Obama campaign defends Medicare record in new TV ad

Updated at 6:05 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Amid ongoing debate over Medicare, President Obama's campaign is defending his record on the issue in a new campaign ad, which touts the administration's commitment to eliminating fraud and improving benefits, while blasting Mitt Romney's running mate's proposal as one that would cost seniors thousands of dollars.

The 30-second spot, called "Facts," quotes AARP, formally the American Association of Retired Persons, pumping up the president's health care law as a plan that "cracks down on Medicare fraud waste and abuse, and strengthens guaranteed benefits," while dismissing Rep. Paul Ryan's plan as one that "would undermine Medicare and could lead to higher costs for seniors."

"And experts say Ryan's voucher plan could raise future retirees' costs more than $6,000," the ad's narrator intones. "Get the facts."

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According to the campaign, the ad will run on television in New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada.

In the days since announcing Ryan as the Republican vice presidential pick, the Romney campaign has made an aggressive attempt get out in front on the Medicare issue, hammering Mr. Obama for allegedly having "robbed" the entitlement program to fund the Affordable Care Act, and even setting up a whiteboard lesson to explain the differences between the president's plan and Romney's. 

The Obama campaign is rebutting that message, accusing the former Massachusetts governor of getting "his facts wrong" - and releasing a "whiteboard" of its own "to set the record straight."

"It makes sense that Romney wouldn't want to tell the truth: the Romney-Ryan budget eliminates the guarantee of Medicare and instead provides people with a voucher to buy health care," said the Obama campaign in a Thursday press release. "In fact, a voucher plan authored by Paul Ryan and endorsed by Romney would cost future retirees an additional $6,400."

Update: AARP senior vice president John Hishta Friday afternoon issued a statement distancing his organization from the Obama campaign's ad.

"The next president and Congress will decide the future of Medicare, and the candidates owe voters straight talk - not just 30-second ads - about what their plans will mean for today's seniors and future retirees," he said. "We were not aware of nor have any involvement with this campaign ad. AARP is a nonpartisan organization and we do not endorse political candidates."

[ge556]

I just found a great video: "Mitt Romney is a serial liar"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xll21VCbCyg&feature=related

[mikesfilms]

I just used Medicare. Whoever tells me Obama's taking my Medicare is talking crap. Parallel lives: Paul Martin, Minister of National Health and Welfare from 1946 to 1957, played a central early role in the adoption of hospital insurance and is also remembered as the father of Medicare. National hero in Canada. Paul Ryan, the killer of US Medicare.

[ge556]

They just don't have anything positive to say about Romney, so they have to lie about Obama.
Obama has increased availability of health care.

[ge556]

"Mitt Romney said Barack Obama robs Medicare of more than $700 billion to pay for Obamacare"

Politifact rates this MOSTLY FALSE.
Romney lies and lies.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/15/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-said-barack-obama-first-history-rob-me/

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by smehl1506 August 17, 2012 4:37 PM EDT
Pure bull. Here are the facts:

In 2008, we were in the worst jobs recession in 75 years. We had had 13 straight months of job losses. The Dow Jones average had plummeted by 35 percent and was at 8,000. GM and Chrysler were on the brink of extinction. Millions of people were losing their homes because of Wall Street and the banking industry. We were deeply embroiled in two wars with no end in sight. And Osama bin Laden was alive and well, plotting against our country.

Today, we have achieved 27 straight months of job increases and have recovered more than 4 million private sector jobs. The Dow Jones average has recovered all its losses and is up to 13,000. GM and Chrysler have achieved record profits. New regulations will prevent the kind of misconduct by Wall Street and the banks that cause the recession in the first place. We've ended the war in Iraq and have an exit strategy for Afghanistan. And Osama? Mission accomplished.

Is this an example of how "everything was so much better off four years ago"? If so, God help us.
-----------------------
Amen! : )

[SD92040]

Obama gutted Medicare. Noew he's gonna pay for it......

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

The "cut"in Medicare, cut no benefits whatsoever, and the savings were used to save senior citizens money on prescriptions.

[wfw3536]

Oboma can't hid the fact that he took 700 plus billion from Medicare to pay for the new programs offered by Obamacare. Even Obama's own government CPO admitted this fact. Oh, and how will he make this up, cut what Medicare doctors receive in payments so fewer and fewer doctors take on Medicare patients, and don't forget Obama tells us most of the 700 billion will be found from waste --------------which most folks know having the government find this much in waste is a joke, and then there is the Obama appointed 15 member panel that will decide what procedures and services Medicare folks will recieve in the future. So if Obama get in again Medicare folks better walk, no run, and take care of you medical needs before these changes go into effect.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

The "cut"in Medicare, cut no benefits whatsoever, and the savings were used to save senior citizens money on prescriptions.

[0bama2O12]

The only downside to the changes in Medicare are if you're rich, i.e. you earn more than $85,000 a year, or you and your spouse earn more than $170,000 a year, then your monthly premium for Part D is going up.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Consumer Confidence, Improvement, Momentum, Highest in four years!

Lets keep this recovery going!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 : )

[EmpireGeorge______--]

So it was higher under Bush, 4 years ago ?

"You didn't build that" - B.Hussein Obama

Recovery ? this election is about 3 things, the economy, the economy, the economy.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57495398/consumer-confidence-increases-as-economy-improves/?tag=exclsv

Yes George! Economy Economy Economy! : )

[Entitlementnation]

He took 716 Billion Dollars out of medicare to fund his give away to illegal aliens and those who offer nothing to society. Took that money right out of the pockets of middle class WORKING people. That kind of socialism may be OK in Cuba, but it doesn't fly in a capitalist society.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Not true!

The "cut"in Medicare, cut no benefits whatsoever, and the savings were used to save senior citizens money on prescriptions.

[olyboy]

Obama's term in office is a joke, no wonder he is focusing on Romney's tax return disclosures. Obama robs Medicare, refused to release any information about his time in college (I assume because it's "private") and then claims Romney is hiding something. We knew nothing about Obama when he ran in 2008 and now that we've seen what his policies are doing to the country, he wants to focus us on some idea that success is a bad thing in America. Pathetic.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

The "cut"in Medicare, cut no benefits whatsoever, and the savings were used to save senior citizens money on prescriptions.