Biden Insult of Doocy Indeed was Personal

Joe Gutheinz, General Partner of the Gutheinz Law Firm

President Biden Calls Fox Reporter a ‘Stupid Son of a Bitch’ After Question About Inflation

Time magazine headline

That particular Fox reporter, Steve Doocy, has a well-known reputation for getting under the skin of the Biden Administration. The exchanges between him and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Doocy and Biden as well can be tense television to watch. In this instance, did the President go too far by not regulating his emotions and refraining from saying what he was thinking about someone he considers a tormentor and adversary?

“No professional should ever loose his cool with another, especially in a public setting, as it only tends to diminish the professional in the eyes of the public and garnish sympathy for the party for whom the attack was directed,” says Joe Gutheinz, General Partner of the Gutheinz Law Firm. “Calling a reporter, a ‘stupid son of a bitch’ is clearly un-presidential.”

Biden likely thought he was doing the responsible thing after the fact by contacting Doocy. When he did, the President reportedly said, “It’s nothing personal, pal.” When he communicated that phrase, was Biden’s annoyance and anger still taking place?

“It is always commendable if a person takes ownership of his error in judgement and apologizes for it. While President Biden may truly believe it was nothing personal, by telling the victim of his tongue lashing, Peter Doocy, that ‘it’s nothing personal pal,’ I believe most would see such a response as flippant and below the dignity of a President, as such a statement falls short of a sincerely given apology and an explanation,” Gutheinz says.

He uses an example to illustrate.

“I am sure if the tables were turned, and Peter Doocy had called the President a ‘stupid son of a bitch’ the public and the President would not have been satisfied by Doocy calling the President and saying ‘it’s nothing personal pal.’ Clearly, most would agree that it was very personal and intended to degrade the victim of the verbal attack,” Gutheinz says.

Biden doesn’t see Doocy as objective or professional. That is well known. In the President’s annoyance and frustration from feeling doubted and attacked, there was a moment in which another reaction, or response — a more skilled one — was possible. If it would have been a more dignified, it could have shown poise and strength to the vast majority of the public, not just most Biden supporters and Doocy detractors.

In an interesting note, Doocy commented on his thinking about the conversation afterward with Biden. "He cleared the air, and I appreciate it. I don't need anybody to apologize to me. He can call me whatever he wants as long as it gets him talking. I think that's enough. That's enough. So we can move on. We can now move forward.”

Gutheinz says however that Biden had options in the moment of stress and disgust.

“Rather than lashing out at Doocy, President Biden could have either ignored the question or given a reasoned response,” Gutheinz says. “After insulting Doocy, the President should have immediately and publicly apologized for his statement, giving a short explanation, such as, ‘it has been a long day and I’m very sorry for my stupid comment to you.’”