Hunter Biden’s Perfectly Legal, Socially Acceptable Corruption.

Hunter Biden’s Perfectly Legal, Socially Acceptable Corruption.

The Atlantic

NPR

I heard this interesting interview this AM on NPR and I thought I would share it.

NPR's David Greene interviewed Sarah Chayes about her article in The Atlantic titled "Hunter Biden’s Perfectly Legal, Socially Acceptable Corruption."

In the interview and her article Sarah Chayes argues that while the Biden's may not have done things that are illegal; that doesn't mean people should defend their wrong doing.

SARAH CHAYES: You know, when the son of a vice president gets a job in a field he knows nothing about while his father is vice president in a country that just had a revolution that, you know, typically, in that part of the world, post-revolution, all the oligarchs steal all the crown jewels, and the industry is one of the crown jewels - that is to say, gas - since when is that doing nothing wrong?

And she blames the American people for being unmoved with this wrong doing... I can't say I don't agree with her; we do put up with a lot of unethical behavior from our political leaders.

CHAYES: Almost any senior name that I start researching, I run into practices like this. It is extraordinarily widespread. And that's my question. How did we all convince ourselves that this isn't corrupt? And it seems to me that we're not going to recover, you know, even an approximation of the ideals on which we were founded as a nation unless each of us, as citizens, begins to make it less comfortable for our political and economic leaders to behave this way.

Chayes also touched on a subject that has been bothering me as I've listened and read as the Trump possible Impeachment has been reported on. How the news media have been actively ignoring the Bidens actions had been; how they are quick to say that there was no wrong doing so as not to take attention away from the President.

GREENE: Well, let me ask you this, then. If it is not unusual, why focus on this case of Hunter Biden and Joe Biden specifically?

CHAYES: Because it's in the news and because of the word that I kept seeing apply in this context, which is, no wrongdoing, or, they didn't do anything wrong. And I'm looking at that, saying, what? And if we can say that now, in this context, then there's something awry.

It makes my blood boil every time I hear these so called journalists repeat the idea that Biden did nothing wrong. Irrespective of what the President may or may not have done; its disingenuous, and I'd say out right lieing, for the news media to ignore the corruption on the part of the Bidens.

It is exactly this type of complicity in the corruption on the part of the news media that gives Trumps arguments about "fake news" so much strength. Trump might be highlighting the problems in the news media to further his personal political agenda; but that doesn't mean the problems don't exist.

Even when the topic of the news interview is specifically about Biden and in part the incorrect way his actions have been covered in the news; the "Journalist" can't help but ignore what he is being told and instead tries to defend the corrupt way he and his compatriots cover the news.

GREENE: President Trump's critics would say it's in the news because he put it there and that the media, by focusing on it, would be helping President Trump distract from his own actions. What do you make of that argument?

Its not the job of news media to pick and choose who they help or don't help with the way they report. They should simply bring us the facts, all of them, and let us, the consumer, decided what is relevant and not relevant.

In the 24/7 news cycle there is plenty of time to report on it all; so the news media either thinks we are to stupid to decide for ourselves what is "right" or "wrong" or they are trying to propagandize. Neither is flattering for them.


The main article in the Atlantic, by Chayes, goes even further on the topic of political wrong doing; and surprisingly how much of it is considered legal in our system of governance and accepted by all.

When prominent Americans leverage their global reputations for financial gain, they attract almost no attention today.

When Hunter Biden joined Burisma’s board, $23 million of Zlochevsky’s riches were being frozen by the British government in a corruption probe. Zlochevsky fled Ukraine. The younger Biden enlisted his law firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, to provide what The New Yorkerdescribes as “advice on how to improve the company’s corporate governance.” Eventually, the asset freeze on Zlochevsky was lifted. Deripaska defeated U.S. sanctions with similarhelp from other high-profile Americans.

And Hunter Biden was hardly the only prominent American who did well for himself during Ukraine’s transition. Another Burisma director was Cofer Black, George W. Bush’s CIA counterterrorism chief. The Republican operative and future Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort worked for Yanukovych. So did Obama White House Counsel Gregory Craig. The millions he was grossing were paid by an oligarch allied with Yanukovich and routed to Craig’s firm, Skadden Arps, through a confusing series of offshore accounts.

