AARP To Endorse House Health Care Bill: AP

WASHINGTON — Officials are telling The Associated Press that AARP_the seniors' lobby_will endorse the health care overhaul bill that House Democrats are preparing to take to the floor.

Officials with knowledge of the group's decision told The Associate Press on Wednesday that the senior's lobby has decided to give the $1.2 trillion measure its seal of approval. An announcement is expected Thursday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made.

The endorsement, in advance of floor votes as early as this weekend, would be a major boost for President Barack Obama's signature issue.

Comments

[anziodad1944]

Take back our country if it's not too late.
I am disgusted with money controlling politics, with tax cheats and liars running everything.
There will be a revolution and we (people who know history) are all fearful of loosing our liberty, or nation.

[keepfreedom]

I couldn't agree with you more. More people are opening their eyes and paying attention everyday. People will only take so much...

[sailhardy]

Since the AARP sold out to pharmaceutical firms on Medicare Part D, the organisation has zero credibility on health issues.

[Plain English]

Check out the American Senior Benefits Association (ASBA). They are opposed to the Health Reform Bill because they acknowledge that their own members are opposed to it. Some senior organizations want seniors to follow in the direction the organization leads. ASBA lets members take the lead and supports them by providing free membership, discounts on benefits, and keeping up to speed on what’s going on in Washington. Visit their website at www.asbaonline.org

[brady61995]

aarp member will all be gone by the time a bill gets passed that would have helped them

[wonketteRAWKS]

Didn't AARP also support Bush's Medicare Part D?

[Star2000dancer]

yes.

[Dianekkdi]

just take it to the floor and get it done.

Enough with the pocketing of insurance lobbyist money. Haven't you pigs on capital hill sloughed at the trough long enough?

Every one of you make me ill. So...I need my health reform bill!

[viflyer]

The ARRP is the biggest insurance ageny in the US. OF COURSE they will endorse this monstrosity.

Seniors are the biggest suckers in the country.

I quit AARP some time ago, they are a sham.

[Emerald1943]

This bogus advertising is typical of what we have seen all along. The AARP is duping seniors into believing that the bill is a good bill...."W­ell, if the AARP endorses it, the bill must be good for us!" And meanwhile, the thieves at United Health Care continue to deny care, rake in billions in profits and pay their CEO $50,000 PER HOUR!!!!

When is someone going to call them out on this complete LIE???

[Smithn]

Splish, splash
scrub away this mongerer
Swish, Swish
Sure enuf he/she's a goner. . .

Gee what fun:
mmy Obama Mop is a poet & I didn't even know it!

[Star2000dancer]

There's alot out there that keep trying to explain AARP is no longer "the friend".

[NoFactsJustTruth]

My wife and I have refused to respond to ANYTHING from AARP, because they're actually an INSURANCE COMPANY themselves that sold out the seniors with their prescription drug coverage endorsement.

They're a lobby alright, but certainly NOT for the senior citizens of OUR country.

[Melissa]

Everyone I know who is a member of AARP has canceled their membership. AARP stands to make millions of dollars from this bill.

[Emerald1943]

AARP - Underwritten by UNITED HEALTH CARE!!!

Don't be fooled! This one does not pass the "smell test"! I would think they would jump right on board because as it stands now, this bill is nothing but a HUGE windfall for the insurance companies.­..just think, the vast majority of the American people are going to be FORCED under penalty of law to buy insurance from them!!

The watered-down public option is only going to be available for several million...­certainly not enough to put downward pressure on the insurance companies' rising premiums. There is little in the bill for cost controls. This is not the bill that we progressive Democrats want to see passed!

Support both the Kucinich and Anthony Weiner amendments for single payer!!!

[Star2000dancer]

Anything that Kucinich says, I trust.

[Ifticar2]

MaryanneAZ begged of me:

"Please provide your source for that allegation. I have never seen anything but anonymous blogger posts that suggest that AARP profits in any way from endorsing deals by private vendors at discounts to their members."

