# Ducklo Gotta Go \[White House deputy press secretary\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 13, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835 "2021-02-13T14:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/1 "2021-02-13T14:24:30Z")
Another post was closed for lack of a link, so here you go: [Biden press staffer suspended following reports he threatened to “destroy” female journalist - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-tj-ducklo-threatens-to-destroy-female-reporter/) In short, Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo threatened to “destroy” Politico reporter Tara Palmeri for asking entirely legitimate questions about his relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond. He also accused her of being jealous that another man “wanted to fuck” McCammond and not her. Nearly three weeks later, the White House has put him on one week of unpaid leave as a result. You can almost hear the hemming and hawing coming out of Psaki, who obviously doesn’t want to fire him (perhaps because he’s battling cancer). But I agree with the previous poster, he needs to be fired. His behavior was entirely unacceptable and he’s badly damaged his reputation with the press. Biden publicly set a high standard for those who work for him, and this would set an early, eye-opening example that he means it. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/2 "2021-02-13T14:31:02Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > But I agree with the previous poster, he needs to be fired. His behavior was entirely unacceptable and he’s badly damaged his reputation with the press. Biden publicly set a high standard for those who work for him, and this would set an early, eye-opening example that he means it. I found the story online after the OP raised it and the mods shuttered it. And I couldn’t agree with you more. This one’s easy. Can the guy. Do it out in the open. Move on. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/3 "2021-02-13T14:44:29Z")
I just read up on this myself. He sounds like an ass and he needs to go. President Biden is the one who set the standard. He needs to stand by it and he needs to learn not to make such broad statements. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/4 "2021-02-13T14:45:54Z")
Thanks for restarting this with a proper Op. Well explained and a useful link. As he is far from a household name, I added the info in the bracket to your title. I agree, Ducklo should go. There should be no room in the White House for someone who acts like this. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/5 "2021-02-13T14:49:38Z")
I agree that he needs to go. Democrats need to demonstrate that they won’t circle the wagons around someone just because he’s one of them. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/6 "2021-02-13T14:54:38Z")
They did do that with Al Franken. This guy has got to go, too. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/7 "2021-02-13T14:55:43Z")
Based on the reporting, I agree he should be fired. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/8 "2021-02-13T15:13:43Z")
At minimum, an extended unpaid vacation and an apology, but firing would be easier and less controversial. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/9 "2021-02-13T15:15:34Z")
It’s a little concerning that he hasn’t been forced out already. I don’t think anyone should be knee-jerk fired over an allegation, especially if they deny the allegation. But Ducklo hasn’t denied anything that’s been reported, and only vaguely apologized for “losing his temper.” I assume that the White House has established the facts of the situation by now, and they seemed to feel that it only warranted a one week suspension. At least with Al Franken you had an argument that he was a particularly valuable Democratic Senator. While I’m sure Ducklo’s good at his job, there are a thousand press flacks that could step into his shoes tomorrow. It seems to me that Press Secretary Jen Psaki is reluctant to fire someone who she probably views as a friend and who (according to reports) is battling lung cancer. That’s why WH Chief of staff Ron Klain needs to take the decision out of her hands and demand his resignation or firing. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/10 "2021-02-13T15:17:32Z")
From the CBS article: > Ducklo will serve an unpaid weeklong suspension and will no longer work with Politico reporters, according to Psaki. [cough]bullshit[cough, cough] ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/11 "2021-02-13T17:25:02Z")
What about cancel culture? You can’t destroy a man’s life just because he said a few bad things. This is a witch hunt! She probably deserved it, anyway. It was locker room talk! Boys will be boys! Just kidding. Just fire the guy. Set an example that this administration really is different. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/12 "2021-02-13T17:59:21Z")
Yeah this is a Klain decision, not a Psaki one. Biden is trying to establish credibility and trying to establish that they’re going to play by more normal rules of propriety and professional conduct. A week-long suspension hardly seems fitting if it’s already established that these kinds of threats actually happened. I don’t believe Ducklo needs to be ruined. They can privately find a demotion for him somewhere in the DNC or some obscure fundraising role, but his days of working in the WH should probably be drawing to a close. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/13 "2021-02-13T20:46:43Z")
Assuming the truth of what’s alleged in the story (and I have no reason not to), yes, Ducklo has to go. Immediately. I can’t believe he hasn’t been terminated already. This is an embarrassment to the Biden administration, and it _really_ doesn’t make Jen Psaki look good. I’d give even money that Ducklo doesn’t survive the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/14 "2021-02-13T20:49:03Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t believe Ducklo needs to be ruined. They can privately find a demotion for him somewhere in the DNC or some obscure fundraising role, but his days of working in the WH should probably be drawing to a close. Ruined? No. The administration doesn’t have to make sure he never works again for the rest of his life. But I disagree with you that they could find him a job somewhere in the DNC or some other obscure spot. That would only make the administration look completely hypocritical when they inevitably get caught arranging for some out-of-the-public-eye job for him, and rightly so. They have to sever every single link with Ducklo. That means no employment in the Democratic Party, or anything Party-adjacent. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/15 "2021-02-13T20:52:13Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t believe Ducklo needs to be ruined. They can privately find a demotion for him somewhere in the DNC or some obscure fundraising role I think you gave the incorrect abbreviation for Roman Catholic Church. That would be RCC. [/sarcasm] Don’t shuffle this guy off to some remote DNC outpost. Can his ass and let him find another job without any help from this administration, or even the _appearance of_ him getting any help from this administration. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/16 "2021-02-13T20:56:08Z")
I agree he just needs to be fired – not stealthily relocated to a lower profile position, nor blacklisted and treated as persona non grata. People get fired from Administration positions all the time. He’ll be fine. The important thing is that Biden uses this opportunity to show what he will and won’t accept from those who work for him. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/17 "2021-02-13T22:03:01Z")
As **Saintly\_Loser** said, If the facts are as reported, he needs to be out of there. No question. If it is as described, this was somehting entirely under his control to **NOT** escalate to threats and abuse. And like **flurb** said, just let him go, have the White House/DNC _neither_ protect him _ **nor** _ do a cancel campaign on him. But Biden made the statement about treating people with dignity and respect or you’re out, they have to make it worth something.(\*) Instead we are getting the disappointed face, administrative leave, and reassignment. _“Thank you” say the RW talking heads._ Heck, IMO setting aside the confrontation, if there were uneasy questions to be raised about personal involvements, he had an obligation to ask himself from the start if this role was where he should be. (\* Okay, so the guy is under treatment for Stage 4 cancer and you don’t want to just put him in the street at such time? I’m sure some contributor can make room in his private payroll before the month is over.) ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/18 "2021-02-14T00:12:06Z")
He’s gone. > ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/19 "2021-02-14T00:23:08Z")
He did the right thing. Biden really goofed this up with his dumb off the cuff remark about immediate termination. I never expected immediate termination for someone, just a fair investigation and an honest report. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835/20 "2021-02-14T00:24:45Z")
And it seems in the end it was taken up to WHCoS level, as **flurb** had mentioned. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ducklo-gotta-go-white-house-deputy-press-secretary/932835.md?page=2)