A Change Of Mind

There’s this funny story that’s associated with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  

 

Apparently he had taken a position on some damn thing or another while giving a speech in Philadelphia. 

 

Afterwards he was pushing for some bill in Congress that was the opposite of the position he took in Philadelphia.  

 

An aide asked FDR what they should do about what he said in Philadelphia and the President said, “Deny it.”

 

The aide confirmed to deny he said what he said but FDR clarified, “No, deny I was in Philadelphia.” 

 

Over the last couple of days, President Joe Biden has been the target of criticism from both the left and the right over his recent pardon of his son Hunter Biden.

 

Because he said he wasn’t going to do that. 

 

There’s a thing politicians can’t do and that is change their minds lest they be accused of lying or flip flopping.  

 

It is possible that Biden fully intended to let the legal process play out regarding charges made against his son and not afford him any special treatment just for being the President’s son.

 

Except as we all could see from outside looking in, the reason Hunter Biden was in the cross hairs of legal proceedings was special treatment just for being the President’s son.

 

I’m no legal expert and I won’t try to parse the details here but as I understand it, Hunter Biden was facing some serious jail time for offenses that would not have resulted in charges if Hunter was just an ordinary schmuck off the street. 

 

Hunter’s life and actions were put under a microscope in an effort by right wing allied factions determined to find dirt on his dad or at the least, embarrass Joe Biden and hurt him by sending Hunter to jail.

 

Given that Donald Trump is stacking the deck at the Department of Justice with people loyal to Trump and willing to engage in acts of revenge and retribution, it made sense for Joe Biden to use his Presidential power of the pardon to save his son.   

 

But he said he wasn’t gonna do that! Wah! Wah! Wah!  

 

Biden outlined his case for why he was issuing the pardon but who cares.

 

He said he wasn’t gonna do that! Wah! Wah! Wah! 

 

Maybe he was lying the whole time and fully intended to pardon his son.

 

Or maybe,  just give this minute but maybe…

 

Joe Biden changed his mind.

 

People are allowed to do that.