Who is AARP supporting for President this year?

[lonestarnot]

Have they said?

[still_one]

1. I don't think it is their policy to endorse any candidate, though they do present the candidates

positions on the issue, especially in regard to Social Security and Medicare

[lonestarnot]

3. May not be their policy, but they endorsed bushitler.

[Lint Head]

4. That is the very reason I refuse to join AARP.

[still_one]

5. I am not sure about that. Around 2005 there were mass cancellations when their policy

director was open to a bipartisan plan that involved cuts to Social Security and Medicare. It created such a controversy, that they came out and issued a statement saying that the group opposes the cuts if made as part of a deficit reduction plan.

Here is the position of AARP on endorsements:

"Although the group does not endorse political candidates in an effort to remain non-partisan, the size of its membership and outspokenness about specific public policy issues has historically given it major clout on Capitol Hill."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/aarp-social-security-campaign_us_56c3854fe4b0c3c55052e81e

[onehandle]

2. Not yet. nt

[loyalsister]

6. It's smart not to

The know they will need votes from both sides. A lobby group like that operates on no permanent friends- no permanent enemies principle, because they know burning bridges only damages their cause.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. And that explains their recent conference attendance and subscription to ALEC?

[loyalsister]

8. They dove into the money pit

and saw the results. I'm guessing they will return to the advocacy model that major organizations like the LWV have used and endorse issues rather than candidates who take them for granted later. Since they have longevity and institutional memory, they remember when it was Democrats who resisted women having the right to vote.

[Ford_Prefect]

9. As a member I haven't seen that institutional memory at work in some time.

Whatever they once were organizationally and in terms of advocacy, the people now in charge don't care where the money comes from. as long as they get their slice off the top, or so it seems. They have devolved into one more sales outfit taking advantage of their members.

They once advocated for better lives for retirees and seniors. Now they sell insurance and hob-nob with lobbyists, and ALEC. I know times have changed but that "lapse" was telling. They've been bought.

[Greybnk48]

10. They just left ALEC last week.

But I do agree with your assessment. http://community.aarp.org/t5/Politics-Current-Events/Another-Fortune-500-company-cuts-ties-with-ALEC/td-p/194429

[Ford_Prefect]

12. They left AFTER they did the Deal and sold us out. Typical bait and switch by AARP management.

The people making the real decisions at AARP aren't the like the ones who built it into an effective lobby. They are now selling that lobby power to the those behind ALEC. They joined to make the connections at the conference which now will steer them to advocate for whatever ALEC's owners want to sell us through AARP networking. I am certain that "gifts were exchanged and promises made" as there is not other reason to attend that conference except to network, regardless of publicity to the contrary by AARP officials. (I refer you to the Susan G. Komen debacle.)

[Jakes Progress]

11. Whoever gives them money.

That is their marker for endorsement - whichever candidate will make more money for them regardless of what that candidate will ultimately do for people of retirement age. In other words, which ever candidate will cut slack for corporate insurance.