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AARP Finally Gets It
IBD Editorials ^ | June 17, 2011 | Staff

Posted on 06/17/2011 4:57:16 PM PDT by Kaslin

Social Security: The politically powerful American Association of Retired Persons has finally admitted that the federal government's fiscally doomed entitlements must be fixed. Let Democrats call Paul Ryan extremist now.

On Friday, the AARP officially decided, after what was reported to be a tumultuous internal confab, that it will no longer irrationally stand in the way of the government reducing Social Security benefits.

The group immediately tried to make little of the change, issuing a statement Friday claiming that "Contrary to the misleading characterization in a recent media story, AARP has not changed its position on Social Security."

The AARP also said, "Any changes to this lifeline program should happen in a separate, broader discussion."

In other words, give AARP a seat at the negotiating table in some big deal on the future of Social Security, Medicare and maybe other things too.

But moderate Democrats such as the Third Way group in Washington were beside themselves with glee. They told the New York Times that it was "a watershed moment," and now that the AARP has "opened the door to reform, it is time for lawmakers to walk through it," as Third Way President Jonathan Cowan put it.

The biggest political winner, of course, is House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., whose bold plan to save entitlements through free-market reform has obviously translated into pressure on the not-an-inch position AARP has held over so many years.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: aarp; socialsecurity
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To: Kaslin

AARP press release this afternoon says they haven’t changed their position.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarp-has-not-changed-its-position-on-social-security-124083039.html


21 posted on 06/17/2011 5:30:04 PM PDT by MulberryDraw ( Switch off the EPA.)
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To: Kaslin

Our entitlement programs will be the death of us unless they are repealed.


22 posted on 06/17/2011 5:42:28 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Dapper 26

Or per Obama’s phrase to the Republicans via Obamacare, “the back of the bus.”


23 posted on 06/17/2011 5:53:09 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: EGPWS

Which is why I’ll never join the AARP.


24 posted on 06/17/2011 5:59:43 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: Kaslin
I send every postage-paid envelope that they send to me back to them empty. I encourage all to do the same.
25 posted on 06/17/2011 8:29:31 PM PDT by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- follow the money and you'll find truth.)
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To: ilgipper

He already cut it by 500 million, in obomneycare.


26 posted on 06/17/2011 8:30:05 PM PDT by gidget7 ("When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property." Thomas Jefferson)
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To: gidget7

I know...Unfortunately, most don’t and our side is doing a poor job communicating that fact.


27 posted on 06/17/2011 8:31:09 PM PDT by ilgipper ( political rhetoric is no substitute for competence (Thomas Sowell))
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To: ilgipper

Ryan did a great job last week on foxnews Sunday. And he does it at every town hall meeting, and Frank Luntx focus group too. The media unfortunately colors it every chance they get, as do the rabid rats.


28 posted on 06/17/2011 8:34:39 PM PDT by gidget7 ("When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property." Thomas Jefferson)
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To: meyer
They want to redistribute SS, rather than distribute it based on what was paid in, which is the only fair method.

Believe it or not, we have F.R. members who think "Means testing" is just fine.

29 posted on 06/17/2011 8:48:28 PM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: Kaslin

Never, ever, trust the Americans Against Retired People.


30 posted on 06/17/2011 8:50:40 PM PDT by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...My theory is, college student body presidents become DEMS or RINO's.)
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To: Parmy

I started to return everything they send me in their envelope. I am sick of hearing from them.


31 posted on 06/17/2011 8:53:33 PM PDT by The Mayor (Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty!)
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To: gidget7

Yes, he does well, and a number of others, do too. They just need that particular point front and center for every party member in every interview and commercial.


32 posted on 06/17/2011 9:01:04 PM PDT by ilgipper ( political rhetoric is no substitute for competence (Thomas Sowell))
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To: Kaslin
AARP: Hell no.

ASA: Yes.

33 posted on 06/17/2011 9:29:01 PM PDT by MCH
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To: Kaslin

AARP soupported Obamacare that directly targeted the elderly for human worth economic foumulas of death. AARP would not have a problem with cutting off seniors from the Social Security benefits THEY AND THEIR EMPLOYERS paid for.


34 posted on 06/17/2011 10:47:43 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: SaraJohnson; Darksheare; Lazamataz; darkwing104; Eaker; humblegunner
AARP soupported Obamacare that directly targeted the elderly for human worth economic foumulas of death.

Sheep are sheep. They behave as sheep are expected to behave. Wolves prey upon sheep. It's what they do.

Sheepdogs are differant. They have urges to resist wolves and protect sheep. Often, the sheep they seek to protect confound their efforts to resist the wolves.

The sheep, often, express more hatred and resistance to the sheepdogs than the wolves that the sheepdogs challenge.

Sheepdogs tend to get pretty vexed until they finally figure it all out.

35 posted on 06/17/2011 11:02:31 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: Graybeard58
Believe it or not, we have F.R. members who think "Means testing" is just fine.

I know. That's part of the reason that I pointed it out. Redistribution is socialism, and we should be striving, as a country, to eliminate it, not increase it. If people want a free ride, they ought to move to Greece.

36 posted on 06/18/2011 2:13:50 AM PDT by meyer (We will not sit down and shut up.)
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To: Kaslin

I’m 61 year old and AARP has never had a seat in my house and never will.


37 posted on 06/18/2011 3:49:47 AM PDT by lwoodham
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To: Blood of Tyrants

American Anal Retentive Persons


38 posted on 06/18/2011 3:57:54 AM PDT by GOYAKLA (Flush Congress in 2010 & 2012)
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To: EGPWS
AARP is a money launder machine for the DNC and nothing more!

Yep, and the article actually makes the fact that Dems need permission from AARP to act pretty explicit with:

But moderate Democrats such as the Third Way group in Washington were beside themselves with glee. They told the New York Times that it was "a watershed moment," and now that the AARP has "opened the door to reform, it is time for lawmakers to walk through it," as Third Way President Jonathan Cowan put it.


39 posted on 06/18/2011 4:33:41 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: lwoodham

I will be 70 in less then 2 month, and AARP has never and will never have a seat in my house


40 posted on 06/18/2011 4:54:51 AM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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