Friday’s Wall Street Journal opened up the family-sized can of worms with this Page One piece:

Key Seniors Association Pivots on Benefit Cut

WASHINGTON—AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans, is dropping its longstanding opposition to cutting Social Security benefits, a move that could rock Washington’s debate over how to revamp the nation’s entitlement programs.

The decision, which AARP hasn’t discussed publicly, came after a wrenching debate inside the organization.

Yes, well, the debate apparently isn’t over yet. Witness this AARP press release that followed the Journal story by about a nanosecond:

AARP Has Not Changed Its Position on Social Security

Reaffirms that program must be strengthened to maintain critical benefits

WASHINGTON – AARP CEO A. Barry Rand offered the following statement in response to inaccurate media stories on the association’s policy on Social Security:

“Let me be clear – AARP is as committed as we’ve ever been to fighting to protect Social Security for today’s seniors and strengthening it for future generations.  Contrary to the misleading characterization in a recent media story, AARP has not changed its position on Social Security.

And etc.

As if to reinforce the point, this TV spot ran on WCVB Friday night:

Okay, so what we have is a Taxes Death Match between AARP CEO Rand and John Rother, described by the Journal as “AARP’s long-time policy chief and a prime mover behind its change of heart.”

“The ship was sailing,” Rother told the Journal. “I wanted to be at the wheel when that happens.”

Given all that happened Friday, any bets on who’ll be at the wheel Saturday?

The Wall Street Journal answers appear here, and here, and here.

Campaign Outsider prediction: Six, two, and even AARP goes for the status quo.