Cable News Clips
Related: About this forumMehdi Hasan: Biden's Pardon for His Son Hunter Makes Him a Hypocrite, But GOP Outrage Is Ridiculous
President Joe Biden on Sunday issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to his son Hunter, claiming the gun and tax cases against him for which he faced possible prison time were politically motivated. The outgoing president had repeatedly pledged not to use his office to help his son. Journalist Mehdi Hasan, founder and editor-in-chief of _Zeteo_, says that while Biden's move makes him a liar and hypocrite, Republican outrage over the pardon is also "ridiculous" given how expansively Donald Trump is expected to use the same authority. Hasan also notes that there are 40 people on federal death row and thousands more serving prison time for cannabis offenses whom Biden could help. "There's so much a president could do with the presidential pardon power for good," he says.
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.
Ocelot II
(122,649 posts)The pardon does not make Biden a liar or a hypocrite; he was reacting to changed circumstances. Had Trump not announced that he would appoint an AG, Pam Bondi, and an FBI director, Kash Patel, whose primary goals would be to use the powers of their agencies to satisfy Trump's desire for personal retribution, Biden probably would have stuck with his original decision not to pardon Hunter. But when those announcements were made Biden realized that it would never be over for Hunter because Trump still wanted his pound of flesh from Joe, and that once the current cases were over the "investigations" would continue, maybe into Burisma and any other fake charges, and Hunter would be harassed by Trump's government until he broke. Biden was saving his son's sobriety and possibly his life; he had no other choice. So fuck that pompous ass Hasan and fuck Jill Stein's mouthpiece.
Uncle Joe
(60,563 posts)It's been obvious that *rump wouldn't be appointing anyone of quality character or sound mind long before he won the election.
He's corrupt as the day is long.
Democracy Now makes an excellent point, President Biden should pardon Leonard Peltier, the 40 or so people on death row and those languishing in prison on cannabis charges.
tintinvotes
(58 posts)What changed is tRump was declared winner. Circumstances changed, so he changed his mind. Democracy Now never misses a chance to drag Biden 🙄
Uncle Joe
(60,563 posts)that *rump could win, those were the circumstances.
Until the circumstances changed there was no need to change his mind, but I guess if you prefer to view him as a liar or hypocrite that's your perogative.
Uncle Joe
(60,563 posts)There was never any qualifier or contingency.
As I stated before, it's understandable but that doesn't make it right.
tintinvotes
(58 posts)Joe Biden is an honorable man who's allowed to change his mind just like anyone else when circumstances change. Perhaps your outrage energy would be better spent on the actual outrage of a rapist/felon appointing other rapists?
tintinvotes
(58 posts)Joe Biden is an honorable man who's allowed to change his mind just like anyone else when circumstances change. Perhaps your outrage energy would be better spent on the actual outrage of a rapist/felon appointing other rapists?
Uncle Joe
(60,563 posts)I'm not surprised that he did it, I just hope he does the same for many deserving people that aren't related to a President.