AARP Pivots on Benefit Cut

[sufrommich]

AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans, is dropping its longstanding opposition to cutting Social Security benefits, a move that could rock Washington's debate over how to revamp the nation's entitlement programs.

The decision, which AARP hasn't discussed publicly, came after a wrenching debate inside the organization. In 2005, the last time Social Security was debated, AARP led the effort to kill President George W. Bush's plan for partial privatization. AARP now has concluded that change is inevitable, and it wants to be at the table to try to minimize the pain.

"The ship was sailing. I wanted to be at the wheel when that happens," said John Rother, AARP's long-time policy chief and a prime mover behind its change of heart.

The shift, which has been vetted by AARP's board and is now the group's stance, could have a dramatic effect on the debate surrounding the future of the federal safety net, from pensions to health care, given the group's immense clout.

"If they come around and say they're ready to do something, it will be like the Arctic icecap cracking," said former Sen. Alan Simpson, co-chairman of a White House commission on the deficit. He has frequently assailed the group as a barrier to progress.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304186404576389760955403414.html?mod=googlenews_wsj


No matter how you personally feel about AARP, they're one of the most powerful lobbying groups in D.C., the fact that they're willing to even discuss cuts to S.S should send a chill through everybody hoping to see their benefits kept intact. Scary stuff.The interactive poll on the WSJ site is pretty interesting as voters seem to want a raise in the age one can collect benefits as opposed to limiting benefits for wealthy retirees, which surprises me.

[Poll_Blind]

1. Speechless...

PB

[RockaFowler]

2. Then why are they running ads against it now

We just got an ad from AARP trying to block the cuts to Social Security and Medicare

[Poll_Blind]

4. Mentioned in the full article:

AARP recently launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to fight against making Medicare and Social Security cuts part of the broader debt talks now under way. That has reinforced the impression among many in Washington that the group is opposed to dealing on Social Security at all.

Full article is very much worth reading.

PB

[MannyGoldstein]

3. At least Obama is getting traction on one key goal

His incredible fetish to slash Social Security.

When a Democratic president wants to gut Social Security, and for no reason other than to keep taxes super-low on the wealthiest, then the Democratic Party no longer supports Democratic ideals in any way, shape, or form. The Party should do the honorable thing and change its name.

[katnapped]

15. Quit whining!

Don't you know you're not gonna get your pony?

Or something like that (so the cheerleaders say) :sarcasm:

[Lorien]

20. +1,000.

:thumbsup:

[FlyByNight]

23. +1

Should the Dems (and Pres. Obama) stand aside and let the plutocrats cut Social Security for the sake of cutting (thereby "being serious about debts and deficits"), that would be where I get off the Dem/Obama bandwagon. Straw meet camel's back.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

32. Where exactly areyou coming up with this????

Inquiring minds would like to know. I've NEVER heard of Obama talking about wanting to gut Social Security, let alone that he fetishizes such cuts. :shrug:

[emulatorloo]

33. He's making it up. He asserts it over and over

It is very possible that he will find some "support" from a more conspiracy theory oriented Firedoglake post.

The President has made no such statements, nor has the Dem caucus.

[MannyGoldstein]

40. Either I'm making it up, or you're choosing to ignore facts

If you want another chance to embrace the facts: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x931203">Social Security: the little secret that's fooling even most DUers.

[emulatorloo]

48. You're making it up. But I have no doubt you beleive it.

Every discussion I have with you about it, you come back with word parsing and tea-leaf reading for "proof". Nothing real or substantive. As I say I know you believe this, so I do not doubt your sincerity,.

[MyUncle]

45. Cut is not gut.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. "change is inevitable" - not the "change" we were "hoping" for.

"Punked" are the people who have been paying their AARP dues.

The kicker is that Social Security is SOLVENT - it's Medicare / Medicaid that's the problem, and single payer is the solution.

But don't listen to ME....

[doc03]

6. I will not be renewing my membership to AARP. The SOB's

probably see more profits in selling annuities and CDs to retirees than protecting SS and Medicare.
I had my auto and homeowners insurance with AARP (Hartford) and had to fight for three months for a hail damage claim when all my neighbors had no problem with their claims. I canceled both policies but kept my membership in AARP thinking they would defend SS and Medicare. You don't see the NRA compromising on anything.

[sufrommich]

7. I haven't joined AARP ,although they certainly spend big bucks

trying to get all of us over 50s into the fold.My fear is that there are many conservative oldsters coming into the AARP fold. They had 300,000 members quit because AARP supported "Obamacare". That's a problem.

[doc03]

12. I think the reason they supported Obamacare was to sell

supplemental insurance to the elderly. AARP has evolved into an insurance company, the last thing they would want is universal health care for everyone.

[iwishiwas]

28. BINGO.

[Eddie Haskell]

8. AARP can KMA

Every senior in America should leave them immediately.

