White House deputy press secretary T.J. Ducklo was given a one week suspension for allegedly threatening and demeaning a female reporter. This has led to accusations that Joe Biden lied weeks ago when he promised to fire people in his administration on the spot for offenses like this.
Ducklo reportedly went off on Politico reporter Tara Palmeri, making “derogatory and misogynistic” comments towards her after she asked about his romantic relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond.
Sources told Vanity Fair that in an off-the-record call on January 20, Ducklo threatened to “destroy” Palmeri and claimed that she only asked him about McCammond because she was jealous that an unidentified man in the past had wanted to “f—” McCammond and not Palmeri.
Though White House officials suspended Ducklo, they also criticized Palmeri for breaking an off-the-record agreement with him.
“TJ Ducklo has apologized to the reporter, with whom he had a heated conversation about his personal life. He is the first to acknowledge this is not the standard of behavior set out by the President,” tweeted White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
“In addition to his initial apology, he has sent the reporter a personal note expressing his profound regret,” she said.
“With the approval of the White House Chief of Staff, he has been placed on a one-week suspension without pay,” she added. “In addition, when he returns, he will no longer be assigned to work with any reporters at Politico.”
TJ Ducklo has apologized to the reporter, with whom he had a heated conversation about his personal life. He is the first to acknowledge this is not the standard of behavior set out by the President.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 12, 2021
With the approval of the White House Chief of Staff, he has been placed on a one-week suspension without pay. In addition, when he returns, he will no longer be assigned to work with any reporters at Politico.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 12, 2021
This comes a month after Biden said that he would fire any of his appointees, “no ifs, ands,” or buts,” if he learned that they had disrespected their colleagues in any way.
The fact that Ducklo has not been fired has led many to say that Biden broke his pledge.
And we have a new definition of slap on the wrist,” Nevada-based journalist Jon Ralston tweeted.
“If what he said was reported accurately — and it is a secondary but interesting question about how an OTR convo got reported and when OTR can be breached — Ducklo should have been fired. What he said was repellent and sexist,” he continued.
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This is, of course, not what Biden promised just three weeks ago.
He said specifically at that time he would fire "on the spot" anyone who treats "another colleague with disrespect" or talks "down to someone — no ifs, and or buts." https://t.co/GBSoeMg9Io
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 12, 2021
Others feel the same way:
This is, of course, not what Biden promised just three weeks ago.
He said specifically at that time he would fire "on the spot" anyone who treats "another colleague with disrespect" or talks "down to someone — no ifs, and or buts." https://t.co/GBSoeMg9Io
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 12, 2021
Did the White House know what was said when he penned the apology? If so, why are we getting the suspension only after the facts became public? https://t.co/gwUNDBU4yP
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) February 12, 2021
So Ducklo is banned from working with any reporters at Politico, because of his misogynistic insults aimed at a Politico reporter, but he can still work with reporters at Axios, where his girlfriend is employed as a reporter covering the VP. https://t.co/2rFf9j5Tbk
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) February 12, 2021
#BREAKING: The White House press shop says not only is T.J. Ducklo not going to lose his job, but he's only being suspended for a week without pay.
And he wrote a note to Tara Palmeri saying he's sorry, so it's all good. pic.twitter.com/0cyGGvRZ7A
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 12, 2021
Well it's a good thing his boss did not boldly declare three weeks ago that anyone in the administration who disrespects or talks down to others would be fired on the spot https://t.co/TdDuCD7Yik
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) February 12, 2021
Despite her relationship with Ducklo, McCammond was reassigned to cover Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden himself has yet to comment on the situation.
This piece was written by James Samson on February 12, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
Read more at LifeZette:
Jim Jordan Claims Democrats Are ‘Scared’ Of Trump
Lindsey Graham Predicts ‘Not Guilty’ Impeachment Votes Are Growing After ‘Absurd’ Arguments From Democrats
Gowdy Takes On House Impeachment Managers, Trump Livid
The post WH Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo Suspended For Reportedly Threatening, Demeaning Female Reporter appeared first on The Political Insider.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a reporter that President Joe Biden could still achieve “unity” with 74 million supporters of Donald Trump even while encouraging the Senate to move forward with an impeachment trial of the former president.
Ami magazine’s Jake Turx asked Psaki during the daily White House press briefing, “Does the president believe he can attain unity with the 74 million Trump voters while urging his allies in the Senate to hold an impeachment trial after his predecessor has already left office?”
Watch the exchange below.
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Psaki responded, “Well, the president believes he was elected by 81 million Americans in part because they believed he was somebody who could help bring the country together, unify the country around addressing the crises we face.”
“And when he talks every day, nearly, about getting the pandemic under control, putting people back to work, he is not just speaking to people who voted for him,” she added.
Then Psaki addressed Biden’s approach to Trump supporters.
The press secretary said Biden, “is speaking to all of the American people, including the 74 million who didn’t vote for him.”
