ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

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AARP Bulletin has an important piece up today about the health care reform debate, and how so many Americans just don't know who to believe anymore. The piece looks at the information (and misinformation) in depth to give folks a better idea of what's going on, and where the real threat lies. They also give other useful resources by nonpartisan organizations with more fact-checkers about info on different proposals:

- The Kaiser Family Foundation's side-by-side comparisons of the leading proposals

- The Annenberg Public Policy Center's fact checker

- Politifact's Truth-O-Meter

But make sure to check out the whole piece, and spread the word.

So fresh...so delicious.

There is a great website out there called "Politifact.com" - take a look at http://www.politifact.com. They are a non-partisan and fact-based organization dedicated to illuminating the truth (or untruth) of statements politicians and other make on television, print and in other settings. Just as you might go and check an urban legend on snopes.com, we'd recommend checking things out on this Pulitzer prize winning site as well when you receive something via email or other source and you wonder about the accuracy of the statement.

Here are a few items Politifact.com is currently taking the time to research:

Obama Claims Endorsement From AARP:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/aug/12/obama-claims-endorsement-from-aarp/

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/12/barack-obama/obama-goes-too-far-when-he-says-health-reform-bill/

Obama would have government require a centenarian to get a pill, not a pacemaker:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/03/dan-lungren/lungren-says-obama-would-have-government-require-c/

McCaughey claims end-of-life counseling will be required for Medicare patients:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/23/betsy-mccaughey/mccaughey-claims-end-life-counseling-will-be-requi/

And in case you have the time or the inclination, here is the link to ALL of Politifact's research into statements made on health and health reform. Take a look - there's a lot there: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/subjects/health/

What are you hearing? Tell us! Post some of the myths you're getting in your conversations or email box in the comments section. Or give us your thoughts about why people are resorting to putting forth myths rather than arguing the facts.

In case you didn't catch AARP's Legislative Policy Director, David Certner, on The O'Reilly Factor last night, here's the clip.

David answers some of the same tough questions ya'll have been asking in the comments...