Free Republic

Thanks to a reader for this idea. Do you still get mailings from the DNC or AARP that include a “No Postage Required” envelope intended for you to send a check back to them? Instead of giving the DNC or AARP — two entities we abhor because of their recent behavior — any money, why not start costing them money with those mailings? Since the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee met on May 31st, 2008 to take delegates away from Hillary Clinton that she won in Florida and Michigan, we’ve sent back every contribution envelope we’ve received from the DNC...

WASHINGTON — The AARP has officially endorsed the House Democratic health care bill, a major boost for the legislation two days before a historic vote. AARP Senior Policy Adviser John Rother said Thursday that the 40-million strong organization backs the House bill. He said the measure closes the coverage gap in Medicare prescription benefits, puts strict limits on what health insurers can charge older workers too young for Medicare and creates a voluntary, long-term care insurance program.

AARP applauds the House of Representatives for moving health care reform forward with the introduction of the Affordable Health Care for America Act... Toll-Free Nationwide: 1-888-OUR-AARP(1-888-687-2277) Toll-Free TTY: 1-877-434-7598 Toll-Free Spanish: 1-877-MAS-DE50(1-877-627-3350) International Calls: 1-202-434-3525

Despite several statements to the contrary in recent months, it turns out that AARP, a membership organization that purports to represent the interests of people 50 and older, was behind ObamaCare all along. According to an article in The Hill tonight, Associated Press is reporting that AARP is planning to endorse the House version of President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan prior to it being voted on Saturday.

Democratic sources tell me that AARP – easily the most influential seniors lobby – will endorse the health reform legislation put together by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats. Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team have been lobbying the lobby for weeks. AARP officials also met yesterday with WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and took the proposed endorsement to their Board of Directors. A public announcement is expected tomorrow or Friday, in advance of a vote by the full House likely to come on Saturday. “Big victory,” summed up one top Democrat. The Speaker still doesn’t have the 218...

AARP has been to portray itself as a "non partisan" observer on the health care debate, but has been actively working toward ensuring the passage of Obamacare. All the evidence points to the fact that the Senior advocacy organization is willing to push through a plan that will hurt its membership so it can make millions on its insurance related activities. During the summer AARP's management contended that they generically support health care but don't support any specific bill. At the same time they were running commercials that advocating for specific elements of the House Bill. The AARP even published...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials are telling The Associated Press that AARP_the seniors' lobby_will endorse the health care overhaul bill that House Democrats are preparing to take to the floor. Officials with knowledge of the group's decision told The Associate Press on Wednesday that the senior's lobby has decided to give the $1.2 trillion measure its seal of approval. An announcement is expected Thursday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made. The endorsement, in advance of floor votes as early as this weekend, would be a major boost for President Barack Obama's signature issue.

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a coup for House Democrats, AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. An endorsement from the seniors' lobby was critical when then-President George W. Bush pushed the Medicare prescription drug benefit through a closely divided Congress in 2003. House Democratic leaders are hoping it will work the same political magic for them as they strive to deliver on President Barack Obama's signature issue. An announcement from the 40-million member group is expected Thursday, said officials with knowledge of the group's decision. They...

WASHINGTON -- Republicans in Congress are taking aim at AARP's financial ties to the health-insurance industry just as the advocacy group is taking a more prominent role supporting an overhaul of the nation's health-care system. The House Republican Conference has been circulating talking points among lawmakers and staffers, saying AARP wants an overhaul because its business arm would benefit from legislation in both the House and the Senate. Friday, three Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to AARP Chief Executive A. Barry Rand, saying the group's support for proposed cuts in the overhaul bills to...

The nation's pre-eminent seniors group, AARP, has put the weight of its 40 million members behind health care reform, saying many of the proposals will lower costs and increase the quality of care for older Americans. But not advertised in this lobbying campaign have been the group's substantial earnings from insurance royalties and the potential benefits that could come its way from many of the reform proposals. The group and its subsidiaries collected more than $650 million in royalties and other fees last year from the sale of insurance policies, credit cards and other products that carry the AARP name,...

