Bush to skip AARP gathering of 25,000 members

KVOA News 4 (Tucson, AZ) ^ | October 12, 2004 | AP

[MikeJ75]

WASHINGTON President Bush won't attend the annual convention of the A-A-R-P, although he'll be in Las Vegas at the same time as the group that helped him pass last year's Medicare prescription drug law.

Laura Bush will speak to the A-A-R-P, instead. Bush will appear at a campaign rally.

John Kerry, who opposed the Medicare law, has accepted an invitation to address the meeting of 25-thousand on Thursday. The attendees represent the group's 35 (m) million members.

The A-A-R-P's backing of the controversial Medicare legislation prompted 60-thousand members to resign. Since then, the organization has campaigned for changes, such as legalizing the importation of cheaper prescription medicines from Canada.

Kerry supports that position. Bush says he's against it because of safety concerns.

[jennyjenny]

They start soliciting you when you turn 50! I couldn't believe that. Next thing you know, they're going to start asking my 21 year old daughter for dues.

[Eva]

They may be a large voting block, but I don't think that Bush would change any minds by attending. Laura is much less controversial and will make a difficult target for Kerry's abuse.

Bush will debate healthcare tomorrow night and clean Kerry's clock with the personal care accounts and higher deductible insurance which will cut the cost of insurance to consumers by 50% and pay for it in pretax dollars. Then you factor in the market response to the direct consumer involvement in their own care and the savings will be huge. The law suits will be reduced by the consumer involvement as well. It's a win/win plan.

All Kerry has to offer is recycled Hillarycare. Ya-a-w-wn.
Actually Hillarycare shouldn't bore the seniors, it should scare them to death because its a triage system with seniors at the bottom.

[MikefromOhio]

I'd believe it....

I have absolutely no interest in joining them either way....

[JoanneSD]

I dropped my membership, when aarp came out against prop 187 in California...they supported illegal immigration....

[mombonn]

AARP sucks. Can't stand them. I'm 58.

Amen! I'm 56. I'd no sooner join aarp than the naacp, nea, or afl-cio.

[IGOTMINE]

Bunch of geezers that think they're entitled to my income.

[MikefromOhio]

I was responding more to the line of thought that he shouldnt even send Laura there.....that would be wrong and if there are a few swing voters, and I am sure there are, that might seriously offend them if they dont at least, get spoken too...

like I said though, its a tight election, every vote will count....

[lancer]

I forget the details, but I left AARP when I found out back in the '90s that AARP was working behind the scenes for Slick.

[tiki]

Yes, but like the NAACP they aren't going to vote for Bush so he might as well be talking to those who might.

[hershey]

Bush cited safety concerns. This sounds credible. Say the Secret Service or FBI are aware of certain threats, related to Al Quaeda. An attack on the AARP gathering would be really bad. Kerry would get a lot of positive MSM hype, although it's hard to imagine him getting more than the MSM's normal, Kerry schmoozing.

[shagbark]

I am a member of the AARP.
I want everything.
I want it now.
I want you to pay for it.

( Hell! I should make this into a bumper sticker.)

[badpacifist]

I have talked to a few old people who whine that Bush hasn't helped them. I asked what specifically. They complained that their interest on Cd's and money markets has sucked.

I reminded them that the economy would need to really suck for their interest rates to get higher and that wouldn't be good for their children and grandchildren.

You know I don't think they cared about that.

[deport]

			.	GORE	BUSH	BUCHANAN	NADER
	To which age group do you belong?
	% of total		category	% of category
	17		18-29	48	45	1	5
	33		30-44	48	48	0	2
	28		45-59	48	48	1	2
	22		60+	51	46	0	2

---

				GORE	BUSH	BUCHANAN	NADER
	Age-65 & over
	% of total		category	% of category
	86		18-64	49	47	1	3
	14		65+	51	46	0	2

[Eric in the Ozarks]

No. But maybe the AARP member will think about why W skipped their meeting. Ditto NAACP.

[markman46]

one can only hope.. I really think it will not be as close as the MSM is trying to project. Hell I already voted.

[sionnsar]

AARP has been supporting democRATS for years. I refuse to join.

Me too. Several years ago I ran across the United Seniors Association (or something like that)..Wonder if they're still around...

[Eva]

No, it's a good idea to send Laura there, because if Kerry attacks her, it will really show him up to be the mean spirited shallow candidate that he is. Kerry has nothing to offer but negativity and recycled socialism.

[just truth please]

I am 70 years old and have never been a member of the aarp,
in addition, I will never be a member of the aarp. They are
a NEA type organization, basically a union. They do not represent my views and I would never, ever, pay them a due.

They are a bunch of people who dreamed up something so they
can pay them -selves a big salary. Much like the union leaders do. One has to be a total
IDIOT to belong to the AARP!!!!!!!!!

[Jan Hus]

I'm 69 and "there is no there there ! Strictly for the sheeple and freeloaders.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I am one of those 35 million members that this 25 thousand pretend to represent. (thoughI often ask myself why)

Bush is right to pass up an appearence before this group of jackasses. They have already been sucked in by Kerry's empty and un-deliverable promises and would just condemn Bush for giving them a lesson on the realities of life.

They and Kerry deserve each other.