[SpiralHawk]

31. AARP heirarchy goes Republicon

against the wishes of its members...this is not gonna play well in Peoria.

[mmonk]

9. Do not give them your money.

They are not on your side.

[FreakinDJ]

10. Protecting SS is their Mantra

[katnapped]

16. No, their real mantra is selling insurance n/t

[mmonk]

24. We have a winner.

[sufrommich]

25. There are 35.7 million AARP members. Only 7 million

have AARP insurance.

http://www.numberof.net/number-of-aarp-members/

[katnapped]

36. Which makes for 28+ million more potential customers n/t

[Scuba]

11. AARP is a coalition of seniors held together by their mutual love of travel discount coupons....

...and they just cut their own throats.

[doc03]

13. The AARP is an insurance company, they make their money

ripping the elderly off with insurance. The last thing they would want would be Medicare for everone.

[liberal N proud]

14. Guess I know where I can tell them to stick their membership next time the send me an invite.

They can kiss my butt, I will need that membership to buy cat food.

[Mnemosyne]

17. Stalkers, imo. K&R n/t

[ProSense]

18. Sneaky

"There are limits to how far AARP is willing to go. The group will accept cuts, but won't champion them...AARP recently launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to fight against making Medicare and Social Security cuts part of the broader debt talks now under way."

So AARP is going to secretly support unspecified cuts to a point, but spend millions publicly opposing all cuts?

Wouldn't put it past the WSJ to be pushing a little propaganda.

Still, in case it isn't, would AARP members stand by and allow this to happen?

What are Senate Democrats going to do?

[MannyGoldstein]

21. You expect Senate Democrats to fight Obama on his War Against Social Security?

Slashing Social Security is a fetish for this president. It's just sick.

It will come down just like Obama's "hostaging" over continued tax cuts for wealthiest: suddenly a deal between Obama and Republicans will be announced that guts Social Security. Then the Senate Dems will be told by the White House "it's a deal - take it or we default on the debt".

Obama will, of course claim that they are "needed minor adjustments to keep up with increasing life expectancy" etc. This, of course, will be absolute bullshit: they will not be minor (Obama's hand-picked commission voted for 22% in cuts for the average recipient), and they are certainly not needed - other than to conserve money for continued continuous war, and continued hyper-low taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Unless one assumes that the US economy is about to get much worse than it is even today, and stay that way, Social Security is perfectly solvent

Shame.

[ProSense]

26. What do

yoiu expect Senate Democrats to do?

What war is the Prresident waging against Social Security?

[MannyGoldstein]

38. Will Obama veto any bill that slashes Social Security?

Of course, he'll embrace it heartily as a job well done - his War will be won.

More on the war, in case you've forgotten: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/MannyGoldstein/146

[emulatorloo]

30. You have no evidence for Obama's "war on social security". You never have had evidence,

you just make ASSERTIONS about what Obama is going to do.

[MannyGoldstein]

39. NonSense. He's been actively engaged in war, see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x931203">Social Security: the little secret that's fooling even most DUers.

[amborin]

41. evidence? Look at Obama's Catfood Commisson's Composition to see his stance on Soc SEc

[emulatorloo]

47. Sorry, Catfood Commission couldn't pass its own report.

Dead in the water.

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Anybody still support AARP? I cancelled my membership back when they agreed with 'Part D'.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

22. F*ck them. They're nothing but a money-grubbing corprat front

This isn't the first time they've tossed seniors under the bus and it won't be the last.

[xphile]

27. Of course it is. It makes its money these days from selling insurance through

United Health Care.

The AARP showed it's true colors when it supported that disastrous Medicare drug benefit which didn't allow the government to negotiate prices. Does the government being forced to pay retail when it could use its buying power to negotiate for better prices benefit seniors? No. But they got to sell their supplemental insurance so it was all good.

[emulatorloo]

29. IT IS THE FUCKING MURDOCH WALL STREET JOURNAL. I'll only beleive it if AARP says it.

Hint:

"The decision, which AARP hasn't discussed publicly."

If they announce it. I will believe it.

[lonestarnot]

46. I haven't seen a retraction or anything contrary to a direct quote.

:shrug:

[Dappleganger]

34. Well that makes my choices easier...

fuck AARP, they want to kill old people (after they take your money, of course).

[hifiguy]

35. Well, that settles my "retirement" program

I know by the time I hit retirement age I will still be dirt poor and that SS and Medicare will be gone but I should be able to pawn enough things to get the $$$ for a Glock 9mm and a bullet.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

37. Get ready for soylent green.

[madmax]

42. Never joined

always thought they were a con.

[spanone]

43. all they are is a lobby for the retiring. starve them to death. give them NO money.

they are useless.

if they will not fight for social security, they are not looking out for retirees.

fuck aarp

[cayanne]

44. We quit AARP

when it supported big pharma interfering with Medicare Part D.

[Rex]

49. Fuck them then...when their members are eating catfood, I don't want

to hear a single cry or whimper.