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AARP plans health care reform PR blitz

Posted Aug 10, 2009 by William March

Updated Aug 10, 2009 at 11:11 AM

The American Association of Retired Persons plans a public relations blitz in favor of health care reform, including a national advertising buy and a series of town hall forums in Florida to “bust the myths of the health care debate.”

AARP won’t say how big its national TV buy is—“millions” was the only answer from the organization’s Florida spokesman, Dave Bruns—but he said it will air ads on shows including the Today Show, Dateline, 60 Minutes, NCIS, America’s Got Talent, and NFL On CBS.

You can see the ads here.

The organization will hold a town hall meeting at 1 pm Wednesday in Lakeland at Faith Lutheran Church at 211 Easton Drive, and another Aug. 21 in Hudson.

Asked whether the organization is concerned about the kind of disruption experienced at some forums on health care recently, Bruns said AARP has already held several such gatherings in Florida. One, in Leesburg, was “pretty heated” with some catcalls and shouting, but none have involved the furor that characterized a gathering with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor last week in Tampa, he said.