I’m honestly shocked that Republicans are going after the AARP… given that they cannot win anything without seniors.
Via Steve Benen:
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.”
[…]
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.
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.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a huge mistake, and one that could end the Republican Party faster than you can say early bird special? Sheesh, almost every senior I know belongs to, and gets their information from, AARP. And while not all seniors agree with everything AARP does, they will defend it… because it defends them.
Can someone explain the GOP thought process behind this? And while I certainly didn’t like the GOP going after ACORN or Planned Parenthood, I understood their political base pandering. But this… I’m floored.