Posted on 11/20/2003 3:51:57 PM PST by neverdem
Not for the first time, one has to give the White House political team some credit: They have split Ted Kennedy from the AARP, and the resulting Democratic backbiting has been very helpful to Republicans. But Republicans had better remember that the split is likely to be temporary.
Earlier today, Speaker of the House Denny Hastert issued a press release defending the AARP from the attacks of various Democrats. He said, "I have had years of discussions with the AARP and respect their opinions. I can say that AARP has always been steadfast with one goal in mind — to help seniors get better benefits so they can lead more productive, healthier lives." Hastert has also said that the AARP's endorsement of the Medicare bill represents a "good housekeeping seal of approval." Florida congresswoman Katherine Harris said that in her district, "the AARP is considered the gold standard on these issues."
Let's try to think our way through to next year, or the year after that. Let's assume that the Medicare bill is everything Newt Gingrich et al say it is: fiscally prudent, chock full of reforms, market-oriented. Presumably as soon as the bill passes, Ted Kennedy will start trying to "fix" the bill, as he would have it, to eliminate just these features. He will introduce a liberal bill to reform the reforms — and it will be one that can get the support of AARP, which has been promoting today's bill while acknowledging that it is not entirely thrilled by it. Hastert and company will then find themselves fighting a bill that has earned what they themselves are now calling a good housekeeping seal of approval, from an organization that has nothing dearer to its heart than the interests of seniors.
AARP's political clout is nothing to sneeze at. But it's also not an unerring guide to the views of America's elderly. During the debate over the Medicare bill, people in Washington have occasionally reflected on the last attempt to add prescription-drug coverage to Medicare: the catastrophic health care bill of 1988. That attempt was a miserable failure, generating intense opposition from its supposed beneficiaries. Retirees weren't willing to pay for new benefits. The bill had to be repealed within a year. Over the last year, there has been some speculation that the whole scenario could be replayed. If so, let's not forget another parallel: AARP was for the catastrophic health-care bill too.
I wouldn't be too sure about that. The picture of Tiny Tom holding an anti-prescription sign is going to have a significant impact on the Demos credibility among seniors.
First they want coverage, then they don't want coverage even though AARP says it's an okay bill.... Then they start attacking the group representing their largest constituency... Whose side are they on?
They're definitely not doing themselves any good.
Oh, Tom... Nancy... if you're reading this, I'm just kidding. Keep accusing AARP of being in bed with the drug companies. Seniors love that stuff. Trust me.....
Mark my words. In all my years of bureaucratic experience in a university, I've never ONCE seen a "pilot" program that wasn't adopted full force. That's because it doesn't get to be a "pilot" without tremendous support in certain quarters.
Moreover, anyone who knows the market knows that given just a sliver of an opening, the market will defeat subsidized or socialized programs every day of the week. Corny Vanderbilt constantly defeated subsidized government rivals in his shipping business; James J. Hill defeated the Union Pacific/Central Pacific and remained in business when they went bankrupt; and Fed Ex essentially defeated the U.S. Post Office.
AARP is about making the working young pay for grandma's lifestyle. I've been tearing up their trial membership letters for 10 years now and, god granting, will continue to do so for another 20 or 30 more. GOP should quit pandering to these greedy rent-seekers. They will never be able to promise more than the 'Rats and for every elderly vote they buy in this way, several working class votes will be forfeited.
When a certain group of people told them free medical care was their right. I regularly confront a group of mobile home residents who show up at city council meetings to push their demands that they be allowed to pay cheap rents.
The original ordinance in that case was directed at the unequal bargaining strength between residents and owners, but in application it's become an ever-growing "right" to pay less than fair market rents. The residents are now demanding that not only do they get cheap rents, but that they be permitted to sell the right to pay cheap rents to someone else and pocket the proceeds.
Their rationale is essentially that they deserve the money more than the landlord does. Echos of "tax cuts for the rich" and the rest of that garbage the demos are pushing. I don't think it's just seniors, though. Any time you create and entitlement, you create a constituency.
The old nose, camel, bit.
It was, and we will.
Yes we will, Because as selfish and greedy as the "greatest" generation is the baby boomers are 100x worse
They were far from perfect.
It already is
AARP's commericals just started to appear and they don't even mention it's the Rats that are blocking it or that it's the Republicans that are supporting it, They just say some members of congress aren't keeping their promises and they Emphasize over and over that the bill is far from perfect and only a good first start.
Thats why the AARP is so anxious to have this bill passed !
You cant run out of money if you can keep raising taxes now can you ?
Just another entitlement bill no one is entitled to except the people who work for the money and yet they will never see it !
That's why the greatest generation can't be considered unflawed -- they're the parents of the boomers!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.