Obama Lies in Townhall Meeting

[RipCity]

(AP) A group usually seen as one of Barack Obama's allies in the health care debate - AARP - says the president went too far Tuesday when he said the seniors lobby had endorsed the legislation pending in Congress.

AARP is sensitive to the issue because polls show that Medicare beneficiaries are worried their health care program will be cut to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.

At the town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., Obama said, "We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors." He added, "AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare."

But Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operating officer, said, "Indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate."

Like Obama, AARP wants action this year to cover the uninsured and restrain health care costs, but the organization has refrained from endorsing legislation. Nelson said AARP would not endorse a bill that reduces Medicare benefits.

A spokesman said the Medicare cuts that have been proposed so far would not affect benefits.

Source

 

[maxiep]

He's been making guarantees he can't fulfill regarding health care for weeks now. In this case I don't think President Obama is lying; I think he accidentally spoke a truth AARP wanted to keep quiet. AARP isn't acting in the interest of its members; it's putting the Democratic Party first.

 

[barfo]

He's been making guarantees he can't fulfill regarding health care for weeks now. In this case I don't think President Obama is lying; I think he accidentally spoke a truth AARP wanted to keep quiet. AARP isn't acting in the interest of its members; it's putting the Democratic Party first.

And why would AARP favor the dems over it's members?

barfo

 

[maxiep]

And why would AARP favor the dems over it's members?

barfo

On this one issue? I think many AARP members would like to know the answer to that question. If I had to guess, it would be because AARP is taking a longer-term and larger view. Democrats have been more expansive for senior support than have Republicans. If AARP can help the Democrats on this important vote, then they'll likely get more benefits for their membership.

However, I have zero proof of this theory. But there is no way that this legislation can be construed as anything but bad for people over 55. The cost savings the Government will try to achieve by shrinking Medicare outlays proves it prima facie.