Biden Pardon: Breaking Rules, But Playing the Same Game
By Michael Kelman Portney
You know, I was ready to be mad about Joe Biden issuing a full and unconditional pardon to his son Hunter. Sure, on the surface, it looks like the kind of crony move you’d expect from a family running the show, but let’s be honest for a second: in a country where the rules have long been tossed out the window, this is the least of our problems. In fact, it might just be one of the few rule breaks with a real message behind it. So let’s take a step back from our knee-jerk outrage and acknowledge the cold, hard truth: this is what we’re stuck with now. Everyone’s been playing by different rules, and Biden’s just now realizing he didn’t have to, and people didn’t necessarily want him to.
Let’s not kid ourselves—Republicans have been breaking norms and flaunting corruption with zero repercussions for decades. From the moment Donald Trump let the swamp turn into a toxic cesspool of nepotism, lies, and backroom deals, to the steady stream of pardons for convicted criminals and political allies, the GOP has basically said: “Rules? What rules?” They’ve made it clear that the game is rigged, and the rest of us are just suckers if we keep playing by any other set of rules. Every time Trump pardoned someone in his inner circle, it was a reminder that the game has changed, and you’re not invited unless you’re on the inside.
But let’s look at this pardon. Sure, Joe Biden could’ve taken the high road, followed the playbook, and pretended that family members are above reproach in a way that somehow didn’t include his own son. He could’ve left Hunter to face whatever justice the courts had in mind. But that would have meant continuing to play by a set of rules that, frankly, have never been fair to regular people. So Biden decides, enough’s enough. And you know what? This time, maybe that’s the right move.
Let’s not forget: the real issue here isn’t Biden’s pardon. It’s the fact that we’ve been living under the assumption that the people at the top will play by a different set of rules than the rest of us, and that’s always been the real joke. If Biden is willing to break that norm, then at least it’s sending a message—one that’s long overdue. The message is clear: we’re done pretending we’re playing the same game. We’re done with the pretense of fairness while the rich and powerful make up their own rules. Biden’s just choosing to play the game as it’s been set up: no rules, no accountability, just power.
So, yeah, maybe we should be critical of Biden for this, but let’s not pretend he’s the one who’s been breaking all the norms. The Republicans have spent years redefining what “accountability” means, and now it’s Biden’s turn. If the rules are going to be broken, let’s at least be honest about what’s going on. Biden may have just pulled the trigger on a pardon, but the real damage to the rule of law was done long before that.
If you think this is a betrayal of the system, you might be missing the point. This isn’t a sign that the system is broken; it’s a sign that we’ve all been living in a broken system for too long. At least now, when the game is rigged, someone’s not pretending it’s not. The rules are out the window, and anyone who tells you differently is playing the same game with the same old tricks. So let Biden have his moment. It’s the least of the mess we’re in, and in some ways, it’s the most honest thing he’s done.
