Trump rhetoric outrages Chuck Todd (no, not the racist, pro-torture, pro-war crimes rhetoric)

"Shit just got real ..."

It’s happened. Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric has crossed the line and NBC’s Meet The Press host Chuck Todd is on it! 

The campaign rhetoric needs to be ratcheted back. This is outrageous and dangerous behavior https://t.co/Qi4eAQxkgb

— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) February 21, 2016

So, what was it that made crack journalist Chuck Todd finally recognize that Trump’s rhetoric is “outrageous and dangerous”? Was it his hate speech directed at women? At Mexicans? At a couple of billion Muslims? His advocating of torture and war crimes? Nope. Todd was responding to this:

Trump trashes press. Crowd jeers. Guy by press 'pen' looks at us & screams "you're a bitch!" Other gentleman gives cameras the double bird.

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) February 21, 2016

Oh. The double bird. That’s outrageous. And dangerous. Now, what about Trump’s non-stop hate speech directed at women, ethnicities, or entire religions? Or Trump approvingly recounting a (false) story about a mass, summary execution of Muslims, complete with ammo “dipped in pig’s blood” because America needs to get “tough”? Well, when Trump appeared on Sunday’s Meet The Press, here’s what Todd had to say: He congratulated Trump on his win in the South Carolina primary, he asked if Trump was on his way to nailing down the nomination, he had Trump clarify comments he made about the health care mandate (mandate and people dying in the streets are both bad), Planned Parenthood (they do a lot of good work, but yes, he’d defund), the Iraq war (word salad), and had Trump confirm that he is “very pro-Israel.” And that was it. Oh, except to say:

Again, congratulations on your big win. Stay safe on the trail.

Because it’s outrageous out there. And dangerous.

Sign the petition: Hold Donald Trump accountable for his lies