Video: The AARP’s version of a non-endorsement
posted at 9:30 am on August 25, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Take a look at this video from almost three weeks ago and decide for yourself if the AARP has withheld its endorsement from ObamaCare. If Barack Obama saw this 30-second spot when it first got released, he can be forgiven for assuming that the advocacy group had explicitly endorsed his plans for overhauling the American health-care system. Given its exhortation to call Congress and demand that health-care reform pass, it would be hard to assume anything else:
Special interest groups are trying to block progress on health care reform. Derailing a debate with myths and scare tactics. Desperately trying to block you from discovering that reform won’t ration care. You and your doctor will always decide the best treatment for you. Tell Congress not to let myths get in the way of fixing what’s broken with health care.
Does that sound neutral to you? It sounds like a script taken almost entirely from a Barack Obama speech. It’s also out of date. The Left dropped the “reform won’t ration care” argument weeks ago, in favor of “Insurance companies already ration care, and government can do it more fairly,” which has the benefit of honesty if not intelligence.
But the most ironic part of the ad is in its imagery. It shows cars chasing ambulances through the streets – in fact, fairly expensive cars. Now, what kind of person chases ambulances? And what exactly did Congress leave out of health-care reform, and what exactly has the AARP failed to mention in its campaign to get HR3200 passed into law? Hmmmmmm.
Update: I missed this, but Jake Skorheim notices that the cars representing special interests are all from … General Motors.
Blowback
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Oooh, oooh, I know. Is it Tort Reform?
Rode Werk on August 25, 2009 at 9:33 AM
AARP is nothing more than a left wing political lobbying entity. There are several options to this parasitic organization and people should consider using them.
rplat on August 25, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Blue hairs
blatantblue on August 25, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Ugh! Don’t believe your lying ears!
How in the world is AARP able to live with itself? Good grief!
Green Muse on August 25, 2009 at 9:36 AM
They want the government to direct their members to their
various insurance packets.
tessa on August 25, 2009 at 9:36 AM
AARP has lost all credibility with seniors in general and certainly with its ex-members.
d1carter on August 25, 2009 at 9:37 AM
The AARP was seconded in fellating Obummer only by the MSM.
bloviator on August 25, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I saw this last night! Made blood shoot out of my eyeballs, it did- also took the most recent invitation to join AARP and stuck it in a new envelope and mailed it back to them with “No on Obamacare” written all over it. AARP is a bunch of lying arsewipes.
anniekc on August 25, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Torte reform!
rbj on August 25, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I saw this commercial for the 1st time last night and I wondered the same thing. When I get requests to join the AARP now, I return them with this message—No F’in way!
becki51758 on August 25, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Hugo Chavez, and Fidel Castro approved this message.
kingsjester on August 25, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Also- Just saw some lying liar on FOX tht claims AARP’s membership has “dramatically increased” in the last 2 months. What do you bet the gov’t has treated all the union thugs to AARP memberships?
anniekc on August 25, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I think “Myths” is the democrats word of the day.
Look for it.
Elizabetty on August 25, 2009 at 9:40 AM
AARP will go down with the Obama ship… Already taking on water as we speak.
Off topic:
Go to drudge and watch the Glenn Beck video… Beck is going to need a lot of support from American citizens as this week unfolds…
Keemo on August 25, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Tart reform!
Daggett on August 25, 2009 at 9:40 AM
We need speed bumps for ambulance chasers.
ICBM on August 25, 2009 at 9:41 AM
What is supposed to mean?
Wade on August 25, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Years ago when my father had a stroke and the ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital, I told the ambulance driver I would follow him. He said not to, for I’d get a ticket, and to just meet him at the hospital. Another reason this commercial is nuts.
bradley11 on August 25, 2009 at 9:42 AM
You’ll notice AARP has pretty much gone underground in the last two weeks, as far as saying anything publicly about Obamacare, since they had to deny the president’s claim that they support him in order to try to stop the hemorrhaging of members. What they’re doing behind the scenes is no doubt a different story, but I’m guessing they’re also being more careful about what e-mails get sent out, after the ones to and from Pelosi ended up being made public.
jon1979 on August 25, 2009 at 9:43 AM
LOL
Those are Dodge’s chasing the ambulance – hardly “expensive” cars.
