Getting Grandma Riled Up

Republicans continue their assault on President Obama's health care plan today by appealing to the most core of constituencies: seniors.

The Republican National Committee announced its seniors' "bill of rights" imploring Obama not to cut the Medicare program, the government's health plan for the elderly. The GOP also repeats criticisms used in recent months, suggesting reform will ration health care and lead to end of life counseling, the controversial aspect of reform that has been exaggerated to mean the government will set up euthanasia panels.

Regardless of whether the Democrats' plan would have any of these aspects, the GOP and other opponents of Obama's reform, are accomplishing what they set out to do.

Already seniors are uneasy about health reform. A poll Friday showed that a majority of seniors opposed the current reform plans being pushed by Democrats. Members of seniors' group AARP are quitting over the organization's support of reform efforts. (AARP hasn't specifically endorsed Obama's plan.)

Not only do seniors use the health care system the most, they vote regularly. That's a problem for Obama. Judging by the polls, opponents of the president's plan have done an effective job of putting doubt in the minds of Americans. The GOP's move today just throws more gas on the fire.

"Our seniors have really come under fire in the last few weeks, as more and more proposals look to be cutting benefits out of Medicare programs," RNC Chairman Michael Steele said on ABC's Good Morning America today.