Megan Turner
President Joe Biden’s aide has resigned after the White House says lashed out at a reporter who asked about his personal life during an off-the-record phone call.
Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo is said to have made threats and used derogatory language toward Politico reporter Tara Palmeri.
“No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior,” Ducklo said in his resignation statement. “I used language no woman should ever have to hear from anyone …”
Vanity Fair reports that during the off-the-record call, Ducklo made derogatory and misogynistic comments that accused Palmeri of only reporting on his relationship because she was jealous.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday that Ducklo apologized to Palmeri shortly after the comments were made, sent her a personal note expressing his regret and was suspended for a week without pay.
“That is a significant step. I’m not aware of a history of that step being taken …,” Psaki said. “So those were the steps that were taken, and we felt it was a serious punishment.”
Psaki said the issues were not related to the White House its business and said when Ducklo returned from his suspension he wouldn’t work with Politico reporters anymore — but he has since resigned.
Psaki was asked if this was short of what Biden said on Inauguration Day: “I promise I will fire you on the spot — no ifs, ands, or buts — if they speak down to or disrespect their colleagues.”
She said it doesn’t meet the President’s standard and it was important the White House took a step to make it clear. When asked if the President was involved in this discussion, she said no.
“No, I have not discussed it with the President,” she said. “It was a decision I made, and with the approval of the Chief of Staff.”
On Saturday, the Psaki released a statement accepting Ducklo’s resignation.
“We are committed to striving every day to meet the standards set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.”
Vanity Fair’s article states White House officials “took aim” at the reporter and accusing her of breaking an off-the-record agreement with Ducklo — the article states the White House pressed Politico as to why the contents of the call had been revealed.
The article states Palmeri only informed her editors of the contents of the call, which she had transcribed into her notes as it was happening.
Palmeri declined to comment to Vanity Fair, and Psaki and Ducklo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wait I don’t get it – women are the same as men but our ears are somehow more delicate?
Many women want equality when they want equality. And then different treatment when they want different treatment.
No, I don’t resent women. It just… It is what it is.
Thank you
EXACTLY! My first thought, as well. Why would I be treated to a different standard because I’m a woman? In fact, I would like to think I could give it back to him better than he gave it to me 🙂
LMAO ChiefsGirl and Nita…from reading both your posts before today, I’d say you ladies can easily handle any bullchit that comes your way.
Well for those of us who don’t live in the wokeland…we know women aren’t the same as men…biologically. So yes their ears are more delicate…and I for one don’t think of that as a bad thing.
I never think of women as my equal…I think of them as my complement. It works better that way. It doesn’t make them inferior or superior.
Next up a CNN gig, partner with Freddo
I suppose if I worked in the swamp with all the snakes in DC…I might go a little ballistic about reporters asking me anything about my personal life even off the record. That said…’no comment’ is always an option.
Self-canceling workers. That’s more convenient for everyone.
Probably assumed gender or used a wrong pronoun
This guy is a sack of trash. I don’t feel sorry for him.
But I’m guessing the story got big enough that he received the ole’ “resign or be fired. You’re choice” treatment…
Woke eating woke……who cares?
In other words, I got caught and am more upset about that than anything I said to some reporter. After all, I was one of the ones we’ve been waiting for, the sequel.
If he said that to a guy he would get fucked up that’s why that pussy said it to a chick now you know
This has nothing to do with equality or women being delicate. Ducklo said he was going to destroy her. That is an absolute abuse of power. I have no idea about this woman’s politics, but nobody deserves treatment like that just for doing their job.
DBAP
Except….he said, no woman should have to hear that. He didn’t say no person. He said no woman.
Shoot, let’s face it, if you are covering DC politics, you are covering scum and should expect scum to come back at you. Horrible place…
Democrats: Women are just as strong and capable as men.
Also Democrats: women are more fragile than men and shouldn’t hear certain things….
And I always LOVE this part of every apology: “This incidence is in no way representative of who I am as a person.” Well, yes it is, you dumb butt. DBAP!
Yeah…that statement right there is lying 101.
You see it all the time
Sports: team gets blown out 49-24 falling to 3-7 on the season.
“We are better than our record”
Politics: Someone demonstrates the behavior of a contemptible scumbag:
“It is not in any way a reflection of who I am…”
SMH