cryin' again!

[Captain Hilts]

105. No, no I don't. I didn't think they'd miss the chance. EVERYONE talks to these groups. nt

[DURHAM D]

22. My cousin attends the AARP gathering every year.

She is not political at all (probably doesn't know anything about the drug sellout) - to her it is just a social gathering.

I am sure that Hillary picked up her vote just by her attendance.


Also, a lot of people over 65 use various AARP programs to meet insurance and drug needs. They don't consider themselves to be supporting the AARP - they think they are using them to get the best deal.

[struggle4progress]

31. Bingo!

[Yuugal]

35. "As a senior citizen I am not going to forget this"

Yes you are.... :evilgrin:

sorry couldnt help myself

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

73. Katmondoo, again, this is a HOAX-- do not fall for it! Other candidates not snubbing AARP!

The other candidates are just meeting with the AARP on other dates, also attending fora, fundraisers, canvassing for votes and so on. This is a blatant attempt at disinformation by the Hillary camp!

[Sukie1941]

10. I thought I was cool.......

will have to have a redo in some areas.

[izzie]

12. Big error on not turning up.

First of all old people vote and second women are in general the care givers in most families I think. That brings her power up with all this group and the others down. I can recall when Jimmy Carter ran and came to Portsmouth NH. His down to earth ways just went around the whole of that little city. It is self feeding and some thing like this will also be. I generally think she does care any how as she has had to play the care giver for her family for years and put her wants behind every one else. A thing many men do not have to do. Not that they do not do it very well at times but it does not seem to be the general thing that falls onto men. Please do not jump on me I am saying as a general thing. This will play better for her than a good ad on TV I am willing to bet. A real bang for the time spent.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

83. NOT an error izzie, this is a HOAX, disinformation by Hillary boosters!

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=330

The other candidates *are* taking part in AARP events and addressing the AARP, they're just doing so at different points in their schedules! Obviously, the major candidates aren't going to be at the same place on particular days. This was Hillary's day to address the AARP-- on other days, she'll address other organizations. Similarly, the other major Dems did not address the AARP recently while addressing other organizations-- they will address the AARP later. This is not a snub, it is a Swift Boat-style disinformation campaign by the Hillary boosters!

[DURHAM D]

86. If it is disinformation by Hillary boosters then

then would need to own the Boston Globe just for starters.

[izzie]

116. Thank God for that. You would think every one would know this

group votes.

[DFW]

16. Someone made a big miscalculation

They let Hillary walk with this. I'm still undecided (I'm not in the 55+
category yet, but no longer in the 55- category any more, either), but I'm
giving a thumbs-up sign--not to Hillary (yet), but to her advisers. So what
if AARP was for Bush? You don't think that Republicans want to woo back Democrats
to vote for them again? Where did the expression "Reagan Democrats" come from in
the first place? She's looking for "Hillary Republicans?" If they have half a
brain, they'll realize that she'll give them about as much of a nod as Reagan did
to the "Reagan Democrats," unless such time that she runs for re-election, should
she win the presidency. But if she can win some of them over, what the hell--better
that than President Fred, right? Edwards and Obama should have reconsidered their
decision to pass this one.

Obama and Edwards are no less good candidates for this misstep, but their campaign
teams need to be more heads-up, or they'll drive their respective candidates into
undeserved lower polling numbers. Hillary is far better in small groups than she is
before a large crowd. Obama and Edwards do not suffer from this deficiency, and thus
had a good chance to gain some ground at the AARP gathering.

