AARP Tries to Make Amends

After blowing it back during the debate about the prescription drug bill, AARP is promising to stand up to the Republicans over privatization. If you recall, AARP gave a significant endorsement of the prescription drug plan in spite of its corporate pandering and fraudulent passage. Now they are pledging to counter the onslaught of White House spin regarding Social Security privatization with $5 million for advertising. The NY Times writes:

AARP, the influential lobby for older Americans, signaled Wednesday for the first time how fervently it would fight President Bush's proposal for private Social Security accounts, saying it would begin a $5 million two-week advertising campaign timed to coincide with the start of the new Congress.

The organization, which played a huge role in the passage of Medicare drug legislation last year, said it was prepared to spend much more in the next two years to block the creation of private accounts financed with payroll tax revenues.

...The full-page advertisements, to appear next week in more than 50 newspapers around the country, say the accounts would cause "Social Insecurity."

"There are places in your retirement planning for risk," the advertisements say, "but Social Security isn't one of them."

One advertisement shows a couple in their 40's looking at the reader. "If we feel like gambling, we'll play the slots," the message says.

Another advertisement shows traders in the pit of a commodities exchange. "Winners and losers are stock market terms," it says. "Do you really want them to become retirement terms?"

That's a start.