Media reports on AARP membership losses due to health reform support ignore relevant details
On August 18, several media figures -- including MSNBC host Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Fox Business Network host Connell McShane, and NBC correspondent Savannah Guthrie -- reported that 60,000 senior citizens have canceled their AARP membership since July 1 because of the organization's support for health care reform. But those media figures did not note that the Associated Press reported the previous day that, according to an AARP spokesman, the organization regularly loses 300,000 members a month and has gained 400,000 new members in the same period.
From the August 18 edition of MSNBC's Dr. Nancy:
SNYDERMAN: The health care fight is costing AARP some members. Some 60,000 senior citizens have dropped out of the group because of its support for an overhaul.
From the August 18 edition of Fox Business' Fox Business Morning:
McSHANE: And one more note: 60,000 members have quit the AARP -- this is interesting -- since July 1 because of the organization's support for health care overhaul. Members quitting there.
From the August 18 edition of MSNBC's Morning Meeting:
GUTHRIE: And then one interesting signal, there's a report that AARP, the senior citizens group, which of course supports reform generally but hasn't endorsed any particular bill -- there's a report that it has lost 60,000 members since July 1, apparently because of the company, excuse me, of the organization's support for health care reform. So that could be very interesting to see how that develops -- Dylan.
Spokesman reportedly stated AARP regularly loses 300,000 members per month
Spokesman also reportedly said group also gained 400,000 members during same period. On August 17, the AP reported that AARP spokesman Drew Nannis "said it wasn't unusual for the powerful, 40 million-strong senior citizens' lobby to shed members in droves when it's advocating on a controversial issue." The AP further reported:
"We take stands on issues that are contentious, it's part of what we do," Nannis said. "And because we have so many members we'll always have a small percentage that disagree with us so strongly they feel they need to cancel membership."
The approximately 60,000 number represents members who specifically cited AARP's stance on the health overhaul debate in canceling their membership between July 1 and mid-August, Nannis said. He said that on average AARP loses some 300,000 members a month, but he couldn't say how many more members had quit for other reasons in that time period.
He said AARP gained some 400,000 new members during the same period and that 1.5 million members renewed their membership.
Additionally, as Dissenting Justice points out, the people who recently joined ASA may not actually be quitting AARP: "[B]ecause it is probably impossible for ASA to confirm that new members have actually canceled their AARP memberships, people could send their torn-up cards to ASA, get a discounted membership with ASA, order a replacement card from AARP, and retain memberships in both organizations."
Past campaigns like the ASA one have been largely unsuccessful. Earlier this month, the American Family Association (AFA) urged its supporters to call and cancel their AARP memberships. According to an AARP spokesperson, just 15 percent of the people who called were actually even members in the first place. (The AFA campaign also urged supporters to join ASA instead.)
This was the very first thought that came to my mind. What kind of idiot must you be to equate a torn-up membership card with an officially cancelled membership.
Hey, if I cut up credit card will Citibank forgive my debt? Worth a try, according to these senile fools.
The fact that 300,000 people regularly cancel while 400,000 join and 1.5 million renewed is irrelevant. It is just an attempt by the AARP to try and soften the fact that a large percentage of the membership of AARP is at odds with the organization's support for Obama's health plan.
right?
just saying
All that other rubbish is just an attempt by MMFA to obfuscate the issue. AARP has been a liberal lobbyist group for a long time. Such defections couldn't happen to a nicer group.
AA, seriously, you're falling off the deep end! You've always found NO fault with ANYTHING Republican, but you're teabagging to a new level.
In the words of my favorite man Barney Frank, "on WHAT planet do you spend most of your time"?
Do you LIKE being lied to, as long as the lie fits your political philosphy?
DO like being misled? Does that feel GOOD?
You're a FOOL. You read this stuff and are being FOOLED. And you buy it hook line and sinker.
Par for the course, you're post is completely absurd.
36.3 million -- The number of people 65 and over in the U.S. on July 1, 2004. This age group accounts for 12 percent of the total U.S. population. Between 2003 and 2004, 351,000 people moved into this age group.
The numbers quoted are entirely reasonable.
...They can create an indelible moment of Moron Memory.
"Keep the government's hands off my government-run low-cost health care system!!!"
The group(s) opposing health care reforms (of which the right wing posters here are unaware participants) are very good at scaring people. Just like Swiftboaters.
I think they have succeeded in scaring some senior citizens into thinking that their own GOVERNMENT-RUN Medicare will be affected if they support any reform.
If you ask any senior citizen directly if above statement is true, the answer would be no. Just like if you ask Beck if is a racist.
Where Elderly Back Obama, Health Bill Anxiety
By KEVIN SACK
Some in Florida fear that health care reform would reduce the Medicare benefits they depend on.
That's the ticket! Now how about YOU taking your OWN advise!
Brilliant!
You came up with messiah and Obamacare all on your own.
Ah, but no denying the messiah, right?
Did you think that one up by yourself?
You're one smart cookie!
AARP lost 0.15% of their membership, who had a tizzy over healthcare reform. That's one point five per THOUSAND.
So, yes, one of these numbers IS insignificant, and it ain't the first one.
Randy
ONE American without healtcare is one too many.
Randy
The biggest impediment to healthcare reform is the gullibility of the public combined with the stupidity of the public. Approximately 83% of American claim to be religious (gullible), yet half of us don't know which half of the Bible came first, the OLD Testament or the NEW Testament (stupid). I see why foreigners fear America. We are the baby with the loaded gun. But what foreigners seem to miss is that the giant baby shoots himself more often than others.
Randy