Joe Biden and Hunter: don’t ask, don’t tell
I’ve been doing some research on the history of Hunter Biden, and one of the things that has struck me is that for many years Joe Biden has dealt with questions about Hunter’s work by saying he and Hunter never talked about it – as if that was a course of action that protected against corruption.
I would encounter variations of this theme over and over in articles and interviews. See this, for example, from September of 2019, when the Democrats were gearing up to impeach Trump [emphasis mine]:
“I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings,” Biden said. “Here’s what I know. Trump should be investigated.”…
Hunter Biden, however, told the New Yorker in an interview for an article published in July that he discussed Burisma, the Ukrainian natural gas producer, with his father in December 2015. At the time, Hunter Biden sat on Burisma‘s board of directors.
Around the time of the conversation, Biden was preparing for a trip to the Ukraine and the Obama administration special envoy had raised the issue with the Vice President, according to the article. Hunter Biden told the New Yorker he and his father spoke about Burisma just once.
“‘Dad said, ‘I hope you know what you’re doing,” and I said, ‘I do,’ ” the younger Biden is quoted as saying in the article.
For a moment, and for the sake of argument, let’s forget the Hunter laptop and the emails. Let’s forget the evidence of corruption on Hunter’s part and the suggestions in the emails that Joe was on the take as well. Let’s just look at what’s being said there, which is that Joe Biden was heavily involved on behalf of the Obama administration in Ukrainian policy, and his son was on the board of a large Ukrainian energy company. Even the Obama administration (if you can believe the New Yorker) recognized the possible impropriety or at least the strong appearance of impropriety.
And yet, when Joe finally came round to talking to Hunter, all he said was (according to Hunter, that is), “I hope you know what you’re doing,” and Hunter said, “I do.”
Chew on that for a moment. What it’s saying is that, in a very sketchy and suspect situation rife with opportunities for conflicts of interest and corruption or the appearance thereof, Biden père decides to trust Biden fils. And the MSM seems to have no trouble with that scenario.
Let’s go to that New Yorker article on Hunter. Maybe this is just ex post facto ass-covering, but it seems that a number of people connected with Obama thought Hunter’s role wasn’t a good idea. And it also seems that the “Obama administration special envoy” who “raised the issue” with Biden – as quoted above – was actually the special envoy for energy. Here’s a fuller quote from the magazine:
Several former officials in the Obama Administration and at the State Department insisted that Hunter’s role at Burisma had no effect on his father’s policies in Ukraine, but said that, nevertheless, Hunter should not have taken the board seat. As the former senior White House aide put it, there was a perception that “Hunter was on the loose, potentially undermining his father’s message.” The same aide said that Hunter should have recognized that at least some of his foreign business partners were motivated to work with him because they wanted “to be able to say that they are affiliated with Biden.” A former business associate said, “The appearance of a conflict of interest is good enough, at this level of politics, to keep you from doing things like that.”
In December, 2015, as Joe Biden prepared to return to Ukraine, his aides braced for renewed scrutiny of Hunter’s relationship with Burisma. Amos Hochstein, the Obama Administration’s special envoy for energy policy, raised the matter with Biden, but did not go so far as to recommend that Hunter leave the board. As Hunter recalled, his father discussed Burisma with him just once: “Dad said, ‘I hope you know what you are doing,’ and I said, ‘I do.’ ”
So Obama didn’t insist, Joe trusted Hunter, and the situation did not change.
We can speculate that this was because Joe was on the take and/or knew Hunter was. And that is probably the case. But even without that, this shows remarkably poor judgment on Joe Biden’s part, in two ways. And it should have been roundly and publicly criticized at the time.
The first way in which it shows poor judgment is that obvious one: the appearance of impropriety and the opportunities for corruption are strong. The second way, however, is that Joe should never have trusted someone with a history like Hunter’s. Never, about anything – except to trust him to inevitably eff up.
As that New Yorker article and many others make clear, Hunter Biden was a mess and had been a mess for most of his adult life. And by “a mess” I don’t just mean a run-of-the-mill bout of addiction or alcoholism. I mean a person heavily addicted to both drugs (primarily cocaine, at least as far as we know) and alcohol, so addicted that countless (and I mean I lost count) rehab programs were tried and all ultimately failed. His addictions included strippers and prostitutes, and spending tons of money on them. His father was aware of much of this, especially the multiple rehabs. And by the time of that supposed “I do” on Joe’s part in 2015, Hunter had recently lost a Naval job because just a short while after obtaining it he tested positive for cocaine in a urinalysis.
