NBC closed out Thursday’s edition of Nightly News with an over-the-top tribute to President Barack Obama where they dubbed him ‘father-in-chief.’ “President Obama prepares to leave the White House, he's written a letter to the American people thanking them for making him, quote ‘a better man,’” touted anchor Lester Holt, “In the past, he’s also said the presidency has made him a better dad.” Reporter Chris Jansing dug up old photographs of the president as she hyped the hashtag #ObamaAndKids.
“In the millions of photographs of President Obama, among the most memorable, as father-in-chief,” she hailed, “A doting dad friends say, shocked at how quickly Sasha and Malia have grown up.”
The NBC reporter seemed to have snagged every administration official she could in her quest to glorify the president. “What’s going to be harder sending a daughter off to college or leaving the White House,” she asked Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen, chief of staff to the first lady. “There’s no comparison,” they both replied.
“He lights up, not only with his own daughters. He finds joy in everyone's children,” she declared as she flashed pictures of Obama with children of staff members, “Infants bring the leader of the free world to his knees.” “And you sort of see that now with staffers bringing their children into the oval office for a quick visit,” White House Photographer Pete Souza told her.
Obama’s staffers were more than happy to discuss the president’s love of children. Jansing even leaned on Press Secretary Josh Earnest who exclaimed, “He is somebody who cares about the people that he works with, and he cares about those families, and he’s somebody who loves kids!”
“So many moments there's a hashtag, #ObamaAndKids,” she reported.
While closing out her report, Jansing went straight for an emotional appeal, recalling, “The president who came to Washington with little girls now leaving with young women. A man who barely knew his own father with a legacy of being a great dad.”
Transcript below:
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NBC Nightly News
January 19, 2017
7:27:08 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: Finally tonight, as President Obama prepares to leave the White House, he's written a letter to the American people thanking them for making him, quote “a better man.” In the past, he’s also said the presidency has made him a better dad. And our Chris Jansing has a candid behind the scenes look at his legacy as father and a father figure.
[Cuts to video]
CHRIS JANSING: In the millions of photographs of President Obama, among the most memorable, as father in chief.
BARACK OBAMA: Every parent brags on their daughters, but man my daughters are something.
JANSING: A doting dad friends say, shocked at how quickly Sasha and Malia have grown up.
What’s going to be harder sending a daughter off to college or leaving the White House?
VALERIE JARRETT: No comparison.
TINA TCHEN: No comparison.
JARRETT: No comparison.
JANSING: He lights up, not only with his own daughters. He finds joy in everyone's children.
PETE SOUZA: And you sort of see that now with staffers bringing their children into the oval office for a quick visit.
JANSING: Infants bring the leader of the free world to his knees. Like Ella, daughter of the president's deputy national security advisor.
BEN RHODES: I've gotten more comments about that than anything I've done in this job.
JANSING: He couldn't resist his press secretary’s son dressed up as Superman.
OBAMA: High five! Ooo, whoa, you are so strong. You knocked me over.
JOSH EARNEST: He is somebody who cares about the people that he works with, and he cares about those families, and he’s somebody who loves kids.
JANSING: So many moments there's a hashtag, #ObamaAndKids.
SOUZA: I think it brings out who he really is.
JANSING: The dad in him?
SOUZA: The dad.
JANSING: The first meeting with the future King George. The boy who wanted to know if the boy's hair who felt like his, a free checkup, and an oval office face plant. The president who came to Washington with little girls now leaving with young women. A man who barely knew his own father with a legacy of being a great dad. Chris Jansing NBC News, the White House.
