McCain urges seniors to abandon AARP

2009-12-03 22:19:37

#1

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Sen. John McCain is urging senior citizens to cut up their AARP membership cards and mail the pieces back to the organization, claiming AARP has betrayed them.

Citing AARP's past opposition to proposed cuts in Medicare, McCain expressed dismay Thursday that the senior group has suddenly changed its position to support $460 billion in cuts to the program proposed by Democrats to help pay for health care legislation.

"Shame on AARP," McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday on the Senate floor. "Take your AARP card, cut it in half and send it back. They've betrayed you."

"If we're talking about Medicare cuts alone as a way of financing health reform, we would fight that with all of our strength," he added. "We've gone as far as we can down that road."

Democrats throughout Thursday's Senate debate used AARP's endorsement of their bill to blunt Republican charges that they are gutting Medicare. AARP rode to the rescue of Democrats on Wednesday, announcing its support for billions in Medicare cuts to help fund the legislation.

As Republicans pressed to restore the cuts, AARP said Democrats merely were recommending elimination of waste and inefficiency within the giant health care program for seniors.

"Most importantly, the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits," A. Barry Rand, AARP's CEO, said in a letter to senators.

Republicans, led by McCain, 73, but not a member of the group, said seniors would lose some of their add-on benefits that are part of coverage under private insurance Medicare. "Above all, we must not use Medicare as a piggy bank" to pay for other programs, he said.

Democrats, sensitive to the charges, rallied behind an alternative proposal by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., saying the bill would cause no reduction in guaranteed Medicare benefits.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12 … -citizens/
I don't get it... why is he defending Medicare? Aren't Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives trying to remove entitlements?

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-03 22:23:28

#2

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6392|eXtreme to the maX

I thought the Republicons locked in place billions of dollars of medicare spending to fix the seniors vote, and hamstring the democraps.

Fuck Israel

2009-12-03 22:26:13

#3

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6887|132 and Bush

Such a Maverick

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-12-03 22:36:50

#4

konfusion: mostly afk; +480|6837|CH/BR - in UK

Kmarion wrote:
Such a Maverick

Well, how much more of a Maverick can you be when you go against your own word?

-kon

2009-12-03 22:39:17

#5

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6887|132 and Bush

konfusion wrote:
Kmarion wrote:
Such a Maverick
Well, how much more of a Maverick can you be when you go against your own word?

-kon

Ask John Kerry

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-12-03 23:21:50

#6

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7003

JohnG@lt wrote:
Sen. John McCain is urging senior citizens to cut up their AARP membership cards and mail the pieces back to the organization, claiming AARP has betrayed them.

Citing AARP's past opposition to proposed cuts in Medicare, McCain expressed dismay Thursday that the senior group has suddenly changed its position to support $460 billion in cuts to the program proposed by Democrats to help pay for health care legislation.

"Shame on AARP," McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday on the Senate floor. "Take your AARP card, cut it in half and send it back. They've betrayed you."

"If we're talking about Medicare cuts alone as a way of financing health reform, we would fight that with all of our strength," he added. "We've gone as far as we can down that road."

Democrats throughout Thursday's Senate debate used AARP's endorsement of their bill to blunt Republican charges that they are gutting Medicare. AARP rode to the rescue of Democrats on Wednesday, announcing its support for billions in Medicare cuts to help fund the legislation.

As Republicans pressed to restore the cuts, AARP said Democrats merely were recommending elimination of waste and inefficiency within the giant health care program for seniors.

"Most importantly, the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits," A. Barry Rand, AARP's CEO, said in a letter to senators.

Republicans, led by McCain, 73, but not a member of the group, said seniors would lose some of their add-on benefits that are part of coverage under private insurance Medicare. "Above all, we must not use Medicare as a piggy bank" to pay for other programs, he said.

Democrats, sensitive to the charges, rallied behind an alternative proposal by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., saying the bill would cause no reduction in guaranteed Medicare benefits.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12 … -citizens/
I don't get it... why is he defending Medicare? Aren't Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives trying to remove entitlements?