In the long run, I don't think this will make a huge difference unless it becomes
symptomatic. If her team keeps her as far ahead in the polls as she is now, the only
thing left for the rest will be to look for VP or 2016 (2012 if the Republicans take
the White House in 2008--possible, but it's the courageous better that places money
on it the way things look at this juncture). I still dream of Al Gore as the nominee,
but I also only see it now if Hillary stumbles badly and repeatedly. If her team keeps
up the careful work they have done so far, and she doesn't grow a beard and embrace
Allah the Merciful on national television, any others will have to get VERY creative
if they want to overcome her lead.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

87. DFW: This is a HOAX! HOAX! Other candidates not snubbing AARP!

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/08/28//news/elections/doc46d3b37ee1baf181711602.txt

The OP was clearly implying here that the other candidates, other than Hillary, are snubbing the AARP and ignoring the organization's importance, which they clearly are *not* doing! They are simply addressing the organization on different dates, taking part in fora and so on. Obviously, major candidates address different organizations on different dates-- Hillary was just with the AARP, she'll be somewhere else tomorrow. Likewise, the other candidates were elsewhere on that day, they'll be addressing the AARP later. This is a Swift Boat action by the Hillary camp!

[DFW]

113. That would make a lot more sense. Thanks for the clarification.

Although calling it a "Swift Boat" action seems a bit strong.

[madfloridian]

17. AARP sold us out on the Medicare drug bill.

They mislead seniors on it. They used their power to push a wrongheaded bill.

[Major Hogwash]

50. And they backed Bush in 2004 when Kerry's plan was 10 times better.

I read some of the articles they had in the magazine they send out monthly and it was unreal, they must have been written by a Bush campaign insider.

[madfloridian]

52. There was a guy named Novelli....wasn't there? Ok, from 2003

I think I have that right. It was like the group was stealthily taken over by the right wing....and they got the bill through congress.

Bill Novelli? Or something close.

http://www.ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/medicare/11_20_03.cfm

"Attention AARP members
-- If you are outraged that AARP has betrayed the interests of millions of senior citizens through its support of the Republican “Medicare reform” bill intended to begin to privatize Medicare,

-- If you agree that AARP CEO Bill Novelli* has chosen to support the interests of pharmaceutical and insurance companies instead of the welfare of his members,

-- If you are astounded that AARP is cosponsoring a series of town meetings on privatizing Social Security with the National Association of Manufacturers,

-- If you are furious that AARP has taken these positions in your name,
Don’t let the AARP destroy Medicare in your name!"

(*AARP CEO Bill Novelli is a life long Republican political operative. He worked for the advertising firm that reelected Richard Nixon and wrote the preface to Newt Gingrich’s book on health care.)

He is still CEO I think.

[Major Hogwash]

55. I think you're right about him because that name sounds very familiar to me.

And there was a not-so-subtle shift to the right in 2004 in the AARP articles.
My mom and her sister both noticed it, and they weren't even that politically charged up then.
In other words, they weren't "looking" for it - it just stuck out at them.
Many AARP members quit AARP after they endorsed Bush's medicare plan.
Millions quit.

Like one ex-AARP member said, "There's no fool like an old fool, and boy, were we fooled."

[RaleighNCDUer]

61. That's why I tore up my membership card and mailed it back to

them, after being a member for less than 2 years.

I WAS outraged, astounded and furious.

[durrrty libby]

18. JE and BO are suicidal in their negligence of any over 50 crowd

Very bad move on their part. It doesn't matter if it's AARP

or a Star Trek Convention. 27,000 over fifty's is an important audience

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

78. This is a HOAX dl-- they're attending on other dates!

The AARP has many events and opportunities for the candidates to address the AARP, they are addressing them on other dates. This is a hoax and a disinformation campaign, do *not* fall for it!

[DURHAM D]

81. You have posted the same thing like a dozen times.

Saying it doesn't make it so. I have already asked you twice - please post the dates.

Otherwise you are just throwing spam on the thread.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

94. I did DurhamD, maybe you haven't been paying attention?

Here you go again:

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/08/28//news/elections/doc46d3b37ee1baf181711602.txt

I am not going to waste my time with you nitpicking the semantics of a "convention" vs. a "debate" since what matters is that both are major events, and the other Democratic candidates are attending them. This is a non-issue-- explained simply by the fact that different Dems attend functions by the AARP and other organizations on different dates in their calendar. The other Dems are manifestly not snubbing the AARP!

