NBC: Forget How Unpopular Obama is, He's Hugging White House Guests!

While NBC has failed to report the latest Gallup poll [1] showing President Obama's approval rating falling to 39%, Wednesday's Today did find time to applaud the commander-in-chief for greeting tourists at the White House, with news reader Natalie Morales gushing: "On Tuesday, one of the first groups to visit got a big surprise – take a look – when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted and hugged some of the visitors as they toured the Blue Room." [Listen to the audio [2]]

Morales mentioned that "Public tours of the White House are back underway," after they "were stopped in March due to government spending cuts." She ignored the fact that the administration chose to cancel the tours in an attempt to place political pressure on Republicans, a move that backfired. At the time, The Hill observed [3]: "The White House is playing defense over the decision to cancel tours at President Obama's residence, the latest stumble for Obama in the messaging war with Republicans over the sequester."

So what was the reversal of an embarrassing mistake for the President, Morales touted as more pro-Obama fluff.   

Here is a full transcript of the November 6 news brief:

8:02AM ET

NATALIE MORALES: Public tours of the White House are back underway.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: White House Tours Resume; President and First Lady Surprise Guests]

And on Tuesday, one of the first groups to visit got a big surprise – take a look – when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted and hugged some of the visitors as they toured the Blue Room.

Tours of the presidential residence were stopped in March due to government spending cuts.