Despite calls for unity, @PressSec Jen Psaki, says President @JoeBiden won't ask Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi to drop the impeachment effort against Donald Trump.
She said Biden's view is "the way to bring the country together, is to address the problems we are facing." pic.twitter.com/fgJy639tZ7
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) January 21, 2021
How many of those 74 million voters honestly feel like Biden is speaking for or looking out for them?
Psaki continued, “And certainly addressing the pandemic, making, insuring people that don’t worry about the health and safety of their grandparents, of their sisters and brothers, getting kids back to school — that is not a partisan position.”
When asked if an impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump would undercut a message of unity, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said ignoring all that he did would be ‘harmful to unity’ https://t.co/rCj2idkF9i pic.twitter.com/ubQwsM6nfD
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021
She then insisted the president was standing up for all Americans.
“That is a leadership position, and one he’s taking because he wants to make sure he’s delivering for all the American people,” Psaki finished.
The Senate proceeded with impeachment plans on Tuesday after a motion by Sen. Rand Paul to dismiss the trial failed 55-45 with five Republicans crossing over to vote with the Democrats.
Paul had raised a point of order on the constitutionality of the trial, given that President Trump is already out of office and is now a private citizen.
Watch Psaki’s comments here, beginning at 1:09:55
The post WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki: Even With Impeachment, Biden Can Reach ‘Unity’ With Trump Supporters appeared first on The Political Insider.
On Wednesday night, Biden’s Communications Director Kate Bedingfield was asked by CNN’s Alisyn Camerota if the Biden administration would deny access to news outlets should they decide to “lie” about Biden.
Camerota referred to Biden’s inaugural speech, in which he stated, “Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies. Lies told for power and for profit.”
Camerota made it clear who she was referring to: “They are right-wing companies, some are more fringe than others, at this point, or more extreme than others.”
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In response, Bedingfield said, “Now obviously, if media companies are willfully lying or are not carrying forth straightforward honest information from the president when we make him available, or from administration officials when we make them available, then, of course, that’s something we are going to think about and we’re going to factor in.”
Bedingfield also stated the commitment of her office to, “use all sorts of creative platforms, that we’re going to be able to reach out in all sorts of ways to meet people where they are. We love viewers who watch CNN, but we also love viewers who don’t watch CNN.”
CNN’s Alisyn Camerota Asks Biden Comms Chief if They Will Retaliate Against Networks Like Fox News if They Lie https://t.co/mYy0nqbUIR
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 21, 2021
Bedingfield didn’t elaborate what “factoring in” might mean for an outlet that “lies” about Biden.
CNN wasn’t the only outlet with commentary on the First Amendment.
MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace, a former Communications Director herself in the George W. Bush administration, offered up an idea that to avoid the dangers of “echo chambers.”
Under the Wallace plan, a “Republican must assert the truth before they’re allowed to share any other views.”
Wallace likened “fake news” to counterfeit currency, and added that, “If we can protect against counterfeit dollar bills, we should be able to protect against fake news that we now know has the potential to kill people as it did two weeks ago.”
Wallace referring to the violence that took place at the Capitol building on Jan. 6 as Congress prepared to count electoral votes and officially certify the election.
.@NicolleDWallace calls for the permanent expulsion and punishment for any and all forms of conservative media that run counter to her political views. She says Republicans should be BANNED from speaking unless they first speak "the truth."
So, what camp am I going to, Nicolle? pic.twitter.com/h0cpvxitKd
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 20, 2021
RELATED: CNN Journalist Says Reflecting Pool Looks Like “Extension Of Joe Biden’s Arms Embracing America.”
Also on Wednesday, Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki held her first press conference.
The White House Press Corps proved their commitment for speaking truth to power and holding government officials accountable.,
One reporter asked what ‘measures’ the press ‘took to ensure that the President is safe’ from lingering Trump officials’ germs.
Another tough question was, “Can you just give us some color about what it was like for him going into the Oval Office? He’s been waiting for this for so long. what was his reaction?”
Perhaps the best window into what’s to come came from this hard-hitting question:
“Will Biden keep Donald Trump’s Air Force One color scheme change?”
Psaki was delighted to engage the question.
REPORTER: "Will [Biden] keep Donald Trump's Air Force One color scheme change?
PSAKI: "This is such a good question!" pic.twitter.com/PafHiBtRUs
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 21, 2021
The toughest question went to Fox News’s Peter Doocy who posed the question,”So, President Biden wants a theme of his presidency to be unifying the country, does he think that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer should drop a potentially divisive Senate impeachment trial?”
Psaki made sure the American people knew exactly where Joe Biden stood by transparently responding, “His view is the way to bring the country together is to address the problems we’re facing.”
RELATED: ABC Quietly Edits Story That Claims Republican Movement Should Be “Cleansed” Of Trump Supporters
The post CNN Asks Biden Spokeswoman If Admin Will Deny Access To News Outlets That ‘Lie’ About Biden appeared first on The Political Insider.