HHS touts O-care enrollment of 5 million; Incurious lapdoggies parrot number amid skepticism

The Department of Health and Human Services has put out yet another Obamacare “enrollment” number that is completely unverifiable:

BREAKING NEWS: Marketplace Enrollment Hits 5 Million: http://t.co/d0tG25uDvk #GetCoveredNow

— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) March 17, 2014

But just because the numbers aren’t verified doesn’t mean the administration can’t count on the lapdog media to pass along their claims without question.

"Quick! Push these irrelevant numbers!"

— eric (@eriContrarian) March 17, 2014

Done:

HHS says Obamacare enrollment has now hit 5 million

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) March 17, 2014

Breaking: the White House says 5 million people have signed up for Obamacare. http://t.co/T6XXKent5E.

— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) March 17, 2014

BOOM: Obamacare signups hit 5 Million per HHS. 2 weeks to go, CBO's 6M in sight

— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) March 17, 2014

Obamacare hits 5 million enrollees http://t.co/Z69gF5kBdL

— National Journal (@nationaljournal) March 17, 2014

U.S. administration says Obamacare enrollment tops 5 million http://t.co/0WovcXHJxg

— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) March 17, 2014

Would any “journalists” like to do some digging to see if that’s an actual number or just another arbitrary, baseless or wildly misleading claim? Anyone? Anyone?

https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/445662659753807873

@redsteeze the Journalists™ are too busy working on their stories about how the glorious 5 million milestone upends teabaggers' criticism

— Jason Hart (@jasonahart) March 17, 2014

How many have paid for their plans? At very best these are “shopping cart” numbers.

Please stop reporting shopping carts. "@HHSGov: BREAKING NEWS: Marketplace Enrollment Hits 5 Million: http://t.co/V3XQKTsS7n #GetCoveredNow"

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 17, 2014

glad that's verified, unlike alleged pro life rally in DC few months back RT @jbendery HHS says Obamacare enrollment has now hit 5 million

— Nino (@baldingschemer) March 17, 2014

But not really. RT @AaronBlakeWP: Obamacare enrollment hits 5 million http://t.co/EA7MXxyKJi

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 17, 2014

BREAKING NEWS: @HHSGov keeps calling website registration "enrollments" https://t.co/HwB3j3JeN1

— RBe (@RBPundit) March 17, 2014

https://twitter.com/JerseyGirlRulz/status/445669307050385408
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/445661078593490944
https://twitter.com/RickRlthomasjr/status/445660430992560128

@HHSGov @philipaklein How many paid their first months premium?
How many are under the age of 30? How many had a pre-existing condition?

— gston3 (@gston3) March 17, 2014

Gonna be a rough day for progressives when the actual paid enrollment number is released.

— American Journalists Publish Chinese Propaganda (@JohnEkdahl) March 17, 2014

That’s if it’s ever released.

https://twitter.com/KristinaRibali/status/445662758726402048

@HHSGov @Sebelius So you'll be releasing those numbers of paid in participants soon then?

— AstrO (@Mi_Astronauta) March 17, 2014

How many have paid, and how many of those were previously uninsured? Don’t ask, because they’re not keeping track of such insignificant information.