evidence: Welker, 44, is the NBC News White House correspondent and co-anchors Weekend Today. Noah Oppenheim, NBC News president, said about Welker: "Kristen represents the best of NBC News and of journalism generally. She’s fair, she’s deeply prepared, she’s well-versed in the issues and she’s going to do a great job." [...] In her voter registration records, Welker is a registered Independent, the Chicago Tribune reported. The New York Post, meanwhile, reported that in 2012 she was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C., and in 2004 she was registered as a Democrat in Rhode Island. Politifact confirmed that she had been registered as a Democrat in 2012, according to the District of Columbia Board of Elections, and now has no registered political affiliation. [...] A photo has gone viral on social media showing Welker and her father standing with then-President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at a White House holiday reception in 2012. Welker shared the photo on Facebook on December 13, 2012, writing: "Christmas at the White House!"