She concludes her article asking people to be more introspective and selective with whom they give their support. And warns not to let political affiliation allow oneself turn a blind eye to corruption even when it comes from leaders from ones own side.

Some of these gigs require more ethical compromises than others. When allegations of ethical lapses or wrongdoing surface against people on one side of the aisle, they can always claim that someone on the other side has done far worse. But taken together, all of these examples have contributed to a toxic norm. Joe Biden is the man who, as a senator, walked out of a dinner with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Biden was one of the most vocal champions of anticorruption efforts in the Obama administration. So when this same Biden takes his son with him to China aboard Air Force Two, and within days Hunter joins the board of an investment advisory firm with stakes in China, it does not matter what father and son discussed. Joe Biden has enabled this brand of practice, made it bipartisan orthodoxy. And the ethical standard in these cases—people’s basic understanding of right and wrong—becomes whatever federal law allows. Which is a lot.

Who among us has not admired or supported people who have engaged in or provided cover for this kind of corruption? How did we convince ourselves it was not corruption? Impeachment alone will not end our national calamity. If we want to help our country heal, we must start holding ourselves, our friends, and our allies—and not just our enemies—to its highest standards.

a reply to: DanDanDat

Ukraine Energy Business...

"We need to hire somebody for our Board of Directors!"

HR Department...

"We've got an American long-term substance abuser who got kicked out of the Navy that knows nothing about the business."

CEO...

Hire that guy!!! Give him a big cash bonus!!!!

..............................

Completely legit!!!

a reply to: DanDanDat

True Freedom of Speech Journalism has been Dead for quite some time here in America . It has been sadly Replaced with Organized Propaganda who's Sole Purpose is to Confuse and Control the Belief Systems of the American People . Depending on Intelligence and Self Awareness , some will See through the Lies they are being Bombarded with , and others being Completely Manipulated by them . The Majority of Opinion is Americas Last Defensive Weapon against the Loss of All of their Constitutional Freedoms they seem to take for Granted Today ..

a reply to: DanDanDat

What I find disturbing coming from the Dems is that they don't care about corruption in their ranks. Biden is running for President.

They only care that he is a political opponent of Trump. They think that should take precedence over corruption charges.

The Dem leadership does not care about Justice, only gaining power by any means necessary.

Daddy’s little dope is an expert

Seriously how does this sit with you socialists ?

This is literally the reason socialism and communism fails guys, you leftists should be outraged since this time it’s going to work right? We’re going to do it much better and free the planet

By Turning a fking blind eye to why all off these above FAILS you think we’re all against equality?

Nah we’re against these scumbags that promise the world and only enriched themselves

Capitalism doesn’t work because people are greedy
Communism will work because people are not greedy

Often times in business, it isn't what you know, but who you know. In fact, it is more often what you know about who you know...

Cronyism and nepotism are how things work with powerful people. There is a line though that gets crossed and it is pretty clear the Biden's crossed it....

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: DanDanDat

Ukraine Energy Business...

"We need to hire somebody for our Board of Directors!"

HR Department...

"We've got an American long-term substance abuser who got kicked out of the Navy that knows nothing about the business."

CEO...

Hire that guy!!! Give him a big cash bonus!!!!

..............................

Completely legit!!!

Great summary!

a reply to: DanDanDat

Pay to play residue.
Chlorine will be needed
to sterilize it .

a reply to: DanDanDat

The reason why Republicans are so incompetent when it comes to putting Democrats in jail is they think their own opinions are facts. They simply do not understand conjecture of wrong doing or conjecture in breaking the law is not the same thing as evidence. If Democrats are breaking the law I want Republicans to be competent and put them in jail or at least face some consequence.

Trump just incriminated himself again on the Whitehouse lawn by saying he's going to leverage China premier XI to dig up dirt on Biden as the make trade negotiations. That''s twice now in full daylight with documentary evidence Trump blatantly broke Federal Election Laws. At some point Republicans have to put the Constitution and the rule of law ahead of their own party. Loyalty to your own party at the expense of the rule of law and the Constitution is just not right in my mind. Trump took an oath. He swore to uphold the law. Obvious he does not believe in God in terms of upholding his sacred oath.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I don't understand the point of your rant in connection with the OP.

