A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC has spotlighted the waning public support for President Joe Biden’s widely-derided decision to grant his son, Hunter Biden, an official pardon. The pardon, a stark reversal of Biden’s earlier commitments, has elicited a wave of strong bipartisan criticism.
Significantly, a scanty and ignominious 20% of the American populace reportedly approve of this contentious display of presidential power. The son’s prior conviction on gun and tax charges makes Biden’s unexpected decision all the more alarming.
Interestingly, Biden had previously vowed never to exploit his position to provide undue benefits to his immediate family. It is therefore, no surprise that eyebrows are being raised at this clear departure from his originally held stance following Hunter’s pardon.
Garnering even more attention is the fact that Biden, despite losing credibility due to the nature of this action, continues to defend it. He has attributed this questionable pardon to his belief that the handling of Hunter’s case by the Justice Department was undeniably a miscarriage of justice.
Seemingly taking a cue from past administrations, Biden appears to have mirrored former President Donald Trump’s sentiments in characterizing his own legal hurdles. This marks a concerning trend where rhetoric overrides significant ethical considerations.
Yet, despite the controversy this has generated, Biden’s overall job approval has remained largely static. A steady 40% of the general American public seems to still support his performance, largely based on past polls conducted since the beginning of 2022.
However, notable demographic discrepancies have surfaced in relation to the pardon’s approval ratings. Older adults, remarkably those over 60, are more inclined to support this contentious move. A significant one-third of this demographic express endorsement for the controversial decision.
In stark contrast, younger adults remain largely critical, with only about 20% indicating approval for Biden’s questionable reversal. This glaring generational divide underscores the importance of integrity and trust which younger citizens seemingly value.
A Texan Democrat’s rebuke of Biden’s actions resonates with this sentiment. They admonished: ‘Don’t say you’re gonna do something and then backtrack.’ It suggests that Biden’s inconsistency, which is an indirect violation of his social contract with the public, can pose a significant threat to his credibility.
As much as the voices of dissent were potent, more accommodating views were evident, with a quarter of Democrats expressing ambivalence. One plausible interpretation is that they are more forgiving of this pivot due to unwavering party loyalty.
But the narrative across partisan lines reveals a striking divide. A scanty 40% of Democrats supported Biden’s decision, while a significant 30% voiced explicit disapproval. Strikingly, a large chunk of 80% of Republicans unanimously echoed these sentiments of dissatisfaction.
Interestingly, the Biden administration has woven a web of justification around this move. The White House press secretary put forth an argument placing the blame on ‘how politically contaminated these cases were’ and attacks by political rivals.
These justifications do very little to curb prevalent opinions that this move is a blatant mockery of the presidency and a calculated ploy to mute the ramifications of Hunter’s actions. It’s troubling to see an administration weave such a narrative favoring personal interests above upholding justice and trust.
This entire event has once again spotlighted the pitfalls and compromises politicians make at the cost of public trust. With the announcement of the pardon, it might be seen as a stratagem for managing the political optics as Biden gradually steps down from his presidency.
Ultimately, the Hunter Biden pardon saga sheds a sobering light on the challenges that leaders like Biden face when their personal interests come into conflict with the responsibilities they have towards the public. And while this incident can serve as a significant reminder of the detrimental impact of exploiting political prowess, it’s disheartening to witness how it reflects on Biden’s diminishing public credibility.