New hate campaign against AARP

[TexasLawyer]

For the crime of objecting to the new Social Security plan, AARP is being branded a liar and people are being asked to e-mail their congressmen asking that they cut AARP off from any government funding.

Looks like the folks at USANext REALLY like Bush's privatization plans. They're certainly demonizing AARP for its efforts to protect the existing SS program

http://www.usanext.org/issues.cfm

Dear (contact name will be automatically filled in here):

I'm outraged to learn that last year the federal government gave almost $1 billion in grants to the AARP since 1988 ($57 million in 2001!), and that this goes on year after year. As a Senior citizen, I'm asking you to use your influence to stop using my tax dollars, via government grants, to fund one of the most liberal, big-government, special-interest groups in America - an organization that supports programs resulting in higher taxes, more bureaucrat-run health care for me and my fellow Seniors, and no reform of our faltering Social Security system.

I will be following this issue closely to see what action you and your fellow members of Congress take to stop this immoral partisan giveaway.

Thank you for your help!


AARP lies, bamboozles, curses grandchildren, kicks puppies and messes with your TV reception...

http://www.usanext.org/full_story.cfm?article_id=96&category_id=3

AARP Curses USA's Grandchildren

AARP fails to recognize that Social Security no longer is a good deal for working people today, the children and grandchildren of its members. Instead, they turn to their old liberal mantra saying "Let Them Be TAXED!"

AARP, the planet's largest "liberal" lobby, now openly opposes President Bush on Social Security. It could be a fatal mistake to fight his efforts to give workers the freedom to choose a better deal.

In a letter to members, the organization flatly opposes allowing workers the freedom to choose to shift some of their Social Security payroll taxes into personal savings and investment accounts that would pay part of their future retirement benefits.

AARP fails to recognize that Social Security no longer is a good deal for working people today, the children and grandchildren of its members. For most of these workers, even if Social Security could somehow pay all its promised benefits, the real rate of return represented by those benefits on taxes paid into the program would be 1 to 1.5 percent or less. For many it would be zero or even negative.

<snip>

more excellent anti-AARP articles

http://www.usanext.org/

[NC_Nurse]

1. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Serves 'em right. They supported the RX benefit bullshit!

AARP is nothing more than a front for big insurance. It was started by an insurance company. Don't be fooled.

Yeah, they're right on this one...so what?

[TexasLawyer]

4. Redemption

Maybe AARP can redeem itself by protecting Social Security.

[bluestateguy]

2. That wasn't their attitude in 2003

When the AARP supported the drug bill these folks were the first people to sing their praises.

With the right it's all about "what have you done for me lately?"

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Well

It's not like no one saw THIS coming.

Go ahead.

Piss ALL the seniors off, that's a good thing.

The seniors are the LAST group they want to fuck with.

Seniors don't play that shit, you mess with their MONEY, or you mess with their MEDICATIONS, and they will stomp a mud hole in your ass.

My MOM hates the Monkey because of his "wanting to steal our social security" and "talking bad about the unions" because my step dad was a union electrician in Chicago for 37 years.

If not for his pension and annuity and medical coverage they would be eatin' Alpo.

[Lefty48197]

5. You've pretty much summed up why I'm a Democrat

with that one short post.

[Coastie for Truth]

9. That's something the Bushies don't understand

cause, as Anne Richardson said "George was born with a gold spoon in mouth" and has massive amounts of family money to tide him over the "little" things (like layoffs, serious illnesses) that we "little folks" fear.

How many "missed paychecks" are you away from financial disaster?

I grew up in the Monongahela Valley - and I know that the answer to that questions is what separates Dems from Repugs

[mom cat]

11. I though she said he "was born with a silver foot in his mouth"!

[Coastie for Truth]

21. I stand corrected

Ann Richardson and Molly Ivins are my favorite Texans.

[mom cat]

31. And don't forget Barbara Jordan. I used to live in her old district

in Houston...No one has ever matched her oratorical skills, at least in my book.