[Tellurian]

107. Obama snubbed them and here's why!

Shushing the Baby Boomers




"THE time has come, Senator Barack Obama says, for the baby boomers to get over themselves."

In taking the first steps toward a presidential candidacy last week, Mr. Obama, who was born in 1961 and considers himself a member of the post-boomer generation, said Americans hungered for “a different kind of politics,” one that moved beyond the tired ideological battles of the 1960s.

To make his point, Mr. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois in his first term in the Senate, announced the formation of his presidential exploratory committee in a video streamed on his Web site. He is tieless and relaxed and oh so cool.

Mr. Obama calculates that Americans of all ages are sick of the feuding boomers and ready to turn to the generation that came of age after Vietnam, after the campus culture wars between freaks and straights, and after young people had given up on what überboomer

****Hillary Rodham Clinton (who made her own announcement on the Web yesterday) called in a 1969 commencement address a search for “a more immediate, ecstatic and penetrating mode of living.”****

Yes, vote for a president that doesn't believe in age discrimination against any age of Americans! That would be Senator Clinton!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/weekinreview/21broder.html?ex=1327035600&en=b1368edf6827a3a9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Rock_Garden]

19. I'm so glad Hillary attended.

As far as I'm concerned, Hillary's turning 60 will help make her the new "44". She continues to make good choices with her campaigning, and that leads me to believe she will make good choices as President. Everyone likes to be acknowledged, and older Americans are no exception.

[Dervill Crow]

23. What you said. n/t

[Rock_Garden]

26. Bless you, Blue.

I'm pretty sure that's the first time anyone at DU ever liked anything I've said - ha!
:hi:

[Dervill Crow]

33. LOL - I can so relate!

:hi:

[jillan]

24. Sorry Biden couldn't make it - he was in Iraq

[Alamom]

25. Interesting. Thank you. nm

[Adelante]

27. Obama needs to get a grip

This was really, really dumb and will be held against him by senior voters unless he starts very soon to make a bigger effort.

[Clintonista2]

29. Haha, the sad part is, compared to Obama's other gaffes, this one was relatively minor

Boy I would hate to be an Obama supporter right now...

[Adelante]

32. I like Obama

But he needs to be careful about controlling any generational split that could be very damaging to his campaign.

[Tellurian]

108. Obama IS shocking.. Tells BOOMERS "Get Overyourselves!"

Shushing the Baby Boomers




THE time has come, Senator Barack Obama says, for the baby boomers to get over themselves.

In taking the first steps toward a presidential candidacy last week, Mr. Obama, who was born in 1961 and considers himself a member of the post-boomer generation, said Americans hungered for “a different kind of politics,” one that moved beyond the tired ideological battles of the 1960s.

To make his point, Mr. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois in his first term in the Senate, announced the formation of his presidential exploratory committee in a video streamed on his Web site. He is tieless and relaxed and oh so cool.

Mr. Obama calculates that Americans of all ages are sick of the feuding boomers and ready to turn to the generation that came of age after Vietnam, after the campus culture wars between freaks and straights, and after young people had given up on what überboomer

****Hillary Rodham Clinton (who made her own announcement on the Web yesterday) called in a 1969 commencement address a search for “a more immediate, ecstatic and penetrating mode of living.”****

Yes, vote for a president that doesn't believe in age discrimination against any age of Americans! That would be Senator Clinton!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/weekinreview/21broder.html?ex=1327035600&en=b1368edf6827a3a9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[maximusveritas]

36. He made it clear earlier that he was only going to go to the DNC-sponsored forums

They have have multiple forums like this every week. You can't expect him and the other candidates to go to all of them. And if they start picking and choosing, they get accused of ignoring one interest group in favor of another.

[CTyankee]

43. Yep, here he goes again! It is his inexperience and that of his staff

that I keep seeing over and over. I read his book, "The Audacity of Hope" as part of my research into candidates to support and I liked what I read. But he badly needed follow through and he hasn't done it. This is just another example, AFAIC.

[Marrak]

34. The others were...

doing charity...

