Health care website model felt bullied by critics

[November 13, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The model whose face appeared on the much-maligned Obama health care website says she felt intimidated by harsh public criticism of the program.

The woman, who identified herself only as "Adriana" in an interview with ABC News, says she was never paid for appearing on the website's home page.

Adriana, who is from Colombia, says in the interview broadcast Wednesday that reaction to the website amounted to, quote, "some form of bullying." She says she doesn't know "why people should hate me because it's just a photo."

Adriana's photo has been removed. The website has been the subject of scorn by both Republicans and Democrats as technical problems have sharply restricted the number of people who have signed up for new program. Congress has been holding hearings on the issue.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.