President Obama is attending a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Maryland tonight, but before that, he had the unenviable task of kicking off the latest enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. Rather than make a public announcement from the White House Rose Garden, though, President Obama instead held a private conference call.
Today at the WH: Pres Obama spotlights start of new enrollment period for ObamaCare in conference call with sign-up personnel. No press.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 4, 2015
That left it up to Twitter and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest to make the announcement.
Need health coverage? Find a plan that fits your needs and #GetCovered today → https://t.co/5r9E9h6WeU pic.twitter.com/4e67DLmtfI
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 4, 2015
Earnest began the kickoff celebration early yesterday by announcing to the press that Obamacare was working better than anyone suspected.
Questioned yesterday about ObamaCare enrollment, @PressSec says the Affordable Care Act "is working better thus far than anybody predicted."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 4, 2015
@markknoller Cool story @PressSec pic.twitter.com/h3buS9jrZI
— Yam Skinner (@YamSkinner) November 4, 2015
@markknoller @PressSec Besides skyrocketing premiums and deductibles, doctors not accepting plans and exchanges closing, it works great ?!?!
— Marvin the Martian (@the_kaboom) November 4, 2015
@markknoller @PressSec did everyone laugh until they cried?
— Roger (@Roger247) November 4, 2015
@markknoller @PressSec Seems like the bar was set pretty low on those expectations.
— Elizabeth Ducote (@educote) November 4, 2015
@markknoller @PressSec Flat out LIE. O'care epic failure: 1) latest round of price increases 2) collapse of more than half of state co-ops.
— Lauren (@Amcboxer1) November 4, 2015
Earlier today, Fox News host Greta Van Susteren noted how The Washington Post had buried on page A6 the news that “More than half of Affordable Care Act co-ops out of insurance marketplaces.”
@markknoller @PressSec How in the hell is it better? My premiums are going up 65%? Premium for 2 people will = over $11.50 per hour (1/2)
— Wanda Patsche (@MinnFarmer) November 4, 2015
About that …
As for health insurance premium spikes in some states, @PressSec says the overall average increase "is lower than we’ve traditionally seen."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 4, 2015
@markknoller Wait, what? Did the @PressSec just admit that the gov't knew from the outset that Obamacare would be an abject failure?
— cj kunz (@tpcjk) November 4, 2015
.@markknoller @PressSec So they actually believed it would go down in a BIGGER ball of flames?
— Gary Nash (@daganash) November 4, 2015
@markknoller Should we believe what @PressSec Is saying about ACA or reports of what is ACTUALLY happening out in the real world?
— Sick and tired (@dblozik) November 4, 2015
