From The Wall Street Journal's August 21 article, "AARP Takes Heat Over Health Stand":

WASHINGTON -- AARP thinks U.S. health care needs a sweeping overhaul. Problem is, a lot of its members don't agree.

That is putting the 40-million-strong organization of older Americans in a tight spot. It is fielding a flood of calls from worried seniors and battling rumors about President Barack Obama's health push, which it supports.

“They try not to enrage one group, while still being a player and pushing for progressive reforms,” said Rick Mayes, a public-policy professor at the University of Richmond who once worked for AARP. “They're constantly trying to walk this tightrope.”

Mr. Obama cites AARP's backing as an irrefutable seal of approval, saying the group is “on board because they know this is a good deal for our seniors.” But in a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 46% of people over 65 were against the Obama health plan, with 28% favoring it.

AARP concedes that 60,000 members have resigned since July 1 over the health-care push. “This effort hasn't been easy,” Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson wrote in a memo to staff last week. “In fact, it's often rough emotionally when some people have been hostile.”

Previously:

Media reports on AARP membership losses due to health reform support ignore relevant details