:hurts:

[The Count]

38. Not a senior or a Hillary supporter, but she gains points with me, the others lose

It's not like AARP was Fox after all...It was a debate - for the voters' benefit. bad judgment.

[sampsonblk]

40. Obama and Edwards dropped the ball on this one

Is this what we could expect from them in the general election?

[ihelpu2see]

44. Except Edwards is wrapping up all the Labor endorsements.... I would call

that working the trenches. As well as touring the poorer neighborhoods of the country. Granted the underprivileged wont give you $100/ plate for a speech but they like to think that they count...

[BeyondGeography]

45. Doesn't bother me at all; Obama's getting a lot done out West today

and he'll spend plenty of time with seniors in non-insurance industry-dominated campaign environments by the time the Iowa caucus and the NH primary comes around.

[avrdream]

47. That may indeed be true but the AARP convention will get more MSM coverage.

We all know that the candidates are going to get time with a wide variety of voters. The key to success is how this time gets telegraphed to the bigger audience as a good thing - in this case Hillary made a very good decision by going.

[BeyondGeography]

48. Hmmmmm, an AARP convention will get more MSM coverage than the Oprah fundraiser?

Granted, the latter will do less for Obama with seniors than the former, and he'll have to make up for missing this and the upcoming Iowa AARP forum (get ready for more "Obama is promoting gnerational warfare" BS when that happens later this month) by doing his own town hall meetings with seniors (which he will).

Seems to me he's keeping his distance from the AARP and, based on their recent record, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[avrdream]

111. I'm not comparing it to Oprah's bash, just typical convention coverage.

Down here in Oz, we won't hear a whole lot of ANYTHING regarding American politics. We get Fox and CNN and BBC. During the day, we get The News Hour but I rarely get home to see it. You guys at home have a much better handle on what the MSM is covering there but I can tell you there hasn't been one iota of news down here about Oprah helping Obama, for what that's worth.

[snowbear]

114. Hello Down there in OZ...

Here's the deal.

HRC's visit with AARP doesn't mean jack shit.

Obama's visit with the first lady of television... HUGE!!!

[DURHAM D]

51. 25% of voters in the general election are members of AARP!

Heard this on the tv. Could that number be correct?

They have 38 million members over 50.

Hillary smart - Obama and Edwards not so much.

[illinoisprogressive]

53. Hope she's not going to oursource their caregivers to China or India

[dugggy]

60. Where do you think China & India will use their dollars?

The US dollars gained through outsourcing & trade
eventually have only ONE use! And that is to buy US
products/services/assets. Those dollar bills don't do
any good sitting in a vault somewhere.
Outsourcing & trade are 2-way streets.....always! It
may have a time lag, but the end result is always same.

[dugggy]

56. HRC & Big Dog know politics!! Proven winners !!!

[Honeycombe8]

57. AARP is an ins. brokerage firm. I believe they have contributed to Clinton's campaign?

Not necessarily AARP specifically...but I believe I've read that ins. cos. have contributed to Clinton's campaign. Someone can correct me if that's wrong.

That would explain why Clinton was there, but the others were not. They don't want to be associated too closely with ins. companies and brokers in this time of speaking of healthcare reform. Except that Clinton's plan involves doing what the ins. cos./brokers want...correct?

[DURHAM D]

62. Fishing much?

Kerry spoke to the group in run up to 2004. Bush avoided it.

Gore spoke to group in 2000.

Do you really think an organization with 38 million members is an insurance company?

Also, 25% of the voters in the general election will be members of AARP.

Sorry - Obama and Edwards supporters can not spin this dumb mistake.

[RaleighNCDUer]

70. AARP is NOT a seniors advocacy organization.

It IS an insurance organization. Are you a member? When was the last time you got a mailing from them that was NOT about their insurance plans?

They advocated the privitazation of Social Security (insurance companies will make a killing if SS gets privatized).

They shilled for the medicare prescription plans which disallows the government negotiating on pharma prices (insurance companies get a huge cut from inflated prices).

Those are both issues which run absolutely contrary to the better interests of seniors.

