President Obama is seeking to relieve concerns about possible Medicare changes and, at his New Hampshire town hall this week, highlighted issues affecting seniors.
The Washington Times reports: "If there is anyone or anything President Obama cannot afford to offend in his battle to overhaul the nation's health care system, it is the powerful seniors lobby, AARP. Perhaps that is why the White House was so quick to backpedal Wednesday after Mr. Obama mistakenly claimed that the organization, with its tens of millions of politically active members, had already signed on to his plan. Mr. Obama drew a forceful rejoinder from the group... when he said during a town-hall meeting Tuesday in New Hampshire that it was endorsing his health care reform proposal." The report continues, "That the AARP so forcefully knocked down the claim of support shows the group is wary of being used as a political football" (Haberkorn, 8/13).