AARP is trying to portray itself as a "non partisan" observer on the health care debate, but has been actively working toward ensuring the passage of Obamacare. All the evidence points to the fact that the Senior advocacy organization is willing to push through a plan that will hurt its membership so it can make millions on its insurance related activities. During the summer AARP's management contended that they generically support health care but don't support any specific bill. At the same time they were running commercials that advocating for specific elements of the House Bill. The AARP even published...

WHY is Congress so eager to cut $160 billion-plus from Medicare Advantage? The program does things that President Obama and other liberals normally praise. Is the cut simply the price charged by AARP (the American Association of Retired Persons) for overlooking the rest of the $500 billion in Medicare cuts meant to finance "health-care reform"? Medicare Advantage offers a range of benefits beyond basic Medicare. It combines many elements Obama and other liberals like -- such as subsidized premiums for low-income elderly, "pooling" of insurees to provide bargaining power and managed care that emphasizes prevention, treatment of chronic conditions and...

Last night, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) held a private health care “briefing” for members of the Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club in Gainesville, VA, a higher-end active retirement community. The AARP participated on the “briefing” panel.  This meeting was not open to the general public, but we were there. Connolly is a first term Democrat in a district -- as one staffer at the event described it -- as sixty percent registered Republican. Gauging the level of questioning and the negative reaction of these seniors to the regurgitation of Democrat talking points at the event, these seniors have been...

WASHINGTON -- AARP thinks U.S. health care needs a sweeping overhaul. Problem is, a lot of its members don't agree. That is putting the 40-million-strong organization of older Americans in a tight spot. It is fielding a flood of calls from worried seniors and battling rumors about President Barack Obama's health push, which it supports.... ...AARP concedes that 60,000 members have resigned since July 1 over the health-care push.

Time and again, President Obama portrayed himself as the voice of reason combating "myths" and "misinformation" during a town hall meeting on healthcare Tuesday — while he himself weaved a web of gaffes, errors, and misstatements that further muddled the facts on healthcare. The president's missteps during the meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., triggered a flurry of corrections and clarifications from the White House and other organizations. The flubs come at a critical time for Obama, who has launched a public relations offensive on his signature issue at a time when polls show plummeting support for his healthcare proposals, dropping 5...

President Barack Obama once again claimed the AARP supports "this policy" at his town hall meeting in Montana. The AARP has yet to endorse any health care reform plan.

WFTV: The debate over health care reform got rowdy again Tuesday, this time in Brevard County. The legislation in front of Congress right now has led to a lot of angry debates across the country. Tuesday, the AARP tried to answer questions from some angry residents there. They all came here to be heard and, with no other public forum offered by congressional leaders in Brevard County, they turned to the AARP to demand answers. "Why wouldn't AARP insist the government fix Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security before we discuss anything?" one attendee asked. More than 300 Brevard County...

About the AARP membership flight...at least 60,000 old people die every six months. Did 60,000 say they were leaving because of healthcare reform stance or is this just loss of membership period? Post - They normally lose 300,000 and gain 400,000 new members per month... Post - That was out of 40 MILLION total members

I was kind of impressed that CBS reported on this. But also had to temper my feelings with the knowledge that Fox News was reporting it a week-and-a-half earlier. Interesting story: AARP Loses Members Over Health Care Stance 84rules August 19, 2009

CBS is reporting that as many as 60,000 members of AARP have cancelled their memberships in the elder’s organization over the fact that the organization is moving to support President Obama’s healthcare plans. CBS also reports that a conservative seniors organization, the American Seniors Association, is adding thousands of new members each week. Some of the letters asking for membership were filled with “cut-up AARP cards.” (CBS) CBS News has learned that up to 60,000 people have cancelled their AARP memberships since July 1, angered over the group's position on health care. "I think that probably the seniors are most...