Conservatives Say Cut AARP's Federal Funds

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Conservative groups urged Congress on Tuesday to end all federal funds to AARP, saying it was wrong for the seniors group to be receiving tens of millions in taxpayer dollars at the same time it was campaigning against administration policies.

"AARP does not have the right to expect taxpayers to foot the bill to help advance its political agenda," said John Carlisle of the National Legal and Policy Center, author of a paper on federal funding to the seniors organization.

David Sloane, senior managing director of government relations at AARP, said the paper was a "sour grapes" response to the coalition's failure to advance President Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security, which AARP opposed.

Sloane said AARP participates in competitive bidding for all federal grants and has shown good results in its federally backed program to find employment for low-income seniors. He said financing for the foundation that runs such programs is totally separated from other AARP activities, including political lobbying.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060207/ap_on_go_co/aarp_federal_money

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Go ahead.. watch all the seniors flock to the Dem Party

and get ZERO dollars. Oh wait, they have already.

[PDJane]

2. No. They haven't.

I know of at least one Texas woman who is a die-hard republican, even though she is aware that they are voting against her interests.

[Skink]

3. AARP the corporation that was for the drug bill. Go right ahead

[CountAllVotes]

6. the AARP is like a leopard

they never change their spots! As for their senior employment program, it is TEMPORARY WORK with NO benefits and the pay is MINIMUM WAGE!

I am not a fan of the AARP. I guess I locked horns with them more than once and that Senior Drug Program (aka the rip-off of the century) that they endorsed showed what shills they are for the BFEE.

And now, the BFEE gives them a taste of their own medicine and they don't like it very much do they? They are reaping what they have sown IMO. No one to blame but themselves for being so stupid and ignorant!

They sold out the senior citizens in America a long time ago IMO.

Will they stand up and fight? I for one am not optimistic as many of their devotees are all * supporters. Lesson learned? Perhaps, and a lesson learned the hard way too!

:kick:

[Faygo Kid]

4. Don't discount AARP as a counterweight. They are vital to us.

Don't waste your time flaming me about Medicare D. You don't have to agree 100% with an organization to recognize their overall importance - and they are a vital counterweight. Like Bushitized Social Security? AARP was crucial in keeping that from happening. It was inevitable that the right wing "think tank" dogs would be unleashed on AARP. And progressives ought to recognize that organization's importance and stand with them. This country would be in even worse shape - much worse - without AARP. Period.

[Pastiche423]

12. I won't flame you

but I will flame AARP for what they did in 2003. And I will never forget that they are nothing more than an insurance company that fucked our senior citizens.

[Dunvegan]

5. Cut AARP so there isn't an established organized base to fight them.

Plus...what "unionism" AARP provides (not counting their oh-too-close relationship with BigPharm) for seniors, this kills.

One rat-bastard move after another...aren't we up to several a day now?

Quite a clip they're dismantling at, eh?

Why, at this rate, we'll be at 1943 in no time.

(Any bets on at what point the Administration will counter with "Free Cable TV for All!" to shut up the sheep?)

[cornermouse]

8. 1943 is not their goal.

Their goal is more like 1843 or earlier.

[stepnw1f]

7. sick Fascist Bastards... (nt)

[Faygo Kid]

9. Well, looky here: The "usual suspects" have all lined up at the same time

Perhaps the most important part of the article, reproduced here. They march in lockstep. )Anybody else hear a whiff of the Horst Wessel song? "Raise high the flag. . .)

A letter sent to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., asking Congress to cut off funding for AARP was signed by the heads of several conservative groups, including Americans for Tax Reform, 60 Plus, American Conservative Union and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

[Solo_in_MD]

10. I am no fan of AARP either

Its a private company with limited voting/control by its "members". The staff makes the decision and speaks in the name of the members without serious consultation or vote. Given the weight they are given at a national level, more transparency is really called for.

That said, cutting them off would piss off more people at the Bushies, which has some intrinsic value.

[CountAllVotes]

11. exactly

The tax guy I was going to was an AARP referral and one of the biggest and ugliest pukes I've ever met. "Why those whining Democrats!" is his mantra. I wonder how much longer that will be the case?

He won't be getting no more referrals no 'mo! Stick that one right straight up the you know what is what I have to say to him!

edited for spelling.

:kick:

[leQ]

13. the thanks they get for going along with that part D program..

(eom)

[CountAllVotes]

14. yep their game didn't pay off

Who shall deal them the *next* hand I ask?

:kick:

[Rex]

15. Hey all you old freep lurkers

Eat crow assholes.

[HuffleClaw]

16. i can't see it happening.

but this immediate reaction to ANY form of dissent is truly creepy.

[bobbieinok]

17. but AOK to fund AARP agenda that agrees with W, ie medicare drug bill

the hypocracy of the bushies is so blatant I don't understand how anyone can call any of them moral

[Sadie5]

18. AARP has learned their lesson

About time too. They actively campaigned with Bush and screwed the AARP members by endorsing the Pharma bill. Now...Bush has turned on them like a rabid pet goat.

[tanyev]

19. Tsk, tsk. It didn't bother them when the AARP supported Republicans.

[makeanoise22]

20. Hey, it's Compassionate Conservatism!

But i call it
Conservative Compassion...

God Help our seniors...

[SoCalDem]

21. Gee, they loved AARP when the drug bill was being supported

by AARP..Now that AARP is complaining about it..well... we all knew they were vindictive shitheads

[sarcasmo]

22. Kick and Nom. cut the Seniors program since they didn't back the

baby Dictator 43's Social Security over haul.