Haunting Hunter

 

Do you mind another rant tonight? I’m angry. Today the Washington Post had an article that in effect said Biden’s compassion for his son “blew up in his face.” I think just the opposite: the Republicans vicious, vengeful investigation of Hunter Biden has made them look ridiculous.

That’s not to say the younger Biden hasn’t done some pretty awful things in the past—no need to detail them here because MTG already did a good and appalling job of that. Although he flaunted father’s power and reputation, there has been no proof found that he ever compromised the president, whether that is due to the son’s caution or the father’s wisdom, we may never know.

I know liberals who say they have no sympathy for Hunter because he was raised with wealth and privilege and still “went bad.” That seems to imply wealth and privilege will protect you from a bad drug habit, though I think just the opposite is often true. There is a judgmental Puritanical thought in that thread about strength and courage will always lead you to make good choices. I’m not sure that’s true either. I like to remember that Jesus pardoned the sinner, especially the repentant sinner.

But let’s go back to wealth and privilege. Hunter was born in 1970, the year his father was elected to the Senate. I don’t think there was a lot of wealth then. When Hunter was two, he and his older brother, the late Beau Biden, were seriously injured in a tragic accident that took the lives of their mother and younger sister. The boys were hospitalized for some time. Who can calculate the damage done to a two-year-old by such trauma? After that, theirs was probably not a normal childhood—their father was in the Senate and they no doubt had nannies, though it is to Joe Biden’s credit that he rarely stayed in DC but went home to Delaware each night to be with his boys.

I have not researched Hunter’s life enough to know when and why he turned to alcohol and drugs but apparently those problems increased after the 2015 death of his brother, Beau. Today, though, Hunter seems to be trying to put his life back together again. He has paid his back income taxes. (Tax experts tell us that people almost never go to prison over delinquent taxes these days, so no, James Comer and  Gym Jordan, he did not get a sweetheart deal—he was treated like any other citizen.) That his plea bargain on the gun charge has to be negotiated does not appear to be politically motivated. He has acknowledged his out-of-wedlock child and is apparently trying to be a good father to all his children. And he has the firm support of his father and stepmother.

What Republicans Chuck Grassley (that old man who ought to retire and who has said he doesn’t care if the accusations are true or not), James Comer (new to the national spotlight and so anxious for his five minutes of fame) and Gym Jordan (always a pain, but karma may get him yet—lots of athletes remember Ohio) have done is to target Joe Biden at his weakest point. Hunter’s former business partner, Devon Archer, pretty much laid their hopes to rest this week, but they blunder on with accusations. It is a shameful spectacle.

Throughout all this, Joe Biden has remained in the background, at least on this specific issue. As a parent, I can only imagine the urge to retaliate, to deny, to speak out in anger must be strong. But as Biden has done with other attacks on his age, his integrity, his ability, he has kept his head down and gone about the business of governing the United States. I think such rectitude indicates great strength of character, and I admire him.

And, personally, I am rooting for Hunter. I hope he stays on the straight and narrow, finds his calling, and goes on to a successful life. Gulp, he’s a year younger than my oldest son and the same age as my oldest daughter. and I know how I feel about them. I could never be as restrained as Biden.