AARP Rival Targets Pro-Health Reform Democrats

The 60 Plus Association -- the "conservative alternative" to the AARP -- is launching a new advertising campaign against House Democrats who voted in favor of the party's health care reform, accusing them of supporting a measure that would ultimately undercut Medicare.

The Washington Post reports that the group will spend $1.5 million on TV ads targeting eight Democratic lawmakers from districts with high senior citizen populations.

The ads, which will first air later this week, will feature Reps. Earl Pomeroy (N.D.), Vice Snyder (Ark.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Brad Ellsworth (Ind.), Baron Hill (Ind.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Tom Perriello (Va.) and Gerald Connolly (Va.).

60 Plus "regularly squares off with the AARP," which supports the health care reform bill.

Multiple Democratic-leaning groups have already taken to the airwaves thanking lawmakers for their yes vote on the bill. 60 Plus, however, will be the first group to sponsor a major ad campaign assailing against Democrats since the bill's passage.

60 Plus has spent $227,000 lobbying Congress in the first three quarters of 2009, opposing health care reform legislation, but supporting "comprehensive Medicare reform," according to lobbying disclosure reports.

Take a look at one of their ads here:

UPDATE: Greg Sargent reports that this ad was produced by none other than Larry McCarthy, make of the infamous Willie Horton spot that bedeviled the Dukakis campaign.

Comments

[swanie]

This is NOT a cut in standard Medicare,

but only in Medicare Advantage,

which costs more and produces LESS services

than standard Medicare.

So, the only ones that lose ARE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES

because the Medicare recipients can go to standard Medicare.

QUIT LYING ! ! !

.

[dadw5boys]

The Countrys with National Health Care are already pulling out of the recession !!!!!!

[Gidster]

"AARP Rival Targets Pro-Health Reform Democrats" With the same old bunk and half truths......

[musselmanm]

This is not a troll rant!
The ad is kind of correct. The bill could and should cut such things as Diabetes testing supplies sent to your home for free while Medicare pays 4 times the value of the products to Liex berty meeeds.
The same with your hover rouund. Many more stupid profits for our sickness would be removed. Yay!
We can't wait to reform our health system. Not just insurance companies but phony doctors, and hospitals. Anyone that profits from our illness' has a reason to cheat and we need strong independent oversight, with strong, strong punishment for the guilty.

[hypnotoad72]

Anyone who profiteers from illness as such is almost on par with murderers and rapists.

Profiting is great, but the Good Book (and even many badly written ones) put humanity over profiteering. With words harsher than I could ever feel comfortable to write.

[moongal6]

musselmanm, this is a tro// rant.
There are NO CUTS IN MEDICARE BENEFITS. I am a recently retired ICD-9 Medical Coder and Insurance biller. The only cuts are to the bloated profits of the private insurers to the MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM. These private insurers make 14% more profit from government payments to them than regular Medicare insurers make. This 60 Plus Association is an association formed BY INSURANCE COMPANIES. These cuts in PROFITS to the insurance companies will SAVE Americans Billions of dollars.
http://pnhp.org

[Littlewords]

OK so 100-200K (self claimed membership count) of teabag leaning, senior moment impaired members of the ridiculous "The 60 Plus Association" are out to counter what the legitimate (and definitely not left leaning) AARP on its recent position in support of health care reform.

The AARP by the way represents over 50% of America's seniors (a membership of over 32 million represented).

The the 60 plus association, btw has brilliant ideas and postions like...

1) Social Security should be privatized (wonder how that would have worked out for everyone)
2) Strengthen Gun Rights (not controls, but even more and stronger gun rights)
3) They oppose taxes increases for those earning +$250K per year (guess most aren't yet retired)
4) They oppose climate legislation (we'll be gone soon, so not our problem must be their motto)

[Gidster]

A 2006 report in the AARP Bulletin called 60 Plus a front group for the pharmaceutical industry. 60 Plus, along with Senior Coalition and United Seniors Association, "claim to speak for millions of older Americans", although as recently as 2001 none of the three listed ANY revenue from membership dues on their tax returns.