I think I see a Prius at the very end?
welcome_ghosts on August 25, 2009 at 9:43 AM
AARP makes money selling Medicare supplemental insurance policies. If Obamacare gets passed (and Medicare benefits get cut as planned), a lot more people will be needing (and buying) these policies, meaning AARP will be making a lot more money (and its executives will be getting even more salary and perks than they already get). The people running AARP don’t give a damn about the old people they’re supposedly representing; all they care about is enriching themselves.
AZCoyote on August 25, 2009 at 9:44 AM
AARP has not only sold its members down the river, but now it’s lying about it. AARP is brazenly corrupt, talking out of both sides of its mouth.
petefrt on August 25, 2009 at 9:45 AM
The AARP is nothing more than an Obama flunkie organization.
PatriotRider on August 25, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Hmmm… Lawyers? Tort reform? Small rocks?
Akzed on August 25, 2009 at 9:45 AM
The lies and deceptiopns by the left keep on keeping on. Anyone who supports these lying thieves has to be senile.
volsense on August 25, 2009 at 9:47 AM
I wonder how many more members AARP is losing?
Yakko77 on August 25, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Blocking debate? The one-sided “shut-up-and-listen” speech is what has been blocked. The debate is now on.
AARP this.
whitetop on August 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Is there anyone here who is an AARP member that isn’t going to quit? I ask you why not?
Shy Guy on August 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
It is just the dementia, they forgot about that.
CMonster on August 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
No wonder they are losing members left and right.
Offending and disrespecting the intelligence of seniors in this country, who are often the ones that fought and sacrificed to give us our freedoms in the first place, just isn’t very smart. They are the voting block that most consistently shows up when it’s time to cast ballots and they are paying attention to those politicans not listening to their concerns or who are selling them down the river.
SassyDarlin on August 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
AARP. Where ACORN members go to die.
TXUS on August 25, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I must be a little slow this morning. What is Ed insinuating?
therightscoop on August 25, 2009 at 9:57 AM
They recorded another voice-over as well supporting the other point of view:
(Read in a solemn tone with ominous background music.)
“If the Obamacare plan is passed by the liberals in the democrat congress, you will become an outlaw if you are ill, and seek to obtain non-government approved treatment for your illness thru a private arrangement with your doctor. You could find yourself being followed in hot pursuit by the Federal Death Panel Enforcement Agents, who will be charged with taking any steps necessary to prevent you from receiving the treatment and care, you and your doctor seek. You could find yourself surrounded, and forced to surrender your rights. You will be given no choices, and forced to follow the guidelines the government has deemed appropriate for your afflictions. The clock will be ticking, and the government will make sure your time runs out, before the pool of federal tax dollars does.
Tell congress to go to he!!.
Tell congress to leave Healthcare alone, and vote NO on Obamacare.
They just haven’t run this version yet.
singlemalt_18 on August 25, 2009 at 9:57 AM
AARP: “Socialized medicine cutting back on your medicare benefits? We have a policy we can sell you to cover that.”
It is always about the money.
Vashta.Nerada on August 25, 2009 at 9:59 AM
And bundt cake, too.
Vashta.Nerada on August 25, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I can still see that little blonde AARP heifer who was so ugly and condescending to that group of Seniors in Florida. She summed up AARP’s attitude toward their members better than any pamphlet.
kingsjester on August 25, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I’d short PhRMA, AARP, AMA. These lobbying organizations jumped on a bandwagon that is now falling off a cliff. Happy landing! One coulf forgive ACORN, SEIU (and maybe, MAYBE, AFL-CIO), but not these associations.
clorensen on August 25, 2009 at 10:01 AM
He’s talking about TORT REFORM. Stopping the most vile loathsome creatures on this planet, AMBULANCE CHASERS, you know LAWYERS.
Jeff from WI on August 25, 2009 at 10:02 AM
LOL…I believe that’s TORT not TORTE
Jeff from WI on August 25, 2009 at 10:04 AM
bundt!
that’s how you spell it
blatantblue on August 25, 2009 at 10:06 AM
What have you got against light, flaky pastry?
Meanwhile…
I’m 52. In my memory, the AARP has never been an advocate for older people. It’s only functions have been to shill for liberal causes and sell stuff. Fork ‘em, they’re done.
