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How Bradley Cooper saved Obamacare

Were you one of the 11 million people who watched President Barack Obama trade barbs with comedian Zach Galifianakis on "Between Two Ferns"?

Were you one of the 11 million people who watched President Barack Obama trade barbs with comedian Zach Galifianakis on "Between Two Ferns"? The not-so-subtle pitch for the Affordable Care Act saw a 40 percent spike in traffic for Healthcare.gov.

And Politico says Rydal's own Bradley Cooper is to thank.

How?

Back on Feb. 11, Cooper was at the White House for the state dinner in honor of French President François Hollande. Before he got to his fingerling potato velouté, the actor met with Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett in her office to brainstorm ideas about how to help get the word out on Obamacare. Enlisting the website Funny or Die had come up before, an administration official said, but Cooper was pushing hard for them to think about "Between Two Ferns," the mock-interview web show hosted by his friend (and "The Hangover" co-star) Zach Galifianakis.

Cooper pulled out his cell phone, got Galifianakis on the line and put him on speaker. He was ready to help.

Now they just needed to sell the idea to the president.

Aw, and I thought he just gave the world his luminous smile and commitment to character.