The article added: "virtually all of their largest contributions in recent years have come from the same source -- the nation's pharmaceutical industry."

Not a credible advocacy group.

[msbadger]

Here's an idea. Frame our current Health Care system, in detail, as a bill put forward in Congress. See your problem? Nothing in the proposed reform could possibly be worse than what we've got! Aargh!
I'm so sick, not coincidentally, of all this. I have no coverage and many chronic health issues. Bastids!!

[Matt Osborne - Huffpost Blogger]

Is this new group connected to ASA in any way?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-osborne/cbs-credulous-breathless_b_284844.html

[moongal6]

Matt, I tried to research any connection between the two front groups. I couldn't find a connection. But, I did go to the ASA website and the only history I could find was a note from Peter Marshall, (yes, that Peter Marshall, Hollywood Squares), saying basically what a wonderful group this is, how they don't give in to left leaning politics like the other guys.. He is their honorary Chairman. Paid for his endorsement, I'm sure. I sent them a lengthy e-mail inquiry as to who they were, what they represent, and if the represent big Pharma or the Medical Industrial Complex. I will wait with baited breath for their response.
I am a recently retired ICD-9 Medical Coder and Insurance biller. And, a card carrying member of AARP. http://pnhp.org

[Tim303]

"Hooray! We killed quite good health reform! Yay! Go USA! Number 37!"

[mancoff]

60 plus is strictly a conservative talking point for right wing propoganda. Follow the money behind this magazine and it will lead you directly to big insurance companies and radical right. Another attempt to take advantage of seniors, scare them and use them as pawns for political agendas. Shameless, sad.....AARP should mount a big campaingn against the idea that they are an alternative to AARP.......Rachel Maddow should do her in depth investigating of finding who support and backs this magazine.

[Appleton]

It is misleading to describe 60 Plus as a "rival" to AARP. I have been a member of the latter organization for over twelve years. It produces an excellent magazine, a very informative newsletter and works tirelessly for the interests of seniors. In contrast, "60 Plus" is merely a lobbying tool for insurance interests. It provides no services and I expect that it has few, if any, bona fide members. I have yet to receive the first piece of mail from this outfit. And I'd be willing to bet that it won't disclose its sources of revenue.

[Birdman]

The real issue here though is that the claims are based on flawed analysis of the bill. Again there are no provisions to destroy or otherwise change medicare. Isn't there some law that can be applied to prevent the airing of commercials that blatantly misrepresent the facts?

[TruthfulTerry]

***"Again there are no provisions to destroy or otherwise change medicare."*** Get new glasses...Elimination of the Medicare Advantage program which 10 million seniors depend on is not a change?? Get real.

[Tim303]

It's not about the human beings--it's about ending the horrifying waste that is bleeding money out of medicare.

[2lib4oh]

Medicare Advantage is no advantage.It is a waste of our tax dollars.The sooner it is gone the better.

[moongal6]

Terry, the healthcare reform plan does NOT eliminate Medicare Advantage. It just saves America 400 BILLION in reimbursement rates to the insurance companies who provide this private supplemental insurance. I am a recently retired ICD-9 Medical coder and insurance biller. Medicare Advantage insurance providers currently receive 14% HIGHER REIMBURSEMENT RATES than the regular providers of Medicare. The new reform will begin to curb those out of control reimbursement rates. The private insurers will still make a profit, just not as much as the bloated profits they are used to receiving. It does NOT cause any CUTS TO MEDICARE BENEFITS, AND IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. I am providing a link to C-SPAN. It has the complete bill HR3962 ON AUDIO, so you can listen to any part or all of the new bill, all 1900 pages.
http://hearthebill.org/HR3962_Division_A.html

[Gidster]

Medicare Advantage is a supplemental client paid for AND government subsidized insurance program.

Medicare, the governmental insurance will be untouched.

[JiminNC]

AARP's rival? That's a hoot.