Rusty Bill on August 25, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I saw this last night and thought if this is not endorsing 0bama’s plan, then I don’t know what is. I think my parents have left AARP, but I’m not sure. I’ll be talking to them today about it. There are at least 2 groups for seniors out there now that are much better and actually represent their members.
Wade, blue hairs is slang for old women who dye their hair. It’s also a term for seniors who pull out in front of you and then go about 20 miles under the speed limit.
Torch on August 25, 2009 at 10:10 AM
How dumb do they think people are? The ad is simply a lie. Special interest groups (like AARP) are all lining up for Obamacare.
zmdavid on August 25, 2009 at 10:14 AM
John Edwards chasing patient taxi’s and making a fortune. AARP must love these taxi interceptors.
cando on August 25, 2009 at 10:14 AM
They just want to sell members their new “insurance option” under the Healthcare Reform bill. It’s always been a scam.
AARP SUCKS!
JAM on August 25, 2009 at 10:18 AM
AARP has been in the bag for the Liberals all along. They are the ACORN of the elderly. There is an alternative organization that is not trying to socialize this country. I hope they continue to lose members, and lose their tax exempt status.
Hening on August 25, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Hey Ed, My father in law told me he isn’t renewing his AARP membership when it runs out next year. He got a solicitation from the NRA for sweet deal membership so he signed up for three years for $70.00. It would be interesting to see the drop in AARP in comparison to the rise in NRA membership are they related? More than people know. Remember the proud member of the NRA who asked the President a question, at his health care insurance reform town hall meeting in Belgrade, Montana? It’s not a coincidence.
Dr Evil on August 25, 2009 at 10:21 AM
No longer a member–left 4 or 5 years ago. Hearing that 60,000 have left AARP since July 1 and that will only grow…has probably already grown as I write.
jeanie on August 25, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I wonder if those cars have govt service plates on them, trying to keep an 83 yr old lady from getting to the hospital because the costs are out of control.
Weak symbolism can be twisted the other way too easily.
Brian1972 on August 25, 2009 at 10:22 AM
For quite some time, every mailing I’ve had from AARP has strongly encouraged support of the president’s socialized medicine and health care legislation. How they can walk that back now is beyond reasonable. They even strongly supported Obama’s candidacy…and would have supported Hillary, if she had been nominated. Just another wing of the Soros empire; nothing more, nothing less.
GoldenEagle4444 on August 25, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Soon, all ambulances will be Priuses.
Shy Guy on August 25, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Fear of Economy sees rise in guns sales August 23rd. And what would the cost of this health care insurance reform do to an already vulnerable economy? The American people are so much smarter than the people they elect. When elected officials keep trying to use us for their social engineering experiments, there are all kinds of unforeseen consequences. I wonder if Freakonomics is following this?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6583964.html
Dr Evil on August 25, 2009 at 10:27 AM
My husband will be AARP age a week from Friday.
Needless to say-he won’t be joining.
Besides-I’m not 40 yet. I’m too young to be the wife of a “senior” citizen.
LoL
annoyinglittletwerp on August 25, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I just saw this ad the other day and laughed.
Dash on August 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Fear of Economy sees rise in more gun permits. Helena, Montana, you know Senator Max Baucus’s home state. The man who is the chairman of the finance committee, that will be needed to pass this health care insurance reform…the same Max Baucus who voted for Sotomayor, and Montanans are not happy with her position on the 2nd Amendment.
Dr Evil on August 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM
If you don’t mind, could you or others here post some of them? I’ve been discussing this with an AARP member & would like to inform him of some of his other options- thanks!
kg598301 on August 25, 2009 at 10:37 AM
STOP this fake organization. Revoke all memberships. Return all solicitations to AARP in their own stamped envelopes. This is something we can do!!!!!
mobydutch on August 25, 2009 at 10:38 AM
No, tort reform is where the occupant of the expensive car, purchased via the “Cash for Clunkers” program, is already waiting at the hospital in his law office when the ambulance arrives.
unclesmrgol on August 25, 2009 at 10:40 AM
This ad ran on the ironically-named ABC Family channel last night. It’s a channel that’s a sort of porn-lite, with programming directed toward high school girls who long for the day they, too, can be dead-behind-the-eyes skanks, ala “The Hills” and the Kardashians.
brobin on August 25, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I formally resigned my membership from AARP this morning. This organization does not speak for seniors or people in their 50′s like me. They have sold their soul in the name of hope and change.
pilamaye on August 25, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Why do these politicians have NO fear of the American people? Do they know something (far more sinister) that we are not yet aware of??
mobydutch on August 25, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Take a look at H.R. 3400, the Republicans answer.
