Secretary Sebelius Faces a Keg Stand in Congress
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KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius faced volleys of tough questions on Wednesday from members of Congress during a hearing into the botched roll-out of the Obamacare website.
But perhaps none more awkward or embarrassing than the one about a keg stand.
Sebelius was asked about an ad, produced by two groups, The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and ProgressNow Colorado Education, featuring three guys named “Rob, Zack and Sam.” They’re doing a keg stand.
“Keg stands are crazy. Not having insurance is crazier,” the text of the ad says. “Don’t tap into your beer money to cover those medical bills. We got it covered.”
At Wednesday’s hearing Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., held up an oversize poster of the so-called “Brosurance” ad and asked Sebelius what she thought of it.
“I can’t see it,” she replied at first.
Gardner chimed in, “It’s a college student doing a keg stand,” asking, “do you approve of this kind of advertising?”
“I don’t see it, I don’t know what it is and I did not approve it,” Sebelius responded.
The ad is part of the two groups’ “Got Insurance” campaign, which aims to “educate everyone about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act,” according to the website.
Earlier in the hearing, Sebelius apologized publicly for the first time for the troubled roll out of the new federal insurance marketplace, HealthCare.gov, which has frustrated millions of Americans trying to sign up.
“Let me say directly to these Americans: you deserve better,” Sebelius said in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington. “I apologize.”
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