Enrollment Deadline Extended, By Grace of Obama

Amazing grace! How sweet the name

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind, but now I see.

Olney Hymns (1979), Amazing Grace

In a move certain to infuriate critics,  President Obama has extended the deadline for enrolling in ObamaCare, probably until April 15, the tax deadline.  This move comes on the heels of Kathleen Sebelius' March 11 vow that there would be no extensions past the March 31 deadline.

The Obama administration says this grace period is akin  to giving  those standing in line when the polls closed a chance to cast their ballot.   

Or, it might be said, extending the deadline is done through the grace of Obama.   There,  but for the grace of God, goes Obama, or OSHA (Our Savior Has Arrived).

Why not extend the enrollment period?   

After all, this latest extension date simply follows other delays, extentions, waivers, and extensions.   And besides,  it  may allow the Administration to reach its cherished 7 million enrollment  goal.   In any event, when you make the rules,  you can change the rules , even break the rules. Being chief executive of the United States has its privileges.

Obama officials say  the grace period will be available to people on the honor system.  This means applicants will have to attest  that special circumstances prevented them from finishing by March 31.

It's unclear how long the extension will last. Some have urged the administration to extend the extension  until April 15, the tax filing deadline.   But, I suppose, the deadline could be extended to the midterm elections,  or to the end of Obama’s term, assuming Obama maintains control of the Senate and wins back the House, both unlikely possibilities at this point.

In any case,  the extension of the open enrollment deadline may well save  ObamaCare and the Obama legacy, now endangered by Obama’s 43% approval   and 53% ObamaCare  disapproval numbers.   When your reputation and your power is at stake, anything and everything goes.

Tweet:   In a face-saving move, the Obama administration has announced it will extend the enrollment period  for ObamaCare beyond March 31, 2014.