Paul Ryan Goes To AARP To Push Medicare Cuts, Gets Booed

Paul Ryan, who has been criticized in the past for trying to turn Medicare into a voucher program (meaning that when you run out of vouchers, you run out of luck) took his case before the AARP today, getting roundly booed as he tried to sell the stripped down program to an audience of older Americans.

Paul Ryan’s plans for Medicare have been criticized as being detrimental to the health of seniors, who may require more care than his voucher program would allow. And this distaste is evident in the video below, where Ryan takes his platform to the AARP, where the reception he received was less than welcoming.

As boos rang out from the audience, Ryan made an attempt to sell his party’s version of Medicare reform, saying:

“The first step to a stronger Medicare is to repeal Obamacare, because it represents the worst of both worlds … It weakens Medicare for today’s seniors and puts it at risk for the next generation. First, it funnels $716 billion out of Medicare to pay for a new entitlement we didn’t even ask for. Second, it puts 15 unelected bureaucrats in charge of Medicare’s future.”

In contrast, Obama addressed the group via satellite and said:

“Medicare and Social Security are not handouts. You’ve paid into these programs your whole lives … You’ve earned them and as president it’s my job to make sure Medicare and Social Security remain strong for today’s seniors and future generations.”

Obama’s comments were met with applause, and the President says seniors will save an average of $5,000 over ten years due to reforms that came along with Obamacare.