On his departure from the presidency, Joe Biden engaged in an unexpectedly disingenuous action, a grand finale showcasing his true identity to the nation – dishonesty at its finest. This action concerned his own son, Hunter Biden, who, despite his recent involvement in federal fraud charges, found himself baptized in the grace of presidential mercy. A farewell gift from a father to his son, but a bold defiance of expectations and promises made to the American people.
For a long time, Biden had assured his countrymen and women that he would keep the standards of professional conduct uncompromised, assuring them that familial ties would not cloud his sense of duty. Amid a crescendo of court steppings and judicial summons, Hunter Biden was adjudged guilty of several federal offenses, including tax evasion and violation of gun laws, awaiting a seemingly inevitable punitive fate.
Biden, despite earlier assurances, decided to utilize the power vested in his presidential office, not for the betterment of the nation, but for the safeguarding of personal interests. This momentous flip in his decision-making after the Thanksgiving holiday posits questions about his true intent. One can’t help but speculate that this course of action may have been part of Biden’s scheme all along, rendering his commitments of ‘honesty’ and ‘decency’ sentence-deep.
In an attempt to justify this surprising decision, Biden appealed to the citizens’ empathy, hoping they would understand ‘why a father and a President’ would make such a move. Sympathy may have graced his decision had it been accompanied by honesty from start. But the deliberate deception, perpetuated for political convenience, has only reinforced his image as a conniving politician.
This pardon for Hunter is more than an absolution for his recent legal misadventures. It extends much farther than that, protecting him from inquiries into any offenses he may have committed between January 2014 and December 2024. This broad amnesty stymies any future investigation into Hunter’s dubious foreign business enterprises and supposed influence peddling practices.
This very act appears to be reflective not only of a move to protect his son, but also of a strategy to shield himself from any legal consequences tied to his family’s ‘business.’ It isn’t too much of a leap to assert that this pardon could provide insulation for Biden himself, particularly in the context of the Republican-led investigations targeting any potential influence Hunter might have wielded.
The big defeat of the Democrats in the election is still a bitter pill for them to swallow. Nonetheless, the hints of an unfavorable outcome had been visible for quite some time. The disconnect between Biden and the voters had sprouted many moons ago, particularly when he deflected conversations about his physical and mental stamina.
His shortcomings became glaringly evident in June’s debate with Trump. The endless charade was exposed almost immediately. With his credibility significantly dented, Biden had no choice but to withdraw from the race in a matter of weeks. His exit left his party with only one possible alternative – Vice President Kamala Harris.
The turn of events validated that putting forth Harris as a backup was a miscalculated decision. In retrospect, pushing Biden in the face of evident mental and physical inadequacies was perhaps a costly gamble. The party paid the price with a resounding defeat, largely attributed to Biden’s inability to command a strong and credible leadership front.
Joe Biden has consistently painted a picture of himself as the ‘gentleman’ in political circles during his career. He wished to be viewed as a man of moral fabric, a ‘nice guy’ who carried the interests of his citizens at heart. The final act of pardoning his son, unfortunately, has shed a harsh light on the stark contrast between Biden’s public image and his real self.
As the curtain falls on Biden’s presidential tenure, it’s this credo of deceit and subterfuge that takes center stage. Despite his attempts to appeal on a personal level to the American people, his actions have proven otherwise. In examining the legacy he leaves behind, it’s clear that it’s one steeped in false narratives and manipulation.
In a plot twist, the president’s ‘honest’ and ‘decent’ facade has been lifted, revealing the true nature of his policies and principles that seemed to always favor his personal rather than national interests. The impulsive pardon of Hunter, while an almost Shakespearean demonstration of paternal love, mars Biden’s professional legacy.
In the fabric of political drama, Biden’s role has been etched as a consummate theatrical gimmick, appealing yet elusive, promising but fundamentally flawed. His unwavering commitment to playing the ‘nice guy’ lost its charm when exposed to the harsh spotlight of truth as he made decisions that called into question his very integrity.
Ultimately, it is his perceived commitment to personal interests over national welfare that will become these four years’ most notable legacy. Joe Biden, through his actions and, more importantly, his departures from established moral conduct, has demonstrated himself less the trusted leader and more a politician wrapped in a cloak of feigned integrity.