“We have the AARP on board because they know this is a good deal for our seniors,” the president said.
At another point he said: “Well, first of all, another myth that we've been hearing about is this notion that somehow we're going to be cutting your Medicare benefits. We are not. AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare, okay?”
This is not the first time that the President and his team has made this claim, and the AARP has been content to let the Democrats say this while insisting to complaining members that they have not endorsed the plan.
The AARP must have been feeling the intense heat of its members because today the group finally called the President out publicly for calling their cooperation and endorsement.
The country's largest advocacy group for Americans over 50 issued a statement after the event saying,
AARP Reacts to President’s Health Care Townhall
WASHINGTON – AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson issued this statement following remarks by the President at a townhall event in New Hampshire on health care reform.
“AARP has been working with Democrats and Republicans to fix our broken health care system.
“While the President was correct that AARP will not endorse a health care reform bill that would reduce Medicare benefits, indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate.
“AARP supports specific measures that would help older Americans and their families – including bipartisan proposals to create a new follow-up care benefit in Medicare that would help prevent hospital re-admissions, as well as to address the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the ‘doughnut hole.’ We also support the need for lawmakers and the Administration to act this year to fix what doesn’t work in the health care system.
“We share the President’s commitment to act this year, and our members appreciate his insistence that any final reform package will not reduce Medicare benefits for the millions of people that literally depend on that program as a lifeline.
“We look forward to working with leaders of both parties, including the President, to build a final package we could endorse that addresses the concerns of the 50-plus population and brings quality, affordable health care choices to every American.”
Kudos to AARP's Angry membership, this wouldn't have happened without you, but remember the battle isn't over yet.
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