GOP In Danger of Losing Elderly Voters

[Frodo]

Drug Plan's Start May Imperil G.O.P.'s Grip on Older Voters

By ROBIN TONER
Published: February 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 — Older voters, a critical component of Republican Congressional victories for more than a decade, could end up being a major vulnerability for the party in this year's midterm elections, according to strategists in both parties. Paradoxically, one reason is the new Medicare drug benefit, which was intended to cement their loyalty.

During next week's Congressional recess, Democrats are set to begin a major new campaign to highlight what Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, describes as "this disastrous Republican Medicare prescription drug plan." Democratic incumbents and challengers plan nearly 100 public forums around the country, armed with briefing books and talking points on a law that, party leaders assert, "was written by and for big drug companies and H.M.O.'s, not American families."

Recognizing the widespread criticism of the new drug program, Republican senators met in a closed session with administration officials this week to discuss the rocky rollout of the plan and prepare for questions back home.

But pollsters say the Republicans' difficulties with the over-60 vote go beyond the complicated drug benefit, which began Jan. 1. President Bush's failed effort to create private accounts in Social Security last year was also unpopular with many older Americans. That, in addition to confusion over the drug benefit, has "taken the key swing vote that's been trending the Republicans' way and put it at risk for the next election," said Glen Bolger, a Republican pollster. "And what that means is Republicans are going to have to work extra hard."

source

[MODU]

Gee, I dunno.  One of my friends saves $250/month on her refills now.  I don't see how that's bad for her.  That's almost a Democratic plan in regards to the government paying for most of her costs.

[Niles Caulder]

I tend to disagree with the magnitude of the problem for the GOP suggested by this article.  The Medicare program has had a seriously clumbsy start, to be sure.  But voters are well aware that something is better than nothing...and that it was the Bush Administration that got that something accomplished--the greatest accomplishment being backing from the AARP.
Bush's desired privitization of Social Security is nothing new---it was on his agenda from his first presidential election.  If this was a detterent of significance...it would have been so before now.  But Bush has done an effective job of convincing them that any reforms will only apply to the younger generations of the workforce.

The gender gap between current values in the American electorate place the elderly noticably (if tepidly) inside the GOP column.  They're not the type to get riled over what 'the kids' are gnashing their teeth about:  Iraq, domestic spying, etc.

I do think there will be a slight calming with regard to social issues such as gay marriage and the like--and that calming may help get some trickle of gray-haired voters back to the Democrats.  But I just don't think it'll be a dynamic shift.  Even given the things about the Republican agenda they don't like...they're overridingly 'patriotic' in their priorities--helping the GOP enormously.

They also know that the Bush Administration is so low on helium that its balloon is pretty harmless to effect unfavorable change.  As for congressional elections--they're liable to remain utterly unimpressed with Democratic capacity for leadership.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

That bill was a disaster.

1. The Bush adminstration said it would cost around $350 billion over 10 years. The true cost will be more like $1.2 trillion
2. The CBO guy was told he'd be fired if he corrected this estimate before the vote.
3. The vote was held open for around an hour, and the Republican leadership ended up trying bribe people on the floor of the House. It ended up passing by like 1 vote.
4. It's a giant give away to the drug companies. Despite NAFTA, it's still illegal to import prescription drugs from Canada.
5. It's very complicated, for instance you get a 1% per month penalty for signing up late, and that's a penalty you'll have to pay each month. WTF?

Overall, a truly horrible peice of legislation.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

why are they even allowed to vote?