OK, I just blew a gasket!

[freetobegay]

Arguing with a freeper relative about Bush, AARP & prescription drugs. I know in the beginning AARP approved it, but then did they not back down after their members threatened to quit? I googled it but could not find any information.

[SharonAnn]

1. I don't believe they backed down. They're selling a drug card.

[spotbird]

2. Sorry, AARP the insurance company and senior lobbying

organization stayed true to the business side of its operation and supported the Prescription Drug Plan. They lost quite a bit of membership as a result.

They claimed that they supported it because it was the best they could get, what it really showed is that they are not loyal to their constituency.

[freetobegay]

4. Thanks, although I am going to have to eat some words right now.

[Career Prole]

7. Sorry, man...

that always hurts. On the bright side they've had to eat so many of their own words their bellies are bulging!

[robbedvoter]

3. AARP are in it for money at this point. A medical insurance and

other goodies. They betrayed their constituents. All congress dem AARP members tore their cards. Many more outside followed suit. They simply sold out.

[pinto]

5. as a (former) AARP member, they backed it all the way, and then made

some feeble noises about it being "the first step"...to what I haven't a clue. They sold us out, I left.

[rfranklin]

6. The head of AARP is a Republican lobbyist...

I believe his name is Novelli.

from the NY Times January 7, 2004:
(excerpt)
When AARP endorsed the bill last year, it infuriated many Congressional
Democrats and some of its own members, who asserted that the legislation
would privatize Medicare. At least 45,000 members resigned in anger, Mr.
Novelli said.

Mr. Novelli said he had no regrets about the endorsement. But he added
that while "we had intended to keep after drug costs all along, the
public clamor reinforces that."=20

Representative Pete Stark of California, a Democratic spokesman on
health policy, said leaders of AARP were busily making the rounds on
Capitol Hill this week "in an attempt to rehabilitate themselves as
advocates for America's seniors." He urged his colleagues to reject such
overtures. "AARP =97 what does it stand for?" Mr. Stark said in a letter
to House Democrats. "Always Advocating for the Republican Party."

[nosmokes]

8. AARP made it plain they are an insurance company

first and foremost, and advocate for the elderly second.

on the upside, as of a week or so ago, despite heavy marketing they had only sold less than 500 of their bogus drug discount cards.