Staff Reports
In a stunning display of selective reasoning, PBS commentator Jonathan Capehart backed President Biden’s recent decision to pardon his son Hunter from the myriad of legal troubles that have dogged him, notably gun and tax offenses. Capehart’s cheerful exoneration of the president’s actions had all the hallmarks of a seasoned Democratic spokesperson, rather than a balanced journalist. Displaying a level of confidence usually reserved for a magician about to pull a rabbit out of an empty hat, he insisted that Biden’s hand was forced by the imminent threat posed by President Trump, who was reportedly salivating at the prospect of going after Hunter with the fervor of a dog on a bone.
Capehart went so far as to suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris’s near-miss in the presidential race played a central role in Biden’s decision to pardon his son. If anyone needs a laugh, just picture Capehart connecting those dots in a conspiracy web so intricate that even an architect would throw in the towel. The implication that if Harris had won, Biden wouldn’t be in this precarious position is a real stretch, considering the state of Biden’s presidency regardless of who was on the ticket. When a pundit starts conjuring up elaborate fantasies to justify political maneuvers, it’s usually a sign that the arguments are getting weaker by the hour.
While Capehart may view Biden’s maneuver as the savvy play of a protective father, many Democrats are not so quick to applaud. In fact, the criticism within Biden’s own party has become akin to a family feud, with some members sounding off like disgruntled relatives debating the appropriateness of a potluck dish at Thanksgiving. The pity is that the very same faces in the Democratic party who once sought to uphold certain political norms are now crying foul when their leader seems to tumble down a slippery ethical slope. The hypocrisy is palpable, as they had no issue with the double standards of justifying various partisan shenanigans in the past.
Liberal Media Scream: PBS TDS blames Trump for Hunter Biden’s pardon@BrentHBaker @theMRC Capehart is more a Democratic Party partisan than any kind of impartial analyst. If a Democrat or liberal does it, Capehart will defend it.
https://t.co/NmxD10KZqU via @dcexaminer— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) December 9, 2024
At the core of Capehart’s argument lies a desperate attempt to turn the narrative back to Trump, painting him as the ultimate villain ready to enact revenge rather than focusing on the glaring reality: Biden has stumbled into uncharted waters. His defenders may claim that this was a necessary step to shield Hunter from an aggressive Trump, but the broader implications on Biden’s presidential legacy are the real kicker—a legacy that’s been leaning on crutches for quite some time now, given the many missteps since taking office.
Brent Baker, of the Media Research Center, put it succinctly: Capehart’s musings read more like a script for a late-night talk show than serious political analysis. In a landscape where partisan loyalty trumps all else, Capehart’s statements serve as another reminder that opinions in the media often come pre-packaged with a bow — particularly if they support Democrats. While a pardon may ease Hunter’s legal woes for the moment, the long-term fallout for Biden’s reputation as a steadfast leader only looms larger. As the dust settles, one has to wonder if Biden’s actions will echo through the halls of history, or simply fade into the backdrop of a very confusing political drama.
