6 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group usually seen as a White House ally in the health care debate says the president went too far yesterday when he said the seniors' lobby had endorsed the legislation pending in Congress.
At the town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., President Barack Obama said, "We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors."
But AARP's chief operating officer says the group hasn't endorsed "any" of the major health care reform bills.
Meanwhile, the nation's largest business group starts airing TV spots today criticizing the plan. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ads talk about "big tax increases" and "huge deficits" and show a balloon being inflated until it bursts.
The multimillion-dollar ad buy would be the largest so far that's critical of Obama's effort, in a year when opponents have been heavily outspent by supporter's of the president's plan.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
