Seniors Draw Fire: AARP Prepares to Punch Back on Social Security

[Liberty Belle]

Seniors Draw Fire
AARP prepares to punch back on Social Security

By Howard Fineman

March 7 issue - The letters on the building entrance are carved in gray stone, suggesting ancient inevitability and understated power. Inside, leaders of AARP, the famed "seniors lobby," exude an equivalent air of solid confidence. "AARP has an almost unshakable brand," said one. But the scene at AARP headquarters last week belied the blasé words. Oblivious to a snowstorm that had emptied capital offices, the group's commanders were working late into the night, hunkered down around conference tables to plot their next moves in the war over Social Security—and the war-within-a-war over the central role of AARP.

… A well-funded conservative group called USA Next posted a Web page with two pictures: a camouflage-clad American GI with an X painted on him; two men in tuxedos kissing, with a checkmark on them. The caption: "The REAL AARP Agenda." The ad was justified, the group argued, because the Ohio branch of AARP had opposed an anti-gay-marriage referendum in the state. (The national body has taken no position on that or other cultural issues.) But the real reason, said USA Next's CEO, was pure political provocation. . .

White House insiders insist that the attack wasn't their idea. But while USA Next is no AARP, it's no fly-by-night operation, either. IRS records show that the 14-year-old organization (known as the United Seniors Association until last month) has received millions of dollars in "grants" from the pharmaceutical industry—a key administration ally—while AARP hasn't received any. Another contributor is Bob Perry, the Houston developer who served as sugar daddy to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Next up: an attack on what Jarvis sees as AARP's "support" for gun control. "We're going to make sure their members know their positions on everything," Jarvis vowed.

But AARP is not the Boy Scouts. The motto is "be prepared" and "hit first." It launched its first ads against the Bush plan three weeks before his Inauguration. A wave of newspaper ads hit last week. Headquarters is pumping out e-mails and newsletters to the organization's 38 million members, 50 and up, who vote in heavy numbers. The members read legislative fine print (what, after all, are reading glasses for?). And they presumably will be interested in negative tidbits about Jarvis and his cohorts. In 2003 AARP commissioned a research report on them. The dossier, written by Democratic "oppo" guys, hit reporters' desks last week.

full article:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7038359/site/newsweek/

Note the GOP's sleazy tactic of calling this group United Seniors Association, up 'til last month. If I recall correctly, this group was soliciting funds from the public and positioning itself as a good alternative to AARP after AARP lost members by supporting Bush's prescription drug plan a year or two ago. How many folks gave money to these swine without realizing they were backed by pharmaceutical companies and Swift Boat liars? The duping of the public into giving money to a pharmaceutical company front-group is an angle that needsd to be exposed to the media.

[Stealther]

1. "Prepares"?! They should've hit back IMMEDIATELY

[sasquatch]

2. They better hit the SOB's in the mouth if they want to save SSI

because if they do the John Kerry hit back they'll be deader than a doorknob.

[sarcasmo]

3. Swift boat liars trying to go after the Grey haired AARP.

This will be interesting since AARP is loaded with cash to fight the swift boat liars. It's a good thing AARP is behind this one unlike the Medicare fiasco they didn't get behind. My only fear is that our Dem lites like Lieberman will decide to compromise on some sort of Chimp plan.

[Liberty Belle]

4. Gallup Poll:Only 1/3 of Americans support Bush handling of Social Security

Posted 2/28/2005 3:47 PM Updated 2/28/2005 5:27 PM



Poll: Social Security plan support drops By Jim Drinkard, USA

TODAYWASHINGTON — Only one in three Americans approves of President Bush's handling of Social Security, his lowest rating on the issue since he took office.A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll conducted Friday-Sunday found that 35% approved of Bush's Social Security record, 56% disapproved and 9% had no opinion. That was down from three weeks ago, when 43% approved. In March 2001, just after he took office, 49% approved. (Related: Poll results)

… The poll showed that Democrats have made headway in their opposition to Bush. In early January, about half of Americans said major changes were needed in the next year or two. Now, fewer than four in 10 say so.

The country was more evenly divided over which is riskier — relying on Social Security to keep current benefits flowing or investing some payroll taxes in the market. Half said relying on the system's promises is less risky, while 46% said investing is preferable.
The poll showed higher public approval for AARP, the 35-million-member retiree organization that is leading the opposition to Bush's plan, than for the president. Bush's favorable rating was 56%, compared to 75% for AARP. And 47% of Americans said they trust the Democrats more to deal with the issue of Social Security, a 10-point advantage over Republicans….

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-02-28-poll_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA