AMA, AARP Support House Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is trumpeting endorsements from the AARP and the American Medical Association of House Democrats' health care legislation.

Making a rare appearance at the White House briefing Thursday, Obama told reporters that those endorsement are no small accomplishments. He urged Congress to listen to the AARP and AMA and pass the health care overhaul.

Obama says AARP, the nation's premier lobbying group for the elderly, has looked at the bill and is supporting it in the interest of seniors.

He also says the AMA wouldn't be supporting the bill it if would lead to health decisions being made by government bureaucrats or damage doctor-patient relationships. He says those medical professionals have seen firsthand the costs of inaction on health care.

Comments

[Joe Don KotrlaChipps]

I'm just a simple man, but I have a simple solution. Instead of letting congress, the senate, the president, et al, vote themselves an "elite" medical and retirement program, put them all on the same ones we, "common folks" have, Medicare and Social Security. Bet it wouldn't take long to "correct" everything that is wrong in both systems.

Why do they get a "special" program, and us common folk get a "broke" system?

[Steel-Breeze]

On the Fox News page, they state the AMA is recanting their endorsement.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/06/amas-endorsement-house-health-care-sparks-internal-uprising/

I hate to believe Fox has a scoop.

[ChelseaC]

That's bad news because anything they support isn't worth sh*t .

[Rob Horton]

Let's see the American Medical Association, the AARP and the American Cancer Society have all endorsed the House Health Care bill... yeah, that sure sounds like a bunch of Marxists to me.

Methinks someone's tighty whitey "True To The Loons" is restricting blood flow to their brain.

[billhodges]

The American Medical Association's much-touted endorsement of the House health care reform bill has triggered a revolt among some members who want the endorsement withdrawn.

Some members are outraged that the group's trustees made the endorsement without the formal approval of the organization's House of Delegates.

On Monday, delegates will vote on a resolution offered by some members that, if approved, will withdraw the AMA’s endorsement of the bill.

President Obama cited the endorsement of the influential AMA, along with AARP's, in a surprise appearance Thursday in the White House briefing room as he attempted to beat back criticism that the bill would gut Medicare.

"They're endorsing this bill because they know it will strengthen Medicare, not jeopardize it," he told reporters. "They know it will protect the benefits our seniors receive, not cut them."

"So I want everyone to remember that the next time you hear the same tired arguments to the contrary from insurance companies and their lobbyists and remember this endorsement the next time you see a bunch of misleading ads on television," he added.

[CurtisP]

How can AARP’s endorsement be taken seriously! AARP is not a social conscience, but a financial services and insurance company. They will benefit from the bill as it slashes the Medicare Advantage plans which compete with the Medicare Supplement plan AARP sells. AARP has not generate a single negative article this year on the negative impact from the health bills.

Same with the AMA. They were extorted by Reid to “endorse” the bill. The AMA was promised legislation to curb scheduled massive cuts to medicare payments to doctors in exchange for their support. Wake up people!

[Chris]

Will anyone bother to ask the AARP how much $$ they stand to make off of the cuts to medicare advantage.

[BetterDeadThanRed09]

They all better look out or Red State will start mailing them something. They haven't come up with anything stupid to mail them yet.

But don't you worry AARP, they'll think of something.

Maybe bingo cards. Seniors like bingo right?

[alice09]

Eric Cantor says these endorsements by people who work on the frontlines of medicine and know how it all works don't matter. He knows better.
The Republican glorification of total ignorance continues.

[Huero]

Nice touch with the white coats that were handed out to them.

[alice09]

What does it matter if they got white coats handed to them?
The important thing is that they do the very tough frontline work that all the fools with ignorant offensive signs in DC today know nothing about but blather on anyway.

[Star2000dancer]

Then they're not on our side.

[janiceh]

AARP received about 3.4 BILLION from royalties for selling health insurance over the past 10 years. This is more than it received from membership dues, grants and private contributions combined. See:

http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/09/11/04/aarp-just-another-greedy-insurance

AARP is essentially another insurer. Is it any wonder why they endorse this bill?

[Mihailo]

This is very significant news that should have been featured more prominently by HP. While I am proud to call myself a progressive, I have to say that progressives had better stop acting like a bunch of two-year olds who want everything they want done, and done now. Obama has gotten us closer to universal health care reform than anyone else has since Teddy Roosevelt tried. His methods are working whereas the progressive idea of working for the impossible (single-payer) wouldn't have led anywhere given the composition of the Senate. Bottom line is Obama is succeeding....there is unfortunately not a majority of progressives in the Senate, and he knows it while we dream that there are. Let's live in the real world instead of marshmellow fields and marmalade skies.

[dnegri]

I second what you say.

[Gabrielle]

I third that

[EdA]

I think it's great that both AARP and the AMA have decided that there is MUCH more to support in this health insurance reform bill than there is to object to. Clap clap clap. And I'm glad that President Obama has decided that he might as well go along, too, if he has to.

[BabblingBrooks]

Both the AMA and AARP appear to be determined to lose membership.

[treadway123]

I got my survey from AARP, do ya really think they did this with out surveying their custormers?

[rfstevens]

Me too!

[ckfan]

this is really big news and should be featured better.