Many, many times, President Joe Biden has talked about the importance of restoring respect and honor in the American government. Which is why it is incredibly disappointing that Biden has disrespected the office of the presidency by going against his word, and pardoning his son, Hunter.
It does not matter how unfairly Biden believes his son was treated by the justice system. At the end of the day, it is completely unethical for a president to unilaterally decide that a jury’s conviction of their son be completely washed away with the stroke of his pen.
Although the founders gave the president pardoning power so the nation’s chief executive could step into the legal system when punishment has gone too far, there were still some framers who feared the president might use their pardoning power for their own selfish gain. In the end, the Constitutional Convention, out of a high regard for the notion of mercy, trusted the country’s highest leader to use the pardoning power responsibly and only for the benefit of the nation.
The importance of President Biden staying completely out of his son’s legal issues, is it showed the nation that the justice system could be non-partisan and fair. Hunter Biden’s conviction helped counter Donald Trump’s claims that his legal troubles were solely due to corruption by Biden and partisan bias. It showcased that no matter who occupies the Oval Office formally or currently, Republican or Democrat, the president and their family will never be above the law. In other words, the country benefited from seeing both a former president of one party, and the son of the current president from the other party, both be found guilty for their crimes by a jury of their peers.
Some might say President Biden did the right thing as a father. But that is not for us to decide. The only ones who should be concerned if Biden did good as a father, is Biden’s own family. To be fair, Biden did what most parents would do if they had the power to protect their child, especially if they believed their child was innocent. But the president of the United States needs to be better than most people, because they were elected by the people, one would hope, to represent the best of us both nationally and globally. So as citizens, we should not judge our presidents based on their responsibility to their family, but instead on their responsibility to us. It is basic human logic to assume that any parent would be heavily inclined to believe their child is not guilty, not because of sound reasoning, but because of their unconditional love for them. Therefore, as president, Biden should have stayed completely removed from his son’s entire legal case (as he promised he would), out of respect for the office of the presidency and to us.
With all that said, I urge Americans who vote for the Democratic party to fairly judge President Biden’s pardoning of his son. You can still look fondly on the past four years under Biden and continue to support the Democratic party, while at the same time calling out Biden’s recent wrongful pardoning. And I also urge Americans who vote for the Republican party, that for the next four years under Trump, you will remember your outrage against Biden right now and hold Trump to the same standard. We must all move beyond partisanship, because this is more than just about Biden, Trump, or whatever actions Hunter Biden may or may not have wrongfully committed. This is about the role of the presidency itself, which has been abused and misused throughout American history. And it needs to stop.
Brandon Denley
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I think that all the hoopla over Hunter Biden's pardon, with a few exceptions, is fostered by hatred of President Biden.
Why do so many write such hateful letters? So what if Biden changed course on pardoning his son. How is any single person adversely impacted?
The hateful letters are successful only in raising the author's blood pressure or level of stress; these hateful letters continue to divide the country. There is nothing to gain from hateful letters about President Biden, the pardon, or nearly anything else now. Maybe a writer of a hateful letter takes pride in his hate, bringing to mind the maxim: "What would Jesus do?" Would Jesus write a hateful letter?
Mr. Brandon Denley's letter, though, is not hateful. I disagree with some points, but his letter is thoughtful and articulate.
With regard to the pardon, those authors of hateful letters have also have forgotten another important maxim: "Don't close the barn door after the horse is out." Hateful letters only close the barn door. The horse, in this case, is President Biden, who is leaving office Jan. 20.
In keeping with my horse analogy though, Mr. Denley would have made his letter far more powerful by only publishing paragraphs 3 and 6. Paragraph 3 is an excellent synopsis of the Founding Fathers' thoughts on the power of the pardon. It's worthy of re-reading.
I plead, with utmost passion, that everyone should read paragraph 6, the last paragraph, again - and again - and even a third or fourth time.
Here it is. Thank you, Mr. Denley.
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"With all that said, I urge Americans who vote for the Democratic party to fairly judge President Biden’s pardoning of his son. You can still look fondly on the past four years under Biden and continue to support the Democratic party, while at the same time calling out Biden’s recent wrongful pardoning. And I also urge Americans who vote for the Republican party, that for the next four years under Trump, you will remember your outrage against Biden right now and hold Trump to the same standard. We must all move beyond partisanship, because this is more than just about Biden, Trump, or whatever actions Hunter Biden may or may not have wrongfully committed. This is about the role of the presidency itself, which has been abused and misused throughout American history. And it needs to stop."
Joe Warren
Ringgold