ObamaCare Enrollment Still Falling Short, CBS Spins it as 'Milestone'

Following the release of new ObamaCare enrollment numbers [1] on Monday showing five million sign-ups – still two million short of the original seven million goal set by the administration – fill-in CBS This Morning co-host Anthony Mason spun the news as positive: "This morning, the White House is closer to a crucial goal ahead of a key deadline for the health care law." [Listen to the audio [2]]

The headline on screen announced: "ObamaCare Milestone; Five Million Enrolled Ahead of March 31 Deadline." Mason continued: "As of yesterday, 5 million people are now enrolled for either state or federal insurance. The administration's goal is 6 million. The open enrollment deadline is March 31st."

Mason used the revised administration target [3] of six million sign-ups by March 31, rather than the seven million sign-up mark originally set by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in September of 2013. Mason didn't even bother to note how the White House had moved the goal posts.

Instead, Mason wrapped up the Tuesday morning news brief by highlighting ObamaCare propaganda efforts: "The White House continues trying to reach young Americans. It just unveiled March Madness-style brackets called, 'The 16 Sweetest Reasons to Get Covered.' Last week, President Obama appeared in an online video with comedian Zach Galifianakis."  

Last week, that pretend interview with Galifianakis got 100 times more coverage [4] on CBS, NBC, and ABC than the actual ObamaCare enrollment numbers.

On Tuesday, neither NBC's Today nor ABC's Good Morning America noted the new ObamaCare numbers.

Here is a transcript of Mason's March 18 CBS This Morning report:

8:04 AM ET

ANTHONY MASON: This morning, the White House is closer to a crucial goal ahead of a key deadline for the health care law.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: ObamaCare Milestone; Five Million Enrolled Ahead of March 31 Deadline]

As of yesterday, 5 million people are now enrolled for either state or federal insurance. The administration's goal is 6 million. The open enrollment deadline is March 31st.

The White House continues trying to reach young Americans. It just unveiled March Madness-style brackets called, "The 16 Sweetest Reasons to Get Covered." Last week, President Obama appeared in an online video with comedian Zach Galifianakis.