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WSJ maintains media's practice of ignoring relevant details in reporting on AARP membership losses

August 21, 2009 11:05 am ET by Media Matters staff

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

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    • Author by ReasonAndResolve (August 21, 2009 11:15 am ET)
         
      ...in a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 46% of people over 65 were against the Obama health plan, with 28% favoring it.


      Shouldn't we be acknowledging that 54% are not against it?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (August 21, 2009 11:31 am ET)
         
      So, 60,000 people have resigned AARP, supposedly over health coverage reform. You know, 60,000 sounds a lot more impressive as a single number rather than a percentage of total members. It works out to about .15%. Not fifteen percent, but just over one tenth of one percent. I'm not seeing a big blowback, here, to be honest. I do see the WSJ trying it's best to make things look as bad as possible, though.
      Report Abuse

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