Not only that, but take a look at Hunter’s excuse for that positive test:
On May 7, 2013, [Hunter] was assigned to a Reserve unit at Naval Station Norfolk. He had hoped to work in naval intelligence, but was given a job in a public-affairs unit. In a small, private ceremony at the White House, Hunter was sworn in by his father. Later that month, the night before Hunter’s first weekend of Reserve duty, he stopped at a bar a few blocks from the White House. Outside, Hunter said, he bummed a cigarette from two men who told him that they were from South Africa. He felt “amped up” as he was driving down to Norfolk, and then “incredibly exhausted.” He told me that he called Beau and said, “I don’t know what’s going on.” Beau drove from Delaware to meet Hunter at a hotel near the naval station. “He got me shipshape and drove me into the base,” he said. On his first day, Hunter had a urine sample taken for testing.
A few months later, Hunter received a letter saying that his urinalysis had detected cocaine in his system. Under Navy rules, a positive drug test typically triggers a discharge. Hunter wrote a letter to the Navy Reserve, saying that he didn’t know how the drug had got into his system and suggesting that the cigarettes he’d smoked outside the bar might have been laced with cocaine. Hunter called Beau, who contacted Tom Gallagher, a former Navy lawyer who had worked with Beau at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia. Gallagher agreed to represent Hunter pro bono, but it became clear that, given Hunter’s history with drugs, an appeals panel was unlikely to believe the story that he had ingested cocaine involuntarily, and that appealing the decision would require closed-door hearings and the testimony of witnesses, increasing the likelihood of leaks to the press. Hunter decided not to appeal. Navy records show that Hunter’s discharge took effect on February 18, 2014.
The Navy was “unlikely to believe the story.” And actually, any sentient being who knows anything about drug addiction should be “unlikely to believe the story” as well. And yet we are to accept that Joe found Hunter trustworthy enough to “know what you’re doing” in his Ukraine company.
On the face of it – even without the actual corruption of which we now have evidence – this indicates that Joe is either a knave or a fool or both.
It’s interesting that both Hunter and Joe Biden thought this story was good enough to tell the press, and had little to no fear that they would be criticized except in the tiny portion of the press that’s on the right. Just as Joe enabled Hunter, the press enables Joe. And now it’s reached epic proportions with the laptop coverup.
Recent media accounts have called Joe Biden a concerned and caring father in his defense of Hunter and his addiction problems. The same media attacks Trump’s kids, including a minor son. Chelsea Clinton recently wrote how terrible her former friend, Ivana Trump, was for staying close and working with her father.
The hypocrisy of the “Progressives” shouldn’t surprise me, but many times it does. They say, “Leave Hunter alone!” But in the same breath, “Trump’s children are as guilty as he is.”
Hunter is truly a security risk for Joe Biden, especially if China or Russia have information on him. Calling it “disinformation” won’t change this.
But if Joe were somehow elected, he wouldn’t be President for long. Kamala would be installed quickly, perhaps before the inauguration.
Biden surrogate congressman Tim Ryan has demanded (re Hunter) that “we have to leave this poor kid alone.”
The “poor kid” is 50 years old.
Avuncular Tim Ryan is 47.
“Willful ignorance” always worked in Chicago, Detroit, Newark, Arkansas, etc. What is the problem now?
Hunter was always a good boy and he was turning his life around. He can’t be held to the arbitrary standards that apply to everyone else, He is a Biden. The Ukrainians and Chinese saw the potential in him. Besides, the family got half…..
Anyway, it’s Trump’s fault.
Slightly O/T: Saw an opinion that the reason the FBI sat on this was that, if Biden were to be elected, they’d have something on him.
Not that this would be a surprise.
“fool or knave” Is it possible to be such a cunning knave that one could carry off the fool in such a consistent manner as to escape all accusations? Is it possible to be such a fool and accomplish so much…so much you’d hope others don’t discover?
Or, to ask a rhetorical question, do you need outside help to manage the mix?
Richard+Aubrey,
Given J Edgar Hoover’s reputation, I don’t think that’s OT at all.
How about this? What if Obama was getting a cut from Big Guy Biden? Isn’t that how the Mafia works? Obama is the Godfather and Biden is high level capo. Obama assigned the China, Iraq and Ukraine accounts to Biden and he got nothing done. It was all point shaving.