[LiberalFighter]

26. It isn't that they don't understand...

they don't give a damn

It is their MO in making money... screw anyone that isn't important and ain't rich enough to matter.

[mojaverose]

6. You're Kidding? No, You're Not

This just maks me sick. Everything that we, as a people, worked 70 years to accomplish, gone. Poof! In Just 8 years of Shrub's reign. The good guys are suddenly evil. Stupidity has bcome wisdom, and everything we Thought was done is now under attack.
They didn't want social legislation in the 30s and they haven't changed a bit; just bided their time. Are we Always going to have to fight a rear guard action against them? What's next? Women's Rights? and then after that we can undo Civil Rights. Affirmative Action (fairness) is already gone.
Welcome to the 1800s. Be sure to ask your Master if it's all right before you step off the train.

[TexasLawyer]

10. I'm going to start learning some dog food recipes

since that is probably what many of us will be eating in our old age.

[mom cat]

12. I thought you Texans just put bar-b-que sauce on anything that might

otherwise might be considered unappetizing. That is how I learned to cope with my mother's cooking in Texas.

[TexasLawyer]

15. Bar-b-que sauce will probably be out of my price range

when I am old and totally without Social Security. Maybe if they hand it out at the food pantry I'll be frequenting.

[mrdmk]

16. Bar-b-que sauce is mainly made from tomatoes

It and Ketchup is considered to be a staple food source by the GOP.

[mom cat]

30. I wish I could disagree with you...but I can't.

[struggle4progress]

22. Soylent Green, if these guys have their way. eom

[FreedomAngel82]

17. Isn't it truly amazing?

Can I wake up to reality yet? :crazy: :silly:

[tsuki]

7. The Generational Wars have begun. The seniors who thought

themselves immune from the hateful tactic of divide because of their fanatical devotion to the Republicans are now the number one enemy.

Religious Right Gone.

Seniors Gone.

Where is the mandate now?

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Watch them learn

about it when it's too late. :(

[SharonAnn]

28. Let's see. Today's seniors and the baby boomers, soon to be seniors.

I think that'll be pretty much a mandate!

Remind the boomers that privatization will mean cuts in their Social Security and they'll have to move in with their kids.

That oughta do it!

[salvorhardin]

8. USA Next

USA Next is the United Seniors Association and is one of three organizations set up by Richard Viguerie to astroturf on behalf of Big Pharma. Read what the AARP has to say about them...

All three organizations were formed by, or with help from, direct mail entrepreneur Richard Viguerie, and two have been operated in recent years by former officers or employees of Viguerie's companies.

All three organizations have been criticized over the years for questionable fundraising practices, and, recently, the Social Security Administration ordered one of them to halt what it determined to be misleading mailings.

All three organizations claim to speak for millions of older Americans, although as recently as 2001 none of the three listed any revenue from membership dues on their tax returns. Moreover, an investigation by the AARP Bulletin shows that virtually all of their largest contributions in recent years have come from the same source—the nation's pharmaceutical industry.

much more...
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html

Who's Richard Viguerie?

Richard A. Viguerie is often dubbed the direct mail titan of the right.

In an autobiographical note, Viguerie wrote that in 1961 he became executive secretary of the conservative youth group, Young Americans for Freedom. "Since 1965, owner of direct marketing/advertising companies such as American Target Advertising. Political/campaign strategist, activist and conservative spokesman and writer," he wrote.

"Pioneered political use of computerized direct mail. That technology was the Internet of its day: it enabled conservatives to get around liberals' dominance of the mass media; it allowed thousands of conservative candidates, organizations and causes to get their messages to grassroots Americans," he wrote.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2519/is_4_21/ai_62410225

Viguerie founded Conservative Digest magazine in 1975 and served as its publisher for ten years.
http://dmany.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Speakerbiony2004&#richardviguerie

Asked by Campaigns and Elections in May 2000 what his immediate goals were Viguerie wrote "To use the Internet to involve Americans in the political process, to help conservatives gain an advantage over the left. To fight against government's use of power, to fight for individual rights and responsibilities, and to fight to extend the blessings of liberty throughout the world."

more...
http://www.sourcewatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Richard_Viguerie

[salin]

14. thanks for this (missed your post as I asked the question that you

answered.)