Tort reform, insurance sell across state lines, opt-out, and it saves not costs the government money.
right2bright on August 25, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Tort reform is a canard. I’m willing to wager that upwards of 90-95 percent of all medical malpractice actions are filed in state courts. Not federal courts. Federal malpractice reform will do nothing to affect medical malpractice lawsuits. Granted, the way the fed treats states rights nowadays, if the states didn’t follow suit on a fed medical malpractice tort reformation, then funds to the proposed federal health care system may be cut to the states.
Lets not let the facts cloud our reasoning here.
Tennman on August 25, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I caught a glimpse of this ad this morning on my way out the door. I did not see where it was an AARP ad. I just assumed it was some Democratic special interest group…oh, wait…nevermind.
vcferlita on August 25, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Dr Evil on August 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I heard a report on our local news station yesterday, stating that the approval rating on Max Baucus here in Montana is at 37% due to his participation with ObamaCare and other current positions he has taken in support of Obama policies.
Tester’s approval ratings are even worse than Baucus. Tester will be gone come 2012; that’s a fact.
Keemo on August 25, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Yesterday I had an appointment to speak with my Representative in Congress, Sander Levin. When I told him that Tort Reform, not Social Security, is the “third rail” of American politics because he and more than 1/3 of Congress are lawyers, he pooh poohed it.
He also denied that his party leadership called people “un American” for protesting their elected officials, despite the fact that Speaker Pelosi and House Majority Leader Hoyer said exactly that in a USA Today op ed.
When I asked him if he would trade his Congressional health plan for coverage under the bill he supports, he said he doesn’t use the Congressional plan but opts for the plan for federal workers. He didn’t, btw, say he’d give that up for a gov’t plan.
He started asking what “radio” I listen to, so I told him that if he’s going to assume that I’m a mindless Rush Limbaugh listener, he’s wrong. I think Rush is a master at what he does (which is why the left hates him so), but that Detroit has some good sports teams and that if I listen to radio during the day it’s probably sports.
He did get indignant when I said that his son’s appointment to be deputy director of the Econ Development agency here in Michigan at a salary of $124K/yr was little more than nepotism and that he’ll never be able to convince me that his son didn’t get that job because of his last name, since his son has never worked in the private sector, he’s worked for labor unions since graduating from Harvard Law (and I’m sure that all the letters of recommendation from his father’s colleagues in the House and his uncle’s colleagues in the Senate and his great uncle’s former colleagues on the state supreme court had nothing to do with his admission to Harvard). Not only do they think the government is their birthright, they think it’s the family business.
rokemronnie on August 25, 2009 at 11:04 AM
You must be an attorney.
Based on the precedent set by lawyers in the tobacco litigation, lawyers, because their industry drives up medical costs, should have to shoulder that burden. I propose a 33% tax on attorney’s fees in tort cases. I also propose, since legal representation is in fact a constitutional right (see Gideon and Miranda), that if a national health plan is set up, an identically functioning bureaucracy should be established under which lawyers are paid. Why should the doctors have all the fun? Panels of experts will determine the most cost effective legal strategy and how much the lawyers will get paid.
rokemronnie on August 25, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Yeah I saw this ad yesterday, couldn’t believe it was from the AARP, who we all know isn’t endorsing The Healthcare Rationing Act of 2009….
Keef Overbite on August 25, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Drop your membership in AARP Now. You are endorsing radical leftists with your membership.
Call 1-888-687-2277 to cancel.
faraway on August 25, 2009 at 11:12 AM
I had found this vid about a week after the AARP rep walked out of her own townhall meeting.
I posted in on FB, and, since most of my friends there are like-minded, it spread like wildfire.