I’m telling the world that Joe got paid in bitcoin by Hunter. I want to know if Joe paid Barack in bitcoin.
And what about the billions that was paid to Iran? Did Barack and Val Jarrett get a cut?
Not everyone who uses bitcoin is a criminal, but all criminals use bitcoin.
These Dems are all practiced criminals. “I don’t recall.” A relative gets the money; not the politician. Point shaving is how they work.
Recall my theory that the FBI point shaved the entire Hillary email investigation. They didn’t use their normal efforts in investigating her. It’s like making silly fouls or missing critical free throws. Comey used to play basketball and knows all about point shaving.
“Just as Joe enabled Hunter, the press enables Joe.”
Yes. The guilty, and those who enable the guilty.
Just like the wives of famous Dem politicians who cheat on them, and ‘stand by their men’ — enabling more cheating. Like Clinton.
The reason the press demonizes the Reps is to enable the Dems to do their dirty crimes and not get indicted.
All this appears to have happened around the time the Obama administration was finishing it’s eight years. Biden could see that Hillary would follow Obama, and when she finished her eight years, Biden would be too old (82) to run for president. So it was obvious he had to start raking in all the goodies that were available to him. And he did — from Ukraine, from China, probably from a few other countries. He had long watched how the Clinton Foundation hoovered up money, and must have thought “I’ve been a fool not to do the same.” Not a difficult decision at all.
A former business associate said, “The appearance of a conflict of interest is good enough, at this level of politics, to keep you [Hunter] from doing things like that.” — Neo
Ah, the nameless former associate. Was that former associate Christopher Heinz? Teresa Heinz’ son and John Kerry’s stepson. I recall the irony of this news item from a year ago. The heir to a corporate empire lecturing Hunter about ethical improprieties is rich.
Roger Simon with a psycho-literary analysis of the scandal that “never barked”.
Read all about Hunter Biden’s Desperate Cry for Help….
https://www.theepochtimes.com/hunter-biden-was-trying-to-tell-us-something_3546438.html
Joe Biden could be telling the literal truth. Maybe he just cashed the checks and never asked where the money came from. Maybe.
I have lived and worked in a foreign country known for its corruption.
We are rapidly approaching that level.
So depressing. So sad. So outrageous.
This needs to be stopped and punished NOW.
The Bidens have been doing this forever. There’s an email on the disk from Hunter to his daughter where he complains that “he’s supported the family for thirty years” but has to give 50% of his income to Joe. Joe not only knows but brought his son into the business as a bag man.
So instead of terminating and killing the traitors, Neo, Americans love to argue ceaselessly and fruitlessly online. As usual.
HRC is in Jail and Epstein is testifying on where his sources slash clients were… right?
In Yammer-land treason is easily proven and quickly punished. Yammer-land is a particularly violent place whenever there is a change of regime it seems. Everyone longs to live in Yammer-land. Trust him. 😉 ?
“instead of terminating and killing the traitors”
There’s just a few impediments in the way; Congressional democRats, the Deep State, a corrupted judiciary and perhaps half of America’s citizens…
Sounds like they had a Chinese wall for protection. I was going to suggest it was ironic, but it is more like in-your-face.
I’ve read two comments on BidenGate that put reality in stark perspective. Here’s my version:
So far, a bad sighted Mac repairman in Delaware has done more to save The Great Republic from corruption in government than the entire law enforcement bureaucracy.
And what does that tell you about the value of our highly paid state apparatus? And what does this tell you about how they regard us rubes, far from the Swamp of DC?
TJ – the basic problem is that the entire law enforcement bureaucracy appears to be party to the corruption.
Won’t be the first time a “private citizen” has been the hero.
Remember that Dan Rather’s fake Bush memo was revealed by pajama-clad bloggers in the basement (aka PowerLine), not by the official fact checkers at the network.
John Kerry’s bid for President suffered a huge setback with the publication of the Swiftboat crews’ revelation of his lies about military service.
There are many historical examples of how large gates swing on small hinges.
(a maxim I borrow freely, but have no citation for)
Bryan Lovely – and maybe Joe just makes small talk at dinner.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/10/20/photo-joe-biden-meets-hunter-bidens-business-associate-from-kazakhstan/
Well, I’m glad that’s settled.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/10/20/fbi-doj-concur-hunter-biden-laptop-emails-not-russian-disinformation/
A senior intelligence official told Breitbart News: “Ratcliffe was right. Schiff was wrong. In other words, it was a typical Tuesday.”
