AARP Statement on the Iowa Democratic Debate on ABC's 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos'

AARP Statement on the Iowa Democratic Debate on ABC's 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos'

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Associate Director of Media Relations Cecelia Prewett made the following statement about the Iowa Democratic debate on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO )

"With only one question on financial security and a tepid conversation on the state of health care, AARP is still waiting for a thorough discussion on these critical issues.

"Millions of Americans are in financial straits without enough savings and a solid foundation for retirement, not to mention the health care costs that add strain to family budgets. And these same Americans are waiting to hear how the candidates plan on addressing pensions, Social Security, and access to affordable, quality health care.

"Only 21 percent of Americans believe they are prepared for retirement, and less than half have actually tried to figure out how much money they will need to live comfortably through retirement. Even more startling, almost half of Americans believe that their nest egg is not enough.

"We hope that in future debates the questions and the answers address these critical health and retirement issues that are top of mind for all Americans. This is why it's important the candidates participate in AARP/Divided We Fail forums in Iowa on September 20 and October 25."

Divided We Fail and AARP are monitoring the number of health and financial security questions asked during the Presidential debates. For more information about Divided We Fail and the debate, log onto the Divided We Fail debate tracker at www.dividedwefail.org.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.aarp.org/. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO
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Source: AARP

CONTACT: Cecelia Prewett of AARP, +1-202-386-8426 (cell), or Ann Black
of AARP Iowa, +1-515-707-1287 (cell)

Web site: http://www.aarp.org/
http://www.dividedwefail.org/

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