GOP Congressman Lashes Into WashPost Reporter as 'Left-Wing Hack'

June 7th, 2017 10:23 PM

Cristina Marcos of The Hill reported that Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) lashed into Washington Post political reporter Philip Rucker on Tuesday in a speech on the House floor as a "left-wing hack" who is "blinded by hatred for the president." 

Duncan read from Rucker's snotty Tuesday front page story with the headline "Trump reacts to London terror by stoking fear and renewing feud with mayor." Duncan read aloud the first two paragraphs:

A traditional president would have reacted carefully to the London Bridge terrorist attack by instilling calm, being judicious about facts and appealing to the country’s better angels.

But Donald Trump is no traditional president. He reacted impulsively to Saturday night’s carnage by stoking panic and fear, being indiscreet with details of the event and capitalizing on it to advocate for one of his more polarizing policies and to advance a personal feud.

Duncan earned a degree in journalism at the University of Tennessee, and noted to colleagues that he once worked as a reporter and taught journalism for a year.

"In those years, there was a clear separation between the front page and the editorial page," he said. "I don't believe I have ever read a more biased, partisan, opinionated paragraph than in a quote news story than one that was on the front page of yesterday's Washington Post." 

"Philip Rucker does not now deserve the title of journalist, but instead should be referred to as a Democratic or left-wing hack," Duncan announced. "Apparently Mr. Rucker is so blinded by hatred for the president he cannot see straight and has written one of the most unfair, one-sided articles I have ever read.”

Rucker said nothing about the speech on his Twitter page and didn't return calls from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.