Correct me if I'm wrong, didn't Nixon start medicare?

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2009-12-03 23:34:57

#7

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6887|132 and Bush

LBJ was in office.. but with most legislation it is important to look at who was controlling congress at the time.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-12-04 03:59:48

#8

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6697|'Murka

I think they're seeing Medicare as the lesser of two evils in this situation.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2009-12-04 05:12:12

#9

loubot: O' HAL naw!; +470|6865|Columbus, OH

A couple months back 60 Minutes had a piece of about AARP business practice, basically trying to squeeze every last dime from it's members.

2009-12-04 07:47:14

#10

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7023|Salt Lake City

JohnG@lt wrote:
Sen. John McCain is urging senior citizens to cut up their AARP membership cards and mail the pieces back to the organization, claiming AARP has betrayed them.

Citing AARP's past opposition to proposed cuts in Medicare, McCain expressed dismay Thursday that the senior group has suddenly changed its position to support $460 billion in cuts to the program proposed by Democrats to help pay for health care legislation.

"Shame on AARP," McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday on the Senate floor. "Take your AARP card, cut it in half and send it back. They've betrayed you."

"If we're talking about Medicare cuts alone as a way of financing health reform, we would fight that with all of our strength," he added. "We've gone as far as we can down that road."

Democrats throughout Thursday's Senate debate used AARP's endorsement of their bill to blunt Republican charges that they are gutting Medicare. AARP rode to the rescue of Democrats on Wednesday, announcing its support for billions in Medicare cuts to help fund the legislation.

As Republicans pressed to restore the cuts, AARP said Democrats merely were recommending elimination of waste and inefficiency within the giant health care program for seniors.

"Most importantly, the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits," A. Barry Rand, AARP's CEO, said in a letter to senators.

Republicans, led by McCain, 73, but not a member of the group, said seniors would lose some of their add-on benefits that are part of coverage under private insurance Medicare. "Above all, we must not use Medicare as a piggy bank" to pay for other programs, he said.

Democrats, sensitive to the charges, rallied behind an alternative proposal by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., saying the bill would cause no reduction in guaranteed Medicare benefits.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12 … -citizens/
I don't get it... why is he defending Medicare? Aren't Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives trying to remove entitlements?

What makes you think Medicare is an entitlement program?

2009-12-04 07:51:37

#11

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
What makes you think Medicare is an entitlement program?

It's the very definition of an entitlement program...

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-04 08:27:56

#12

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7023|Salt Lake City

JohnG@lt wrote:
Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
What makes you think Medicare is an entitlement program?
It's the very definition of an entitlement program...

Then I would dare say you and I have a difference of opinion on what entitlement means. By my definition an entitlement would be something which is given when nothing was done to earn it. Medicare is something you pay into your entire working life, just like SSI.

2009-12-04 08:41:27

#13

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
What makes you think Medicare is an entitlement program?
It's the very definition of an entitlement program...
Then I would dare say you and I have a difference of opinion on what entitlement means. By my definition an entitlement would be something which is given when nothing was done to earn it. Medicare is something you pay into your entire working life, just like SSI.

Yes, but different people in the program paid in vastly different amounts and yet they all receive the same benefits. Same with SSI. If you got out of it exactly what you put into it then it would not be an entitlement program but instead a form of forced retirement savings.

It is one of the purest form of socialism because while the effort put into receiving the benefits varies vastly among the beneficiaries, the outcome is the same across the board. It's like paying a McDonald's register clerk the same wage as the CEO of McDonald's...

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-04 08:53:52

#14

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7023|Salt Lake City

I still disagree. Medicaid would be closer to an entitlement program. There are many examples of how much one pays in taxes not being directly proportional to the benefit received. Roads and other infrastructure, schools, fire, police, and military service jump to the front of my mind right from the get go. Should we start proportioning them based on the amount one pays in taxes?