Who will force Joe to answer?
The other media, or the DOJ?
Hasn’t happened with Clintons and Obama yet.
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2020/10/20/wsj-editorial-board-joe-biden-must-answer-questions-about-hunter-biden-and-china/
The Journal adds that it is critical for Biden to answer questions because China would be his toughest foreign policy challenge if he were to win the November election, and it would be important to know if he had been compromised by personal economic interests.
Although we are seeing progress on the Clinton front, just not from her answering questions.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/10/20/former-clinton-aide-investigation-pompeo-release-hillary-emails/
SMH.
Neo
Hunter Biden was a mess and had been a mess for most of his adult life.
The question here if he was/is a mess how then been got / rewarded on global stage?
Who is/are those behind promoting him knowingly he is a mess?
What about 1.2 Billion housing project in Iraq rewarded to him who helped him?
Where is the money gone while no such housing project was done?
He is not alone a-mess but all those behind him also a-mess which one of them jo biden
It occurs to me that if Joe Biden were actually to come clean about this affair – and supposing further that he were to win on 03-Nov – he might actually gain something real from having done so, namely that in ‘confessing,’ he would also have exposed some of the CCP’s plans and techniques, at least in a general way. That would mean – well, should mean, might mean – that people in his party would be more inclined to look critically at what the CCP does or tries to do in Washington. It might even get Joe some protection from the CCP’s influence.
On the other hand… if Joe comes clean before the election and loses on the 3rd, then he has a very different problem, I think. It would be quite a gamble.
Now suppose Joe were to ‘come clean’ after the election – would that change things? That might be again a couple of other different scenarios.
Of course, the most likely scenario of all is that he continues to try to bury the whole thing… which means, if he succeeds in that, that the CCP will continue to have him by the short hairs, perhaps irrespective of who is President in 2021.
Am I wrong in focusing on the CCP in this respect? This is the gist that I’ve gathered from the various outlooks presented here and elsewhere, that Joe’s vulnerability to blackmail, etc. is not from the Russian, but rather the Chinese side.
“…a mess…”
The whole party’s a mess.
Hunter Biden’s just the guy who got left holding the bag.
Biden’s not a mess?
Harris?
Obama?
Hillary Clinton?
Pelosi?
Schiff?
Schumer?
Nadler?
The Mainstream Corrupt Media?
Their pals in antifa? in BLM?
The Info-tech corps?
Brennan?
Clapper?
Strzok?
The governors of California, Oregon, Washington State, Michigan, Illinois, NY?
The mayors of Portland, Seattle, SF, Chicago, NYC, DC?
For starters.
If the whole damn thing’s a mess, no one notices that there’s anything that needs cleaning up.
But covering up? Ah, that’s another matter….
Welcome to the Pparty, Hunter!
Humans are a mess. Welcome to humanity and Earth.
om It is actually, for those with guts and a spine. Humans are a mess, though, so let’s give people a break. Expect less out of slaves.
GB, so we have to elect Trump to see what is going to happen.
We don’t know what’s in O care, we just have to vote and pray…. lol.
Last few years I told you it was time to kill them, GB and Neo thought it was extreme, killing their family members. While Neo hasn’t been radicalized, GB has changed the tune up a little.
If you peeps are at this stage of paranoia… what will happen when the Divine Hammer falls on you in 2021 and the Full Disclosure hits? And you realize Ymar had a point all those times you ignored it?
Better not have toom any “bullets” around.
But not Alpha Centauri?
The Vampiric Cabal has already lost their top councils. Courtesy of people like Ymar.
You all are welcome.
Barry, when people can’t address a topic, they make up fantasies plus red herrings. Isn’t that about right?
What happened to your debate skills and intellect, did my presence turn them into mush already? You want to see another trick? ; )
Yammer is what Yammer does.
Hunter’s email statements about 10% for the “Big Guy” cannot be interpreted in any reasonable way except as references to the Vice President at the time, Joe Biden… unless it is to Obama!
Ymar is what Ymar does. My second trick is the aura of love. My third trick is vampiric style mesmerization.
Hello zombies, slaves, humans, and vampires. Welcome to Ymar’s world. Here the rules are a little bit different than the dimensions of your tv box. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CtjhWhw2I8
*Bows* Thank you, thank you, and enjoy the 2020 Season Finale show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5bQi_W3J8g
Deliberate inscrutability is an affectation that wears out its welcome quickly.