They are not an advocacy group with 38 million members. They are an insurance company umbrella organization with 38 million policy holders.

[DURHAM D]

90. I have never claimed it was an "advocacy" group.

You are the one hangup up on that and keep repeating as if that is the main point.

It is a very large organization - can you think of any other 38 million member group. Not attending the convention proves someone has a political tin ear. Kerry spoke in 2004 and Gore in 2000. Do you think Kerry was tricked into thinking they were an advocacy group? Good grief.

[RaleighNCDUer]

100. That is how they present themselves.

They speak for seniors!

Nonsense. They speak for their bottom line. They speak for corporate profits.

And in case you didn't notice, Gore spoke in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 AND THEY BOTH LOST. For a democrat to talk to an organization that actively works against what he supports is tin ear politics. (Of course, that might not apply to Hillary.) BTW, both Gore and Kerry were following the advice of DLC advisors at the time they spoke to AARP.

With 38 million subscribers, AARP members have only one thing in common. Their age. And even that ranges from 50 to 105. Generally, us old farts know better than to see that as the defining aspect of our lives.

Do you really think that AARP members could possibly vote as a block?

[Honeycombe8]

121. It's amazing how many people STILL don't know this, esp. after the Medicare Rx publicity.

President Carter even spoke about it publicly. How AARP was backing the Medicare supposed "reform act," which actually harmed its supposed members, all because it put money in its pockets, AARP being the largest insurance brokerage firm in the country.

Many AARP members dropped their memberships. Many more refused to join.

It was in all the news. Hard to believe that people don't remember this.

How did Hillary vote on the Reform Act, I wonder?

[Honeycombe8]

118. Nope, not fishin'. Repubs relied on AARP to push the Medicare Rx bill thru.

As President Carter stated on the Larry King show, it didn't surprise him that AARP was pushing that bill, which was horrible for America, since it's the LARGEST INS. BROKERAGE FIRM IN THE COUNTRY. AARP benefited GREATLY from the Rx "reform act."

The fact that this ins. company "sells memberships" so that it can have a base group to sell insurance to (AARP makes its money from the commissions of the ins. sold to its "members") doesn't make it NOT an insurance brokerage firm. It is. That's not a matter of opinion. That is one of those pesky things called facts.

Obama and Edwards were wise to stay away.

What Kerry did...well, he lost, so whatever Kerry did, there might be a good argument to NOT do.

As for Gore, the same thing.

When doing what other candidates have done, it's wisest to copy those who won, IMO.

[Capn Sunshine]

72. Since AARP sellout of seniors last year, I don't care what they do.They only want to sell insurance

If you're a senior and you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm not surprised you'd fall for this bullshit post.

AARP has scheduled the other candidates at different times, FWIW

[Honeycombe8]

119. You got that right, buster! It's a huge ins. brokerage firm that has supposed "members"...

which is to say, it sells insurance and other products to its supposed "members," and that's how it makes its money (commissions). Pretty neat trick if you can get away with it. And AARP does.

That doesn't mean it doesn't provide a valid service. It seems that it does.

But the point is...let's not forget that it is basically an insurance company. As a 50+ person who MAY join AARP one day...you can bet that I will not base my future votes on who goes to speak to some group of AARP members somewhere.

Besides, Obama's and Edwards' supporters are not generally the over-50 crowd.

[snowbear]

88. If I were a HRC supporter, I'd be embarrassed by this!

Geezuz, Democrats have been disgusted with AARP ever since they endorsed the Republican-backed Medicare bill.

Why are HRC'ers happy about their candidate attending a frigg'n AARP event?

[Honeycombe8]

120. True. How soon people forget. The AARP was instrumental in getting that bill passed. nt

[Why Syzygy]

96. You don't remember

who helped push through the disastrous changes to medicare? AARP. They are not on our side.

[JTFrog]

115. Well I guess you can't say it's a flat out lie.

Just misinformation from Boston. Other candidates will be attending other events. And the actual forum with the AARP is not until Sept. 20th.