House Cons are Really That Stupid Enough to go after AARP..

[Cha]

Not really a shocker though..

Reposted with author's permission(and I can see why too..he's into facts and wants them to get around..thanks Benen!)

March 28, 2011
REPUBLICANS TAKE AIM AT AARP.... I suppose this was inevitable.

Newly empowered House Republicans are getting ready to renew their attacks against AARP over its support for the healthcare reform law, The Hill has learned.

The Ways and Means health and oversight subcommittees are hauling in the seniors lobby's executives before the panel for an April 1 hearing on how the group stands to benefit from the law, among other topics. Republicans say AARP supported the law's $200 billion in cuts to the Medicare Advantage program because it stands to gain financially as seniors replace their MA plans with Medicare supplemental insurance -- or Medigap -- policies endorsed by the association.

The hearing will cover not only Medigap but "AARP's organizational structure, management, and financial growth over the last decade."

It's what House GOP majorities tend to best: identify rivals, launch fishing expeditions, stay on the offensive.

I spoke to AARP spokesperson Drew Nannis, who told me, "AARP has a long-standing and good working relationship with Congress and we look forward to appearing before the Committee on behalf of our millions of members, and the entire 50+ population, on April 1st. AARP is committed to transparency, and the hearing will provide us yet another opportunity to answer any questions as we continue to be a champion for the wants and needs of Americans 50-plus."

Given the larger context, the hearing makes quite a bit of sense. AARP supported passage of the Affordable Care Act -- which, among other things, made it tougher for Republicans to argue that the reform measure was bad for seniors and Medicare -- so the new House majority finds it necessary to target the massive organizations. It's retribution politics at its most obvious.

But also note that these same House Republicans intend, very soon, to launch a crusade against entitlements, including Medicare, as part of a larger budget strategy. With the AARP all but certain to oppose the GOP schemes, it also stands to reason that Republicans would want to undermine the credibility and standing of the powerful group that stands in the party's way.

It's thuggish behavior on the part of congressional Republicans, but it's also predictable.

Update: For the record, the notion that the AARP supported the Affordable Care Act in the hopes of financial gain appears to be baseless -- Republicans are grasping at straws -- and by all appearances it's just a pretext to harangue the organization at a public hearing.

—Steve Benen 1:30 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (38)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive...hp#1915647

My first thought on reading this was echoed in the first comments below Benen's Blog.. and, my second thought is when the fook are Kochs going to be hauled before Congress?!!

"The AARP is not an enemy I would want to make if I wanted to be re-elected, especially given the age distribution of the GOP's voters.

Posted by: Steve LaBonne on March 28, 2011 at 1:35 PM | PERMALINK
I agree. AARP would be the last organization I would want to piss off if I were the GOP. Hell, half their base are members and they identify with the AARP more than with Fox News.

Posted by: Ron Byers on March 28, 2011 at 1:37 PM | PERMALINK
This isn't ACORN, this is a lobbying group with ~40M members. The GOP may be getting in way over their heads, here.

Posted by: Kris on March 28, 2011 at 1:40 PM | PERMALINK
Another waste of taxpayer dollars brought to us by the incompetent and petty GOP."..

[There Is No Spoon]

Sounds like they may be biting off more than they can chew.

[Cha]

(03-28-2011 09:29 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Sounds like they may be biting off more than they can chew.

I say bring it. The corporatemediawhores are going to have more than they can chew too trying to rationalize this bumbling thuggery.

Everything they go after is good and true for America(Acorn, Workers, ETC) and they can't stand that..so yeah big fascist Dics go after AARP.

[SeattleGirl]

(03-28-2011 09:29 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Sounds like they may be biting off more than they can chew.

As Rachel says, it's the great Republican overreach of 2011.

[Cha]

(03-28-2011 09:35 PM)Punky Wrote:  

(03-28-2011 09:29 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Sounds like they may be biting off more than they can chew.

As Rachel says, it's the great Republican overreach of 2011.

Yeah, we're in good company!

[Cha]

Someone asked on Benen's blog..

"What the Hell does this Witchhunt have to do with Jobs?!"

[Hekate]

Overreach? Overreach?!?! I've been watching the GOP overreach for 10 years and more, and get away with it. What I want to know is when are they going to be crushed like a 25-year old car at the junkyard?

Dear gods I hope Rachel is right.

[Cha]

I stand corrected.. I got this tip off of a poster on Benen's Blog..

"Republicans feel safe in attacking AARP because conservatives have come up with their own alternative to the "left-wing" AARP called AMAC, which is promoted heavily on right wing radio.

The rightwing powerbrokers know they can only retain the loyalty of their base in the long run as long as they control the flow of information to them. Talk radio and Fox News were just the beginning, the conservatives are building a self-contained informational infrastructure that will further limit the exposure to their supporters from any non-conservative informational source (which by their definition is automatically liberal). The war on public education is another major part of this strategy."

Posted by: Rip on March 28, 2011 at 2:06 PM | PERMALINK

I feel dirty posting this link and be warned as far as I got it was a liar calling President Obama a liar.

http://www.amac.us/

Be ready to take a shower..I'm posting it to show why the house cons might feel safe in attacking AARP.

[sandnsea]

Words of wisdom from the AMAC blog. I bet she interned for Michelle Bachman.

"The people now know all about the racket the teachers’ unions and other public employee unions have been running for the past twenty years. The public now knows that it is a bad idea to have union representatives and the politicians they elect sitting at a table negotiating pensions and health care benefits. Because there is no one at that table representing them."

[Arkana]

(03-29-2011 12:41 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  Words of wisdom from the AMAC blog. I bet she interned for Michelle Bachman.

"The people now know all about the racket the teachers’ unions and other public employee unions have been running for the past twenty years. The public now knows that it is a bad idea to have union representatives and the politicians they elect sitting at a table negotiating pensions and health care benefits. Because there is no one at that table representing them."

Yes, it's a terrible idea to have union reps ELECTED BY THE UNIONS representing the people in the unions! Whatever were we thinking?

[Cha]

(03-29-2011 12:41 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  Words of wisdom from the AMAC blog. I bet she interned for Michelle Bachman.

"The people now know all about the racket the teachers’ unions and other public employee unions have been running for the past twenty years. The public now knows that it is a bad idea to have union representatives and the politicians they elect sitting at a table negotiating pensions and health care benefits. Because there is no one at that table representing them."

Somebody pointed out on Benen's blog that they bill themselves non-partisan CONservatives Idiots..and push this amac on right wing radio(read hate central).

Good Luck to AARP with the gop wanting to tear them down..I belonged for awhile to help with auto insurance but now I don't drive so I dropped my membership.