Democrats Fear GOP Probes Are Muzzling AARP In Medicare Fight

[sasha031]

WASHINGTON -- In the battle over the Republican budget plan that passed the House Friday, Democratic insiders have been left wondering why the American Association of Retired Persons, the powerful lobby for older Americans and the defender of all things Medicare, has been largely sitting on the sidelines.

After all, the budget proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), if signed into law, would slash Medicare and convert it to a system of government subsidies for private insurance. AARP has put out a statement raising concerns about that plan and fired up an email campaign to oppose it, but several Democratic operatives said they had hoped the lobby would do much more.

For his part, AARP spokesman James Dau insisted the lobby was fully engaged, contacting every House member and generating 126,000 grassroots emails opposing the Ryan budget in just 48 hours. "AARP has been working at the national and grassroots levels fighting against threats to critical lifeline programs like Social Security and Medicare since the deficit debate began more than a year ago," Dau said.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/15/democrats-fear-gop-probes-muzzle-aarp_n_849939.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[glowing]

1. AARP is into the insurance crap.. they would make $$$ off the deal.

[DJ13]

3. Exactly

Its a repeat of their selling out their members with the Bush prescription drug plan.

They sat on their hands when that was being debated as well.

[freshwest]

5. So true! And they went along with the GOP Medicare RX mess during the Bush years to bankrupt it.

[northoftheborder]

6. Correct. They talk out of both sides of their mouth.

[animato]

2. What dirty things - like the attack on Acorn - are they doing?

I will read the article and hope they know details. Thanks.

[RagAss]

4. I sent them a letter telling them to revoke my membership...

and take me off their mailing list. I told their leadership that they should hang their heads in shame.