AARP Condemned 'Astroturfing' Last February & Republican Pharma Bill

[rucky]

And in looking back at this Feburary article that 'outs' other seniors groups for being shills for big Pharma, it seems they've inadvertently outed themselves by changing their position on the Reublican Bill...

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/326/7385/351

US seniors group attacks pharmaceutical industry "fronts"
Ray Moynihan, Washington

The giant US seniors group AARP, which has 35 million members aged over 50, has accused the pharmaceutical industry of funding "front" groups that purport to represent older Americans but instead push industry friendly political messages.

An investigation by the AARP Bulletin has discovered that three key organisations, the United Seniors Association, the Seniors Coalition, and the 60 Plus Association, have all received substantial contributions in recent years from the drug industry.

"When the pharmaceutical industry speaks these days, many Americans may not be able to recognize its voice. That's because the industry often uses `front groups' that work to advance its agenda under the veil of other interests," says the article.

AARP is one of the strongest citizens groups in the United States, and it is currently lobbying hard for a national pharmaceutical scheme to help older people to meet their drug costs. Proposals for a new scheme have split the US congress, with Democrats favouring a government-run approach, and the Republicans supporting a more privatised market based plan, also being promoted by the pharmaceutical industry.

The AARP article gave detailed figures of drug company funding for the three seniors groups, and cited examples of pro-industry campaigning, including multimillion dollar television advertisements in the closing weeks of the congressional elections in November 2002. The 60 Plus Association is accused of being involved with "astro-turfing"allegedly helping to create a false grass roots campaign to defeat proposed state laws on prescription drugs.

[gratuitous]

1. Hmmm, AARP didn't like front groups until . . .

They got a Republican shill running the joint who was able to get his greedy, grasping hand into the money stream from Big Pharma.

But that's just a coincidence, I'm sure. Nothing hypocritical to see here.

[prolesunited]

2. Here's the difference

Oaf Of Office  (1000+ posts)

Tue Nov-18-03 09:02 PM
Original message

Head Of AARP Wrote Preface To Gingrich Book On Healthcare

Seniors and Democrats were stunned when the AARP announced its support of the Trojan Horse Republican Medicare bill.

The AARP message board is burning up with rage against the AARP and its CEO, William D. Novelli, the former public relations whiz kid. Seniors appear to be canceling their memberships and calling for heads to roll at AARP headquarters.

But Novelli defiantly dismissed membership outrage at his alliance with the Republicans, who see the proposed Medicare bill as the first step in the privatization and dismantling of the senior health insurance program.

In response to Senator Tom Daschle's tart prediction that he would face a revolt within his organization over this bill, Novelli said, "There's not going to be a revolt within AARP. There's going to be a problem if Congress fails to pass this legislation."

Mr. Novelli claims he has his AARP seniors in the bag for the GOP. But is being an enthusiastic supporter of Newt Gingrich's wing nut healthcare plan for America doing the best for seniors?

Novelli is such a fan of Gingrich that he wrote a preface to Newt's babbling right wing treatise on how to destroy the healthcare safety net for seniors and other Americans: "Saving Lives & Saving Money." This is what Novelli said in praise of Gingrich's book:

http://www.buzzflash.com/buzzscripts/buzz.dll/quote

[ClintonTyree]

4. "He has AARP seniors in the bag", huh?

This sorry son of a bitch is going to find out just how much he has us in the bag. He's going to LEAVE in a freakin' bag if he keeps this shit up.

[rucky]

3. Here's the original article

It's a damn good investigative piece. Just the AARP writer forgot to investigate his own group...

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html/page=1

(snip)
Consider, for example, the case of Citizens for Better Medicare (CBM). The Washington-based nonprofit sprang to life in 1999 as the sponsor of a series of ads featuring "Flo," an arthritic bowler who urged viewers to help "keep the government out of our medicine cabinets." At its peak CBM was spending more than $1 million a week on ads at least partly designed to influence the 2000 elections.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry's chief trade association, bankrolled the $60 million-plus advertising blitz and installed a former employee, Timothy C. Ryan, as CBM's executive director. The organization was the linchpin of the industry's drive to stave off a government-operated prescription plan for older Americans.

AND Here's Another Article by writer Bill Hogan - From September! - a Scathing criticism of the Perscription Bill...

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/prescription/Articles/a2003-08-28-retiree.html

[oasis]

5. Kick