Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan was loudly and repeatedly booed by members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) on Friday after he pledged to repeal President Barack Obama's health care reform law.
"The first step to a stronger Medicare is to repeal Obamacare," Ryan said, pausing as the audience in New Orleans booed and shouted, "No!"
"I had a feeling there would be mixed reaction," the candidate said, but the booing continued. "It weakens Medicare for today's seniors and puts it at risk for the next generation."
That, too, was met with audible groans and jeers.
"It funnels $716 billion out of Medicare to pay for a new entitlement that we didn't even ask for," Ryan insisted.
"No!" people shouted.
Although Ryan seemed to be unfazed by the heckling, his explanations and assurances never convinced the AARP audience, who continued booing him throughout the remainder of his speech.
During a video appearance at the AARP Life@50+ conference earlier in the day, Obama had told members that Ryan's claim that $716 billion had been cut from Medicare services was "simply not true."
"Contrary to what you've heard and what you may hear from subsequent speakers, Obamacare actually strengthened Medicare," the president explained.