2009-12-04 08:59:45

#15

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
I still disagree. Medicaid would be closer to an entitlement program. There are many examples of how much one pays in taxes not being directly proportional to the benefit received. Roads and other infrastructure, schools, fire, police, and military service jump to the front of my mind right from the get go. Should we start proportioning them based on the amount one pays in taxes?

Aside from education, none of the things listed are commodities. Health care and health insurance are.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-05 08:12:47

#16

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,056|7058|PNW

JohnG@lt wrote:
I don't get it... why is he defending Medicare? Aren't Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives trying to remove entitlements?

Are you calling John McCain a conservative?

2009-12-05 08:14:08

#17

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

unnamednewbie13 wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
I don't get it... why is he defending Medicare? Aren't Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives trying to remove entitlements?
Are you calling John McCain a conservative?

No, he's a politician. There's no such thing as liberals and conservatives in politics. There's no room for ideals when populism is what gets you votes.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-05 09:14:17

#18

Diesel_dyk: Object in mirror will feel larger than it appears; +178|6281|Truthistan

Part of the "cuts" to medicare as I understand it have to do with closing off the prescription drug money trough. The prescription drug plans that seniors are forced to pay for has a lot of issues including the income donut hole where seniors pay full price for drugs and more importantly that the govt is prohibited from negotiating the price down on drugs so that big pharma is making excessive profits on what is called an "entitlement" program. If its an entitlement program at all... all it does is entitle big pharma to screw over seniors.

And of course the GOP doesn't want any changes that would adversely affect the money train of seniors being robbed by big pharma and big pharma giving dirty pay back money to the GOP for legislating the crap in the first place.

So what is billed by the gop as a medicare cut back is really a tourniquet on the financial hemorrhaging and excessive profiteering of big pharma. IMO AARP smells a rat.

2009-12-05 09:22:04

#19

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Diesel_dyk wrote:
Part of the "cuts" to medicare as I understand it have to do with closing off the prescription drug money trough. The prescription drug plans that seniors are forced to pay for has a lot of issues including the income donut hole where seniors pay full price for drugs and more importantly that the govt is prohibited from negotiating the price down on drugs so that big pharma is making excessive profits on what is called an "entitlement" program. If its an entitlement program at all... all it does is entitle big pharma to screw over seniors.

And of course the GOP doesn't want any changes that would adversely affect the money train of seniors being robbed by big pharma and big pharma giving dirty pay back money to the GOP for legislating the crap in the first place.

So what is billed by the gop as a medicare cut back is really a tourniquet on the financial hemorrhaging and excessive profiteering of big pharma. IMO AARP smells a rat.

I don't really think AARP smells a rat so much as it is getting something in return for it's support. What that is? Who knows.

I lost all respect for the GOP when they pushed Medicare Part D in the first place. They proved themselves to be the same big government, fiscally irresponsible party that they accuse the Democrats of being. Couple that with the recent rejection of gay marriage here in NY, where all 30 Republicans walked out when debate started and then casted their Nay votes en masse, well... I think it might be easier to knock some fiscal sense into the Democrats than it would be convincing the Repubs to give up their ridiculous moral crusades. The GOP is worthless at this point and the people that keep saying they want Palin to run in 2012 just make it moreso.

Last edited by JohnG@lt (2009-12-05 09:23:08)

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-12-05 10:19:20

#20

Morpheus: This shit still going?; +508|6286|The Mitten

JohnG@lt wrote:
It is one of the purest form of socialism because while the effort put into receiving the benefits varies vastly among the beneficiaries, the outcome is the same across the board. It's like paying a McDonald's register clerk the same wage as the CEO of McDonald's...

What's wrong with paying the McDonalds CEO $7.95 an hour?

EE (hats

2009-12-07 04:06:35

#21

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6697|'Murka

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
I still disagree. Medicaid would be closer to an entitlement program.

You do realize that Medicaid is the State piece of Medicare...right?

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

BF2S Forums McCain urges seniors to abandon AARP

Kmarion wrote:

konfusion wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Diesel_dyk wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

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