After cropping Michelle Obama's “cute” comment, MSNBC's Gregory baselessly asserted: “She was talking about Governor Palin”

On Race for the White House, David Gregory aired a clip of Michelle Obama saying, “People shouldn't make a decision this time based on, 'I like that guy.' Or, you know, 'She's cute.' ” Afterward, Gregory baselessly asserted, “She was talking about Governor Palin.” At no point during the segment did Gregory note that Obama followed that comment by saying, “I'm talking about me.”

On the September 19 edition of MSNBC's Race for the White House, host David Gregory aired a clip of Michelle Obama saying, “We may decide to do something that is different from Barack Obama, but we should decide that based on our self-interests and what we think is best.” After a break in the video, Obama continued: “People shouldn't make a decision this time based on, 'I like that guy.' Or, you know, 'She's cute.' ” Gregory then asked Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, “She talking about [Gov. Sarah] Palin there?” Jarrett replied, “I think she was talking about herself, Michelle being cute.” Gregory responded by baselessly asserting: “Oh, come on. Come on. She was talking about Governor Palin.” At no point during the segment did Gregory air Obama saying “I'm talking about me” after her “cute” comment, or note that she had said it.

The Associated Press reported that Obama “did not talk about Palin directly in her remarks.”

From the September 19 edition of MSNBC's Race for the White House:

GREGORY: Here is your friend Michelle Obama talking about what matters in this race. Watch.

OBAMA [video clip]: We may decide to do something that is different from Barack Obama, but we should decide that based on our self-interests and what we think is best. [break] People shouldn't make a decision this time based on, “I like that guy.” Or, you know, “She's cute.”

GREGORY: She talking about Palin there?

JARRETT: I think she was talking about herself, Michelle being cute.

GREGORY: Oh, come on. Come on. She was talking about Governor Palin.

JARRETT: No, no, I don't think so. But, you know, listen. I think Michelle's point is a good one. The stakes are so high in this election.

We have our planet is in peril, we've been at war, we have now a domestic crisis, we have an economic crisis. We really encourage the American people to do what they're doing, which is to get engaged and really look at the issues and how the candidates match up and who has the leadership qualities, the temperament, the stability, the foresight, the judgment, and all the qualities that are required to lead our country at this unique moment in history. That was Michelle's message.

GREGORY: All right. We'll leave it there. Valerie Jarrett, always great to have you.