The spectacle on “The View” this week served as a perfect snapshot of the widening chasm in American political discourse.
Whoopi Goldberg and guest Charlamagne tha God didn’t just spar—they tore into the very fabric of Democratic messaging, exposing the hypocrisy that many Americans feel is eroding trust in leadership. At the center of the storm? President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden—a move critics say undermines everything the Democrats claim to stand for.
Charlamagne called it out bluntly, saying Democrats perpetually perch themselves atop the “moral high ground,” only to prove that their lofty rhetoric often crumbles under the weight of their own actions. Goldberg, ever the partisan warrior, dismissed his critique, questioning whether Biden’s actions were truly a breach of trust. But as Charlamagne pointed out, the facts speak louder than party loyalty: “Nobody is above the law,” he reminded her—a principle Democrats have long weaponized against their opponents.
“Why can’t you say when Democrats are wrong!?”
Charlamagne tha God and Whoopi Goldberg clash over Biden pardoning his son, Hunter. pic.twitter.com/uL2cG4tjBg
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 4, 2024
The fallout from Biden’s decision is seismic. Polls now reveal a damning picture: his approval rating has plummeted to a mere 37%, the lowest of his presidency. Over 54% of voters believe the pardon was the wrong move, and an overwhelming majority feel it damages trust in political institutions. Even within his own party, support is tepid—just 47% of Democrats back the decision. This isn’t just a partisan issue; it’s a collapse of credibility.
When Joe Biden assured voters that his son wouldn’t receive special treatment, he staked his reputation on being the “steady hand” in American politics. But with this pardon, many Americans see a leader who reneged on that promise, fueling perceptions of a double standard. For a president who campaigned on restoring trust in government, the irony couldn’t be more pointed.
Biden’s misstep isn’t occurring in a vacuum. Democrats like Alyssa Farah Griffin acknowledge that Biden’s actions directly contradict the values of accountability and institutional respect that the party claims to champion.
This blunder has opened fissures within the Democratic coalition, with centrists and progressives increasingly at odds over whether Biden is fit to lead the ticket in 2024.
Meanwhile, Republicans are pouncing on the opportunity, drawing comparisons between Biden’s pardon and scandals like Clinton’s impeachment and Nixon’s Watergate. Polls show that a striking 21% of voters find the Hunter Biden pardon as damaging to public trust as Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, and 29% see it as worse. A staggering 50% believe it’s on par with Watergate.
