Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan was booed Thursday after calling for the repeal of the health care reform law championed by the White House in remarks before the AARP, a seniors’ organization.
“The first step to a stronger Medicare is to repeal Obamacare,” Ryan said to boos from attendees at the group’s National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ryan said he was expecting a “mixed” reaction to his remark.
Stating that the law weakens Medicare for future generations, Ryan received the same response from the crowd.
In July, Mitt Romney was similarly booed by the NAACP for promising to repeal “Obamacare.”
President Barack Obama appeared before the convention via satellite and used the opportunity to blast Ryan for providing a budget plan that limits Medicare funds.
Both campaigns have butted heads over Medicare, with Republicans’ claiming that Obama slashed $716 billion from the fund via the health care law and Democrats’ responding that the cuts are for providers’ reimbursements, not patient benefits.
In addition, Democrats’ have claimed that plans to restructure Medicare included in Ryan’s budget would amount to “voucher care” since it would give seniors a predetermined amount of funds and not cover additional costs. Ryan has said that the plan is aimed at preserving Medicare for future generations and will not affect current recipients.
