Obama Just Took A Big Obamacare Victory Lap

In a statement from the Rose Garden Tuesday afternoon, President Barack Obama took a victory lap on upon the end of the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.

It came on a day the White House announced that more than 7 million people had enrolled in insurance plans through Obamacare, surpassing the administration's original goal despite a disastrous rollout of the law in October. Noting the "lost weeks" that came with the rollout of the law, Obama announced that more than 7.1 million people had signed up.

"This law has made our health care system a lot better," Obama said.

"In these first six months we've taken a big step forward," he said. "Under this law, the share of Americans with insurance is up, and the growth of health care costs is down."

He ratcheted up his rhetoric against Republicans he said were trying to dismantle the law, quipping that there are "still no death panels."

"Armageddon has not arrived!" he said.

More to come...