The lower-than-hoped-for enrollment numbers on the federal exchanges are due to Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D., D.C.) argued on Monday. Norton blamed a “negative propaganda campaign” by Republicans that confused Americans into thinking that the law was no longer in effect.

“There are millions of people out there who think it was repealed, so there was no way to break through that very easily,” she told MSNBC. Norton also pointed out that the “debacle of a website” made matters worse because it “seemed to confirm that [the law] must have been repealed, or should have been repealed.”



Norton remained confident that the enrollment numbers will improve as people learn more about the law as well as the nearing deadlines and fines. “When that fine is going to kick in, you’re going to see people trotting to sign on like you’ve never seen it before,” she said.

Via Mediaite.