The more popular President Obama is, the more money NBC makes!

Hey, look, NBC Universal’s online store sells Obama memorabilia.

Can you celebrate the Obama presidency at NBC?

Yes you can.

If you’re a fan of all things Obama, NBC Universal’s online store has no fewer than 29 options for your buying pleasure — from a shirt with the president’s picture proclaiming “YES WE DID”…to both of his books…to a special inauguration DVD…to a refrigerator magnet of the first couple.

And don’t forget the Barack Obama Action Figure — yours for $15, plus tax.

Hmm. I’m all for good old-fashioned capitalism, but NBC does have a vested interest in objectivity. Or, at least, their news division so claims.

But:

…others note that there is no merchandise available that shows support for the other side of the political aisle. And they question whether the political bent of the items on sale are healthy for a corporation that operates an impartial news outlet.

Some of NBC’s item descriptions would seem to support that notion: “Bring reform to your refrigerator. Or at least keep company with the President while you’re at work, with the Barack Obama Magnet,” one item description reads.

“From Yes We Can to Yes We Did! Celebrate Barack Obama’s historic victory with the new ‘Yes We Did’ Unisex T-Shirt,” reads another.

Here’s the NBC online store’s website. There’s a search function near the top.

The first hit on a search for “Bush” was the book “The Man Who Pushed America to War,” by Adam Roston – a biography of Ahmad Chalabi. Nothing about Dubya, unless you count the “Best of Will Ferrell” DVD set.

Searching for Palin: nothing, except a mention of a “revealing interview with Governor Sarah Palin” in a book about the oil industry.

But a search for Obama? Lots of stuff.

A big deal? Well, maybe. It’s not likely that their sales from Obama items add up to very much, compared to their overall revenue.

Still, NBC is, presumably, profiting by selling these items. The more popular Obama is, the more Obama items they sell. Thus, they have a vested interest in Obama’s popularity.

Professional media types ought to see that, and realize it doesn’t look good. At the least, it doesn’t look good.

What are they doing selling non-NBC related stuff, anyway? They should be selling Hayden Panettiere memorabilia!