The journalists at MSNBC responded differently to gaffes by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. On Tuesday morning it became clear that Seddique Mateen, the father of the Orlando nightclub shooter, sat directly behind Clinton at a rally in Florida. Rather than express outrage, MSNBC journalists praised the Democrat’s quick response in putting out a statement in response.
However, when Donald Trump at a rally on Tuesday said that “maybe” “Second Amendment people” can do something about Hillary Clinton’s liberal judges, MTP Daily host Chuck Todd pounced. He opened show by demanding, “What did Donald Trump mean by this?”
Todd lectured, “Welcome to MTP Daily and welcome to what could be the point of no return for Trump's candidacy. Today is one of those days it felt like maybe the dam broke.” Todd added that the Republican is “facing new criticism just in the last hour of those ‘Second Amendment people’ comments you just heard.”
Later, Todd talked to Senator Susan Collins, who has renounced Trump. The host wondered, “Do you believe he was trying to incite violence there?”
Yet, when it came to the fact that the father of a terrorist mass killer appeared on stage with Clinton, MSNBC earlier in the day found it simply “noteworthy” and “”interesting.” Journalist Thomas Roberts praised Clinton for quickly putting out a statement, saying it was “certainly a reflection of the Clinton camp to respond so quickly about what that [having Seddique Mateen at the rally] means."
A partial transcript from MTP Daily is below:
MTP Daily
8/9/16
5:00CHUCK TODD: As the NRA hits Clinton with a new ad, what did Donald Trump mean by this?
DONALD TRUMP: Hillary wants to essentially abolish, essentially abolish, the Second Amendment. Nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know.
5:01
TODD: Good evening, I'm Chuck Todd here in Washington. Welcome to MTP Daily and welcome to what could be the point of no return for Trump's candidacy. Today is one of those days it felt like maybe the dam broke. Trump is epically outspent, he's grappling with major defections in his own party, facing new criticism just in the last hour of those “Second Amendment people” comments you just heard.
5:04<<< Please consider helping NewsBusters financially with your tax-deductible contribution today >>>
TODD: There was some new comments this afternoon. I don’t know if you heard them. And in case you didn't hear them, let me play the clip again. It had to do with the Second Amendment and what Donald Trump said about Hillary Clinton.
TRUMP: Hillary wants to essentially abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick— If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment, , maybe there is, I don't know.
TODD: Well, the Clinton campaign did not like that last comment, and they have put out a statement on this, by the way, saying the follow. “This is simple, what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way.” That was Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook. Do you believe he was trying to incite violence there?
SUSAN COLLINS: I’ve been very critical of Donald Trump, but I actually don’t think that’s what he was saying.
