Obama defends latest delay to his health reform law

By Roberta Rampton and Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday defended his administration's decision to delay for some people the requirement to buy medical insurance under his healthcare law, explaining that the rollout of his signature domestic policy is a "messy process." Officials said late on Thursday that people whose insurance plans were canceled because of new standards under the law may be able to claim a "hardship exemption" to the requirement that all Americans must have coverage by March 31, or face a penalty. …