AARP took a poll

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4233753.html

The AARP caught a lot of people by surprise -including millions of its own members - when it endorsed the Republican Medicare bill last Nov. 18. So the nation's biggest lobbying organization for elderly Americans did the obvious: The next day it commissioned a poll of retired people and asked if they supported the bill. By Nov. 20, the numbers were in: 75 percent of people polled said Congress should pass the bill if it helped retirees with low incomes and catastrophic prescription drug costs. What the AARP did not say was that 62 percent of respondents in the poll either hadn't read the bill or didn't understand its details. Those who have read the bill say it will help some retirees with low incomes, while hurting others.

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[rainstan]

1. Not much of a poll

If the question is what was stated its not much of a poll. Sounds like advise from rove. Being an ex AARP member (as of yesterday) I wasn't polled I complained and was ignored.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi rainstan!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Snellius]

2. Great article: AARP Rigs Its Own Poll

First of all, the members polled could not have concluded that the Bill does in fact “help low-income elderly” because 62% of those polled said they were either completely unfamiliar with the Medicare Bill or were not very familiar with the specifics of the Bill. Only 2% felt they were very familiar with the Bill and 35% reported they were merely “somewhat familiar” and 1% refused to answer the question!

In order to ask a question of a group of people who are overwhelmingly ignorant of the subject, the pollsters had to educate the polled members—in other words, the pollster hand fed the answers they wanted to hear.

So the pollsters proceeded to remind those being polled that Medicare does not presently cover prescription drugs. Then the pollster boiled the complex bill down to three sentences. They tossed in another four sentences describing the benefits to the poor and those with high drug costs. Thus the pollsters created the “knowledge-base” for 97% of those who were polled.

Then the pollster asked the following question:

“Even if this plan won’t affect you personally either way, do you think it should be passed so that people with low-incomes or people with high drug costs can be helped?”

Seventy-five percent answered “Yes.”

http://www.yuricareport.com/Miscellaneous/AARP_Rig%20Its_Own%20Poll.htm

[gristy]

11. This kind of polling puts a pit in my stomach

It really does. I've never heard of anything this bad.

[stewert]

3. AFL-CIO Also Took a Poll

Poll: Seniors Oppose Medicare Bill in Congress

Nov. 19—By an almost two-thirds majority, senior Americans say Congress and
the White House should work for a better Medicare prescription drug plan than the
one offered in a bill the House and Senate are set to vote on this week, according
to a new nationwide survey. Only 19 percent of those polled say Congress should
pass the current bill.

Peter D. Hart Research Associates conducted the poll of voters ages 55 years and
older Nov. 18–19 for the AFL-CIO after details of the bill—merged from earlier
House- and Senate-passed versions—were released.

Respondents overwhelmingly view the drug plan unfavorably (65 percent to 26
percent), and a whopping 78 percent say the legislation does not do enough to
protect retirees now covered by employer-provided prescription drug plans.

http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/socialsecurity/medicarebasics/ns11192003.cfm?RenderForPrint=1

[Don_G]

5. I Glanced At The AARP Boards

About half-an-hour ago and it looks like there are 3000 plus complaints about the AARP's support of the Medicare Bill.

They're not dumb and are highly motivated to "get those bastards!" I think ShrubCo made a big mistake that will bite them in the rear next year.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. NPR reported that 15,000 people

cancelled their memberships with AARP over this issue in the last week. Now the formula that the pols use to gauge reaction is that for every person that takes action (writes a letter, calls, etc.) should be multiplied by 100 for the number of people who also agree but didn't do anything. So that 15,000 represents 1,500,000 members who disagree with AARP on this issue. That's a lot of seniors. Does AARP even have that many members?

[Ardee]

6. Bush can defeat Bush!

Ive repeatedly stated that, in the absence of a clear cut opposition to Bush he is the only one who can defeat himself in the coming election.

AARP is run by a staunch Bushista who also worked on the Nixon campaign,and they stand to reap millions in profits from the passage f theis bill. This action by them is a good example of self serving politics and a great reason why I refused to join AARP years ago upon becoming eligible. Lobbies are an anathema to our political process and must be abolished.

[dand]

7. Former AARP (as of three days ago)

No one asked me for my opinion, this will bite Republicans and DINO's in the ass, but not before the chimp gets re-selected.
Welcome rainstan:bounce:

[CWebster]

8. In addition to that

AARP was only in it for the money--to benefit their own private medical plan.

[Don_G]

12. True

Their insurance revenue was about $604 Million over a 4-year period and about the same from membership dues.

[gristy]

10. AARP members express rage over Medicare bill

By MARTIN FINUCANE

Associated Press Writer

BOSTON -- The AARP?s Internet message board has been flooded with complaints and some seniors have ripped up or burned their membership cards -- the signs of serious discontent against the group?s support for the new Medicare bill.

AARP, an organization long considered the voice for elderly issues, is under attack from within its own ranks as elderly people and other advocacy groups around the country fear the Medicare measure will harm seniors -- and believe the 45-year-old organization has let them down.

The bill "destroys one of the most successful programs in the history of this country," said Isaac Ben Ezra, president of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, as he led a demonstration of about 40 people here against the bill on Monday. "Shame, AARP."

John Rother, policy director at AARP, said Tuesday that the bill wasn?t perfect and there were "areas of concern," but it was a step forward and the organization, which has 35 million members, would continue to try to improve the law.

"We?re going to be out there -- and other advocacy groups as well -- continuing to push for change," said Rother.

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