Ryan Gets Booed At The AARP

On Friday afternoon, Paul Ryan addressed the AARP’s National Annual Conference in New Orleans. The GOP vice presidential candidate attacked Obamacare for taking $716 billion out of Medicare — the very same cuts he included in his budget — and made the case for transforming seniors’ health care from a guaranteed benefit into a premium support “voucher” program. The address didn’t go over well. Audience members called Ryan a “liar,” told him to “go home” and the repeatedly booed his critique of President Obama and health reform.

 Ryan also denied that his proposal would offer seniors a
voucher, despite previously claiming, “you can call it a voucher.” He falsely compared it to the health care program enjoyed by federal employees — the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan or FEHBP — and sought to distance himself from some of the most extreme details of his budget.