It was one of the fastest backtracks at any presidential press conference. From optimist to realist in less than 45 minutes. Obama the Optimist cited the sign-up numbers for the Affordable Care Act, the revised numbers for premium costs, and the good news on the expected life of the Medicare trust fund. Almost in awe, he declared, “This thing is working.” But Obama the Realist admitted the Republican opposition has been unchanged by every statistic he cited. The GOP, he suggested, is going through the stages of grief. “Anger and denial … we’re not at acceptance yet,” he said, though he added hopefully that his critics may get there “at some point.”

Even as the press conference was going on, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas helped make that point, tweeting, “The repeal debate is far from over.” Criticisms of the law followed quickly from both Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner. Even the president told reporters that the debate may not end “until after November because it seems as if this is the primary agenda item in the Republican political platform.”