DIVIDED WE FAIL - Update 1
From The Divided We Fail Campaign Team at dividedwefail@aarp.org
May 11, 2007
Take the Pledge - Share Your Thoughts
Campaign Update – May 11, 2007

Millions of Voices for Change – Keep Your Stories Coming! Millions of Americans are faced with difficult decisions concerning their health care and financial security every day.

An Uncertain Future
"I am a 50 year old single mother of three and have been working full-time FOREVER to stay afloat of rising costs. I am now having to foreclose on my home and try to get some smaller apartment due to health and financial issues. I have drained my savings because of rising mortgage rates and college expenses for one child. I have nothing left. I have RA and should be taking a medication that could make my pain better but I can not afford the medicine because it is a "three tiered" medicine and my insurance doesn't pay much so I cannot take it. I hurt physically, emotionally and mentally. My future? I can't even go there...... "

Vicki B.
La Crosse, WI

Pay Rent or Health Care Bills?
"Health Care is too expensive, period. I will be retiring soon, and as far as bills, -- it's either paying my rent, or paying for health care, I can't do both. So I just hope and pray that I will not get sick, or have an accident. Health Care is too expensive, period. "

Theresa S.
New York, NY

We need to hear from your friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers who are dealing with healthcare and financial security issues. Please encourage them to visit www.dividedwefail.org/share to share their own experiences.
Taking a Stand in Your Communities - They Hear Us!

AARP Volunteers Track the Candidates
AARP Volunteers are busy hitting the campaign trail in the early primary/caucus states. Wherever the presidential candidates go, they’re sure to see AARP representatives in their red Divided We Fail t-shirts. We are strictly non-partisan, so our volunteers are attending events regardless of which candidates participate. Volunteers are talking to presidential candidates from both political parties at public events and are receiving a positive response to our message about the need for action, answers and accountability on health care and financial security. Below are just a couple of recent updates we’ve received from our volunteers:

"I just wanted to give you a briefing on Governor Bill Richardson event today at Comma Coffee. There were about 125 people attending, that was a lot to fit in that little coffee house. Gov. Richardson greeted everyone with a handshake. When he came up to me to shake my hand he looked at my red T-shirt and said, "Ah, AARP is here, seems I am seeing those red shirts everywhere I go." Now if that does not make your day, I am not sure what will. He talked a great deal about health care, and told a story that a woman in the group shared about just coming through a serious illness and now she has to fight with her insurance company to pay the bills. He spoke very, very little on financial security -- a few words about tax incentives in his state for employers who pay higher than minimum wage. I am anxious to attend more events."

Janet
Sparks, NV

"I arrived at the Community Center in North Liberty for Senator McCain's town hall meeting on May 7 about an hour and a half early. Another volunteer arrived in a Divided We Fail t-shirt and we positioned him in the front row across from me, so whichever direction Sen. McCain turned, he would see our red shirts, which really seemed to catch the Senator's eye. When Sen. McCain called on me, I introduced myself as being from the AARP Divided We Fail initiative, to which the Senator quipped, "I don't agree with all of AARP's positions, but I have to admit we do agree on some things." His response to my question, "Given the many problems that confront the country today, where, in your domestic agenda, do the issues of long term financial security and health care access and affordability fit in your priorities," suggests that he agrees these are top priority issues that he would address."

Richard
North Liberty, IA

We received a terrific response to our request in our last newsletter for new volunteers. Thanks to all of you who responded! Anyone interested meeting the candidates, making a meaningful contribution to the campaign – not to mention having some fun in the process – can email us at DividedWeFail@aarp.org. Be sure to include your name, city, and state.
African-American Voters Surveyed About Top-of-mind Issues
AARP and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies recently released the results of a survey designed to gain insight into the issues African-Americans voters in South Carolina want political candidates to address.

The survey results showed that more than eight in ten people polled consider the issues of affordable health care (85%), strengthening Social Security (82%), and the cost of prescription drugs (81%) to be important considerations in their choice of a presidential candidate. Nearly all think candidates for President should commit to action on affordable health care (97%), retirement security (96%), and family financial security (95%).

Read More

Take A Look At The Presidential Candidates on the Web
If you want more information on a presidential candidate, you may want to take a look at his or her website. The candidates aren’t just using their websites to post position papers and raise money; they are also featuring video, blogs, comments, and other community–building tools.

Republican Party Candidates
Sen. Sam Brownback – www.brownback.com
John Cox – www.cox2008.com
Jim Gilmore – www.gilmoreforpresident.com
Rudy Guiliani – www.joinrudy2008.com
Mike Huckabee – www.explorehuckabee.com
Rep. Duncan Hunter – www.gohunter08.com
Sen. John McCain – www.johnmccain.com
Rep. Ron Paul – www.ronpaul2008.com
Mitt Romney – www.mittromney.com
Rep. Tom Tancredo – www.teamtancredo.com
Tommy Thompson – www.tommy2008.com  Democratic Party Candidates
Sen. Joe Biden – www.joebiden.com
Sen. Hillary Clinton – www.hillaryclinton.com
Sen. Chris Dodd – www.chrisdodd.com
John Edwards – www.johnedwards.com
Mike Gravel – www.gravel2008.us
Rep. Dennis Kucinich – www.kucinich.us
Sen. Barack Obama – www.barackobama.com
Gov. Bill Richardson – www.richardsonforpresident.com

But, their websites aren’t the only places you can find the candidates. They’re all over the place – from MySpace.com to Yahoo to Google to YouTube.com. Many of the candidates have personal videos up on a "channel" on YouTube: take a look at
www.youtube.com/youchoose.

However, it’s not just the candidates who are creating content. Now, anyone with a computer and a message can make themselves heard, in a big way. It remains to be seen where this online revolution will take our political process. But one thing seems certain – like it or not, the internet is opening up a new world for politicians and voters to interact.

Divided We Fail. Together We Can Do Anything.

AARP, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049

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