Thus, I responded with:

"The AARP® MedicareComplete® plans are SecureHorizons® Medicare Advantage plans insured or covered by an affiliate of UnitedHealthcare, an MA organization with a Medicare contract. AARP is not an insurer. *****Unite­­dHealthca­r­e pays a fee to AARP**** and its affiliate for use of the AARP trademark and other services. Amounts paid are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members. The AARP MedicareComplete plans are available to all eligible Medicare beneficiaries, including both members and nonmembers of AARP. AARP and the AARP logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of AARP. The SecureHorizons and MedicareComplete marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of United Healthcare Alliance, LLC and its affiliates­."

http://www.aarphealthcare.com/products/medicareadvantage/

[Emerald1943]

Thanks for that! Fanned!

[MaryanneAZ]

You neglect to acknowledge that AARP is NOT an insurer as many here claim. Also, that amounts paid for the use of its trademark are used "for the general purposes of AARP and its MEMBERS." This non-profit provides a lot of value for its members. You are arguing that there is "corporate" enrichment as the organization's goal. Nothing is farther from the truth.

[Star2000dancer]

Great job! Fanned.

[mummblemouth]

I bet AARP will now be dubbed a 'left wing' organization.

[Ifticar2]

Nope. AARP has no wings. AARP does not have a political ideology. They are pure capitalist in search of as much money as they can get from senior citizens.

[time4change2009]

READ IT HERE...Con­gressional Health Reform Bill...
All 1990 Pages !

Click to read bill: http://blacks4barack.blogspot.com/2009/11/congressional-health-care-bill-all-1990.html

Knowledge is POWER ! Pass It On !

[Rayme]

How much was AARP paid to endorse the criminal Health Care Bill? I betcha that they didn't do it for FREE.

[Ventura Co California]

My thoughts exactly.

[dlo2]

We are fragile creatures. We need universal health care. Children and infants get ill quickly and their conditions can deteriorate quickly. Elderly are vulnerable to the annual winter varieties of flu like chronically ill younger people. Some men (and women) are susceptible to kidney stones and their plight is pitiful when stricken. Auto, pedestrian and home accidents can happen anywhere and to anyone, requiring immediate care. If we live long enough 1 in 3 of us or more will have cancer and to survive or not suffer the sometimes horrific consequences of organ invasion. Women will conceive and need prenatal care or families and society will pay enormous costs in covering premature or ill neonates. Lyme disease is prolific in the states and you just might go camping sometime in the coming months and find yourself victim to this disease...­if you do, you will need immediate care to counter long term disabling lyme, erlichiosis or babesiosis. There are many other vector diseases that are coming to your local communities that are the result of global warming trends that so many GOP politicians refute. ... The viruses which make human connections with airplane travel linking continents thousands of miles away to another in a matter of hours. World trade and travel links us as one race from the standpoint of a pathogen of infectious disease. The pathogen does not care whether you are black, white, yellow, woman, man or child, young or old, legally in a country or not.

[abbelincoln]

I hope obama was watching the election returns last evening as his party and policies took a lickin'. It was so good to see the Gov win in a landslide in VA and an unknown to beat that fatcat Goldman Sachs alumnus incumbent. how humiliating for obama and corzine. i would bury my head in the sand.

[mummblemouth]

Two governor wins: one in a state that historically votes against the party in power in Washington and another in a state that had a p.sspoor incumbent.­..oohhh, big win.

On the other hand, conservatives lost two historically republican congressional seats...yo­u know those people who actually make federal policy.

[cuzkate]

Excuse me for a second, WE NEED JOBS!

[Star2000dancer]

Fanned!

[anziodad1944]

You won't have immediate care - don't you understand the fundamentals of this bill? Most people do not take the time to realize what this represents. Who takes the time to thoroughly comprehend issues anymore? Does it give everyone a headache? Is it easier on your psyche to just latch on to a simple phrase or title and make your world more comfortable by thinking you understand a monstrously complex and deceptive 2,000 page piece of unconstitutional legislation? Your vote is hurting America and yourself and all that you may hold dear if you don't understand what is your talking about. The American people deserve more from Congress and may soon take drastic action to recover our freedom and voice.

[lifeagain]

The chances of this Health Care bill passing after the election are less. AARP would be wise to stay silent

[abbelincoln]

why does that photo of Pelosi on Drudge make he look so awful. She looks like she has only moments to live.

[Ventura Co California]

Fingers crossed.

[Ifticar2]

Stop teasing us.

[taquinas]

More do nothings from the party of NO.