Pop star Lance Bass visited the White House on Wednesday and tried to help promote Obamacare, but the former ’N Sync member tweeted out the wrong website address and was promptly scorned by Republicans.
Mr. Bass tweeted a photo of himself outside the White House and urged Americans to visit HealthCare.org. The website of the Affordable Care Act is HealthCare.gov.
The tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted.
Republicans wasted little time in bashing the mistake and poking fun at the administration’s strategy of using celebrities to sell the law.
“Celebrity Obamacare advocate doesn’t even know website URL,” tweeted Brendan Buck, spokesman for House Speaker John A. Boehner.
Mr. Bass then returned to Twitter to lash out at his critics.
“Grow up people! A handful of private citizens were invited to talk about Health Care. I have questions just like you — and I brought in several that my fans have brought up,” he wrote. “I’m not writing any laws here. Don’t hate because I’m trying to get educated. And I friggin messed up the website. Ugh. It’s healthcare.gov!!”
The visit from Mr. Bass came one day after President Obama appeared on actor Zack Galifianakis’ internet show “Between Two Ferns.” The administration also has enlisted other celebrities and sports stars to plug Obamacare.
“We’re looking at every way possible to make sure that communities across the country are getting the information they need,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday.
The strategy, he added, is designed to reach Americans who don’t get their news from traditional sources such as TV broadcasts or newspapers.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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