First President Obama’s humorous Web interview went viral. Now it’s a bona fide phenomenon, at least one Democratic senator said.
Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, plans to speak about the “Between Two Ferns Effect” on the chamber floor Wednesday morning, a reference to Mr. Obama’s decision to tout his health care law this week on a parody show hosted by comedian Zach Galifianakis.
The appearance was part of the Obama administration’s effort to get young adults to sign up for health coverage on HealthCare.gov before Obamacare’s March 31 deadline, since they tend to be healthier and balance out insurers’ expenses for covering older, sicker people with preexisting conditions.
Official enrollment released Tuesday said just one in four of Obamacare’s enrollees so far are between the ages of 18 and 34 — short of the 40 percent or so that experts say is necessary to keep insurance premiums in check.
Mr. Murphy is leading a group of Democrats who hold periodic press conferences to tout the Affordable Care Act and push back against a tide of Republican criticism of the overhaul. The events have featured a mixed cast of Senate Democrats, although none who are up for re-election this year.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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