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FDL and other groups successfully pressured AARP into backing off support for benefit cuts
This is what a grassroots victory looks like. Last year when President Obama was trying to get a deficit deal that would significantly cut social safety net benefits, AARP was giving him cover. Now after receiving too much blowback, AARP is no longer supporting cuts. From the Washington Post:
AARP, the lobbying powerhouse for older Americans, last year made a dramatic concession. Amid a national debate over whether to overhaul Social Security, the group said for the first time it was open to cuts in benefits.
The backlash from AARP members and liberal groups that oppose changes in the program was enormous — and this time around, as Washington debates how to tame the ballooning federal debt, AARP is flatly opposed to any benefit reductions for the nation’s retirees. [...]
“We’re fighting to stop cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that will hurt beneficiaries,” said AARP’s top lobbyist, Nancy LeaMond. “We want to ensure that Social Security is not part of this deficit discussion.”
AARP changing its position is not going to guarantee that Social Security and Medicare are safe during fiscal cliff negotiations. There is still a huge amount of Wall Street money lined up behind efforts to cut the programs, but it does make cutting the programs politically more difficult for the White House.
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About FDL Action
Of course, the WaPo0 also threw a couple of lies into that article in the guise of “news.” For example:
AARP is opposed to reductions for retirees, but they have no concern for future retirees. This just sets the stage for them to sell out the younger generation once again, without current seniors feeling the sting. That is what AARP does.
If cuts are on the table you are going to see this big Democrat victory go right down the toilet in 2014.
What a bunch of stand up guys./s
You’d think that them being seniors would entail them having some wisdom, like the kind that tells you if you lick ass all you’ll really ever get is the tast of shit on your tongue, but then again, this POSE isn’t really about saving SS, it’s about saving their memberships.
It should never have been part of the deficit discussion. The only reason to change Social Security is to strengthen the Social Security system.
Social Security benefits here should be raised to match Germany, along with their national vacation policy of six weeks mandatory a year and paid childcare leave.
Or, just boost our minimum wage to Australian levels – $15 an hour plus.
AARP = marketing for private insurance policies, which get re-branded with AARP label for which the execs get a royalty.
What a racket.
Hot Dog,
Where’s the beef over pork programs for corporations?
Like the REPUBLICANS ARE DEAD FOR AT LEAST A GENERATION went down the toilet in 2010? My, my, how soon we forget. But Obama is not a Democrat and could care less about 2014. He’s got his, screw EVERYBODY.
Tax exempt to boot. Just like major state based health insurer, as BCBS. You are correct, it is a racket bought with money to benefit money.
RANCID!!!!!!!!!!
1.) Unlike wimpy Democrats who think they actually have to always toe the line even in campaigns, the Republicans will have no problem pointing out that the Dems cut benefits and slashed Social Security and Medicare during campaigns.
2.) Even if the particular Democratic nominee did not support such cuts, they will still be running against the record.
And lastly, I’m betting that the House Republican leadership will make sure that the majority of the votes passing this are Democratic members AND that the Republicans taking the hit are planning on retiring with a MOTU golden parachute.
They want this done, they are not stupid enough to own it. The Dems shouldn’t want this done and ARE stupid enough to own it.
Gotta tell ya, I am so glad Nancy didn’t get her gavel back. Nancy’s a fool for Obama. And how’s that for irony: thank god Boehner is still in the House leadership position. A hack like Boehner! But that job goes to the biggest money raiser in the party and Nancy can really dial up those dollars. As can John, of course.
There are strong indications that Obama sees the Grand Bargain, primarily the aspect of cutting of benefits in SS and Medicare as endowing him with a Nixon goes to China legacy. He will not pull back from that determination easily.
One needs to analyze the AARP Board members to get a real clue on this organization. I only know one, Joanne Jenkins, through her work at the Library of Congress and the disaster she was. Her AARP bio is misleading, but expected. She was not the second-in-command, as the Deputy Librarian is, but she interjected herself all the time–quite illegally by overriding EEO complaints. She was on Liddy Dole’s staff, as I remember, and Daddy Bob got her the LC job. I doubt she ever applied for any job in her life like the rest of us. AARP also is part of the Madison Council at the Library, so you can read up on that with my few posts here at Firedoglake. She was there when Alan Simpson made the comments on Social Security as well as knowing all the other hacks. LC is run by right-wing Republicans and an easy entree for scum with money to access Congress and the White House. So…who would want to join AARP knowing what I know? http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/executive-team/info-2009/Joann-Jenkins.html
Boosting our payroll taxes from the current 10.4% to 19.6% as the Germans pay would probably make that possible.
“We want to ensure that Social Security is not part of this deficit discussion.”
What about the next debt discussion? but one battle at a time! Good to see there is strong push back. Of course the “Pete Peterson Journal” aka Washington Post is not happy.
maybe we should invite to a FDL webinar to explain the AARP position! At the bottom of the page there is a link to invite her as a speaker. We could her on with Nancy Altman and Eric Kingston…
Dear Washington Post
May I borrow your crystal ball? I’d like tomorrow’s lottery numbers.
Driver of debt indeed! Maybe they should have thought of that while they were spending the 2+ trillion in surpluses that Social Security has given them over the almost three decades past.
I think you are so right about it being a POSE. AARP has only reported the results of a survey to Congress. That doesn’t have anything to do with what they are lobbying for.
AARP IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY. The “advocating for seniors’ is only their FRONT. They are TAX-EXEMPT with is a total travesty! Of COURSE, as an INSURANCE company, they would tow the right-wing corporate line and repeat the Republican mantra of cutting “entitlements.” They are a part of the propaganda-media echo chamber of FOX/Limbaugh/Beck/OReilly.
What is being totally omitted from these budget talks is the HUGE role the WARS and military spending and “homeland security” have in creating the budget problems that now exist. With the constant MEDIA FOCUS on ENTITLEMENT as the cause, this major REASON is ignored.
Thankfully, the TAX CUTS from the BUSH ERA are being kept front and center since they are the OTHER main reason for present deficits.
On Social Security, taking the CAP off of payments that are only made up to $110,00 in income is a REASONABLE solution for funding Social Security FOREVER!