AARP isn’t talking out of both sides of its mouth; it’s talking out of its a&&.
madmonkphotog on August 25, 2009 at 11:26 AM
and they wonder why I never return their junk mail
flyoverland on August 25, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Wife and I cancelled our AARP membership 2 weeks ago – The nice lady (and she was nice) asked me why we were leaving after being a AARP member for so long. Told her it was because of their stance on Health care. I asked her if they were getting a lot of calls like this and she responded that they were not allowed to say – which to me says it all. They are losing more members than they care to admit.
We have not joined any other clubs yet as we haven’t had time to review them yet. Which ever one we decide to join will get our old AARP card in pieces.
Vero on August 25, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Another irony in the commercial.
One could keep all the visuals, but replace the audio with:
CONGRESS IS SPEEDING TOWARD A RECKLESS HEALTH REFORM EFFORT THAT WILL HURT YOUR PRIVATE INSURANCE WHILE DRIVING UP DEFICITS.
STOP THEM WHILE YOU CAN! MAKE THEM SLOW DOWN!
The ambulance becomes the “Health Care Bill”.
The cars become…you and me!
jeanneb on August 25, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Hey glad to see HA has caught up to this idiocy. I posted this twice over a week ago — that AARP was running this ad while saying they don’t endorse Obamacare. They make everyone who fights Obamacare like someone blocking and ambulance. Cute.
And where did I see this ad? Foxnews.com. Go figure.
Christian Conservative on August 25, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I live in Texas…we are living/breathing proof that tort reform works…insurance rates down,doctors moving back. People who are harmed by bad doctors can still get damages, but not rediculous ones…
Ltlgeneral64 on August 25, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Did any of you go to the website mentioned in the video??
AARP is really growing a new nose on this one…
Ltlgeneral64 on August 25, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Sorry the link didn’t attach:
healthactionnow.orghealthactionnow.org
Ltlgeneral64 on August 25, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Sorry I am stupid with technology. Just cut and paste the link
http://www.healthactionnow.org
Ltlgeneral64 on August 25, 2009 at 11:49 AM
AARP has always been in the tank for Libs, they only retracted their “Official support” when people started leaving their organisation in droves. But you can be sure, nothing has changed in AARP.
SGinNC on August 25, 2009 at 12:09 PM
And all restaurants will be Taco Bell. If you’ve seen Demolition Man, then you have seen the future that the liberals want to create.
Rusty Bill on August 25, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Add Alec Baldwin, and Sean Penn to your list!
BigMike252 on August 25, 2009 at 12:20 PM
What? No spike strips or pick moves? I suppose it’d be too much to ask to have some grannies leaning out the passenger windows shooting out the tires…
Christien on August 25, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Looks to me like special interests groups are advocating the passage of health care distortion.
AASLT on August 25, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I wish I had joined AARP three years ago when I became eligible just so I could have the satisfaction now of ripping up the card and sending it back to them.
PatMac on August 25, 2009 at 1:27 PM
What I had to say when I saw this ad on TV this morning is not printable.
May this ad cost them another 60,000 members. They’ve been taking advantage of seniors and screwing their grandchildren for too long.
WannabeAnglican on August 25, 2009 at 1:57 PM
No, every resturant would be Starbucks if the progs had their way.
Keef Overbite on August 25, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Nope, not an attorney. The panel idea is pretty ludicrous as well. You’re talking about price-setting of a free-enterprise market.
My point again is this. Tort reform at the federal level for med mal is a canard, a specious argument. The costs at the federal level are not significant. You can cite all kinds of reports that talk about the cost at a national level of medical malpractice, but those costs include the state costs to insurance. Not federal costs alone.
Tennman on August 25, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I’ve been mailing their trash back to them for years now. I usually include the phrases, Liberal commmie mouthpiece for the democrat party on the envelope. I’ve recently seen a decrease in the number of pieces of junk mail I get from this outfit.
flytier on August 25, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Starbucks is by any means not the worst liberal idea/attribute.
TopLawyer on August 25, 2009 at 3:22 PM
As an update to your update, not all the cars are GM’s. Some of those cars are made by Dodge… but the point stands.
ExSubNuke on August 25, 2009 at 7:32 PM
So many other organizations have been paid off by the administration that I wonder what the AARP is getting?
davod on August 25, 2009 at 7:49 PM
The Monster on August 25, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Go away AARP and take McCain with you.
mobydutch on August 25, 2009 at 8:02 PM