[TexasLawyer]

20. Thanks for the background info

Viguerie is the devil's handmaiden.

[LiberalFighter]

27. Gee I wonder if our congressman Mark Souder is buddy buddy with Viguerie?

Mark Souder was a member of Young Americans for Freedom in college.
YAF advocated support for the Vietnam War and Souder was a conscientious objector

[salin]

13. Whoh is USAnext?

never heard of them before...

[struggle4progress]

24. "USANext, formerly called the United Seniors Association, is ...

... USANext, formerly called the United Seniors Association, is a conservative 501(c)4 organization that fronts for corporate interests. Direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie co-founded the group in 1991, according to Public Citizen.

In 2004, USANext was one of the groups pushing for the Bush administration's Social Security privatization plan. According to the New York Times, the organization had $28 million in annual revenues, and it aggressively seeks contributions from industry: "Health care companies, energy companies, the food industry, just about everybody except for financial investment companies."

The Center for American Progress Report of 14 Nov 2003 states:

COMPANIES HIRE MERCENARY "GRASSROOTS" GROUP: To influence the final Medicare bill, the drug industry has bankrolled a front group to air ads throughout the country. The United Seniors Association (USA) is "a conservative, grassroots organization for the elderly… just as likely to be flacking for corporate special interests as it is to be representing seniors." The drug lobby pays the group "as a front for its TV and radio 'issue' ad campaigns," which is also "used by several corporate energy front groups pushing for the GOP legislation." <snip>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext

[welshTerrier2]

19. AARP ... what a bunch of losers

AARP sold seniors down the river to help bush pass his "windfall pharmaceutical" medicare bill ... they lost a chunk of their membership for this (including me) and they handed bush a nice little "win" for his little re-election campaign ...

probably thought they had bought themselves a nice little stockpile of political capital ... well surprise, surprise, surprise ...

don't be making no more deals with the devil ...

[CatholicEdHead]

23. Nonpartisan my behind

From USA Next's website:
"United Seniors Association is celebrating its 14th anniversary as the non-partisan, 1.5 million-plus nationwide grassroots network Uniting the Generations for America's Future. "

and besides this thread starter this:
" Support Mel Gibson's "The Passion"
Tell the Academy not to discriminate against "The Passion" and to give it full consideration for Picture of the Year. "

Sure........

[ldf]

25. my, my, my

how soon they turn on the aarp whores.

as a beginning to try and win back the confidence of the 50+ aged americans, they can throw themselves on their sword in the name of halting privatization of social security.

and that would only be a start.

[Piperay]

29. AARP is finding out the hard way

what happens when you compromise with the devil, now that they are not 'towing the line' any longer the devil is out to destroy them. :evilfrown:

[Vinca]

32. The first choice of Bush and his cronies

would be to stick anyone nearing retirement age on an ice flow and have it towed out to sea. Out of sight, out of mind, more bucks in our greedy pockets.

[VOX]

33. The "swiftboating" of AARP...even if its CEO is a pal of Newt's...

Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP, pretty much assured AARP's support for the right-wing, bogus prescription drug "benefit" added to Medicare in 2003.

Novelli is a buddy of Newt Gingrich's; he even wrote the preface to Newt's book, "Saving Lives & Saving Money." :puke:

What AARP did in 2003 pissed off a hell of a lot of its membership, so Novelli probably figured he'd better stick to the status quo this time around with Social Security.

And now AARP's being "swiftboated." With the right wing, you're only as good as the last thing you did for them.

[Just Me]

34. SOP. And it's beyond reprehensible!!!! n/t