AARP Statement on 9/9 Democratic Debate

Gabriela Zabalúa-Goddard, editor of AARP Segunda Juventud bilingual magazine, issued the following statement following the Univision forum for Democratic presidential candidates Sunday:

"Tonight the candidates and the questioners began to address health and financial security, two issues that dominate our everyday lives. Our healthcare system is broken, as candidates noted during the forum. The problems are not limited to those without health insurance. Skyrocketing health costs are threatening the lives of all Americans.

"These issues are especially important in the 44-million-person Hispanic community, with one in three people lacking health coverage. Those who are 65 and older face rates of poverty two times the national average. We welcome the discussion on how to help families in financial crisis.

"We look forward to hearing more from the candidates and the questioners about health and financial security in future debates and will continue to ask for more details about these issues."

Divided We Fail and AARP are monitoring the number of health and financial security questions asked during the Presidential debates. For more information about Divided We Fail and the debate, log onto the Divided We Fail debate tracker at www.dividedwefail.org.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.AARP.org . AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.