[Gymyd]

No matter what side you are on this is how it's done on both sides of the debate. 60 Plus spends money on allies and foes as does Move-On.org....I just hope main street americans get in game and support, with contributions, those officials or officials to be that agree with them. This is what makes us America. It's a good thing. Grab a glove and get in the game America. Send in your money today. I just wish uo were sending it to me.

[Ducksworthy]

I know how to get people to send the money to you. Get money from AHIP. Set up a "Rival to the AARP" and oppose Obesity Prevention

[Gidster]

How is Move-on.org relevant?

60 plus is a Pharmaceutical industry front group! They have no membership.

They are a corporate lobbyist group.

[sisco2008]

Ha, so you want the gov't to be involved in the most personal of issues and think this "healthcare reform" currently being considered has been left untouched by "big business" and other special interests, ignorance is not bliss. If true healthcare reform is the end game here then why is it that a mandate to encourage nationwide competition(something the public option will never accomplish IMO) not included, or, why have tort reform issues been swept under the rug(hint: Democrats receive the largest proportion of trial lawyers campaign donations), why have fraud, waste and corruption in Medicare continued, but, will magically be fixed once this is passed and will no longer be a problem, and, lastly, why is it that those who have decided that this is the best plan, will not include themselves in it? I know that ideology is the big driver on this issue for a variety of reasons, however, one can only conclude that to be truly comprehensive, ideology MUST be set aside and ignoring economic realities will result in calamity and whole generations beholden to a gigantic bureaucracy, passed in the middle of the night by those who think gov't has all the answers but, is beneath them.

[Havingfun100]

Bravo. Well stated.

[Birdman]

What is your point? Are you saying the bill will destroy medicare? And what does tort reform have to do with healthcare? You seem to be jumping around quite a bit without fully explaining your issue.

[Tim303]

Tort reform is in. The public option will create competition. The deficit will be shrunk. The CBO who thought Iraq would be a fiasco think this will save money. You got nothing.

[2lib4oh]

Yes I do want government involved in health care reform just like I want it to make sure the water I drink and the food I eat are safe.Effective government can happen but first you have to reform our campaign finance to get rid of the worst people in government who are beholden to special interests.The only interest our government should be interested in concerning health care is helping its citizens stay healthy with safe food and water and air, encouraging its populace to protect their health by educating us on healthy behaviors (stop smoking,walk more,eat better,ect.) and making good health care accessible to all Americans regardless of income, race , or age.
Most states have reduced the amount trial lawyers can litigate for so that's the first clue to the partisan laden complaint.Were you this concerned about corruption and waste in Medicare under Bush? Medicare Part D was a give-a-way to the Big Pharma and will could continue if we don't protest.
Our government needs reform from the bottom up.First you need election reform, then campaign finance reform, legislative reform and then you can begin to fix the problems in a substantive way.Otherwise, its just the band aid approach.

[ChelseaC]

The AARP is not to be trusted--for they lie in bed with the insurance cartel.
AARP is in business with United Health Care insurance--they have a partnership!

Any endorsement from the AARP, or the AMA for that matter, should be a cause for those alarm bells to ring.

They are anti-REAL reform--but pro insurance- cartel-in-the-driver's-seat.

What sounds like reform--is NOT reform.
Read this link:
http://www.pnhp.org/

[Birdman]

So the changes in the bill are not reform? How so, care to enlighten us?

[ChelseaC]

Don't you read?
I'll give you a summary.
mandates
no drug price caps
no premiums caps--no cost containment
puny PO is not enough of a pool to create competition.
read Dr. Marcia Angell's blof from yesterday here on HP
and check out this medical website, read up!
http://www.pnhp.org/blog/

[2lib4oh]

I don't care if the AARP sells supplemental insurance.That's just capitalism in action.But they should be an advocacy group for the aged as they profess to be.Just like doctors and AMA could make a real difference in calling for reform in the interest of America's health.They are going to make money no matter what.They could just do in a much more professional way and still be financially compensated well.

[ChelseaC]

they have blocked any kind of public option and single payer--they're not friends of reform.