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- In a triumphant ceremony in the Rose Garden yesterday afternoon, President Obama announced that the White House's last-minute push to enroll seven million people in private health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act was successful. Sign-ups even slightly exceeded the administration's goal, coming in at 7.1 million newly insured Americans.
- This was despite the fact that the beleaguered Obamacare website crashed again on Monday, causing much consternation for health insurance procrastinators.
- White House officials called the rollercoaster ride of the past few days "shit-tastic," a term which Politico helpfully dissects here.
- Who's responsible for this unlikely victory? Hollywood actors, of course! Back in February, Bradley Cooper met with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to figure out how to get more people to sign up. Less than a month later, Obama appeared on Between Two Ferns with Cooper's buddy and Hangover co-star, Zack Galafinakis.
- Regardless of who's responsible, it's clear that politically, this is a big deal. "The debate over repealing this law is over. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay," Obama said.
- One of the biggest success stories comes from an unlikely place: Kentucky.
- Of course, there are naysayers, struggling to make their voices heard in the cacophony of Democratic "I-told-you-so's". Earlier this winter, when the signup count didn't seem so certain, Jay Carney explained why the initial numbers don't matter much for the future success of the law.
- Paul Ryan, who just released his new budget, is also unconvinced. "I think Obamacare is a slow-rolling fiasco. I think it's a Pyrrhic victory."
- Of course, the news hasn't stopped the endless calls for the ACA's repeal. Bobby Jindal, for one, still thinks it can be done.
- And the coming of the midterm elections guarantees that the political posturing on Obamacare is far from over.