The OP doesn't discuss the opinions of Republicans. While I don't know for sure, Sarah Chayes is certainly not a Republican, she has ties to many liberal people and organizations. The Atlantic is a liberal publication. NPR is also not a conservative publication; and I would have to assume that Mike Green is also not a Republican.

Putting people in jail is not a part of the OP topic. The topic is about how much unethical behavior carried out by our elected officials is not illegal and how that fact (and terribleisum ) has made the American people very accepting of the unethical behavior.

Donald Trump is also not the topic of the OP articles; his possible impeachment might be the backdrop but the Author is discussing other aspects of the situation besides Donald Trump.

Do you have an opinion on the OP or is your goal on ATS to spam the board with Donald Trump?

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: DanDanDat

The reason why Republicans are so incompetent when it comes to putting Democrats in jail is they think their own opinions are facts. They simply do not understand conjecture of wrong doing or conjecture in breaking the law is not the same thing as evidence. If Democrats are breaking the law I want Republicans to be competent and put them in jail or at least face some consequence.

Trump just incriminated himself again on the Whitehouse lawn by saying he's going to leverage China premier XI to dig up dirt on Biden as the make trade negotiations. That''s twice now in full daylight with documentary evidence Trump blatantly broke Federal Election Laws. At some point Republicans have to put the Constitution and the rule of law ahead of their own party. Loyalty to your own party at the expense of the rule of law and the Constitution is just not right in my mind. Trump took an oath. He swore to uphold the law. Obvious he does not believe in God in terms of upholding his sacred oath.

Hunter Biden got a job he wasnt qualified for in the Ukraine. He made $50,000 a month solely because his last name was Biden. He did absolutely nothing for that company.

I worked 65 hours this week and made $5,000 dollars.

Biden went on record saying that he knew nothing about his sons business deals less than a month ago. While also knowing his son has no real skills and has always been a f=÷/__

a reply to: Scepticaldem

Hunter clear did do something for his 50k a month.

When Hunter Biden joined Burisma’s board, $23 million of Zlochevsky’s riches were being frozen by the British government in a corruption probe. Zlochevsky fled Ukraine. The younger Biden enlisted his law firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, to provide what The New Yorkerdescribes as “advice on how to improve the company’s corporate governance.” Eventually, the asset freeze on Zlochevsky was lifted.

He got $23 million of Zlochevsky’s riches unfrozen by the British. On the face of it, 50k a month to free 23M does sound like a good deal.

The question is whether or not its wrong for the family members of top US officials to influence peddle on behalf of Oligarchs?

And what was it that convinced the British to unfreeze the money? Did Joe help in that matter?

corruption is bad. It doesn't need a party, or a group. If it turns out a bunch of republicans are tied up in this, they will need to face the same justice as the democrats. And there is a good chance that the practices here aren't a one time thing, as China is also mentioned.

But to see the left here completely disregard the law breaking aspect in favor of "Trump bad, our guy good", is really pathetic. Some of these are people that until I bothered to get into politics in 2016, I had a lot of respect for. If you will sell out your integrity for a moment in political history, how much was your integrity really worth to begin with?

originally posted by: dfnj2015
Trump just incriminated himself again on the Whitehouse lawn by saying he's going to leverage China premier XI to dig up dirt on Biden as the make trade negotiations.

Ummm... no... he did no such thing.

Not once has he mentioned the word 'dirt', in any way, shape or form. All he has asked for is an investigation into potential corruption.

Why, again, is that a bad thing? Is it just because it involves Democrats?

That''s twice now in full daylight with documentary evidence Trump blatantly broke Federal Election Laws.

Except that even if he had done what you claim, which he hasn't, it would not be a violation of federal election laws.

At some point Republicans Democrats have to put the Constitution and the rule of law ahead of their own party. Loyalty to your own party at the expense of the rule of law and the Constitution is just not right in my mind. Trump Pelosi, Shiff, and every other Congressman pushing this sham took an oath. He They swore to uphold the law. Obvious he they does not believe in God in terms of upholding his their sacred oaths.

Fixed that for ya...

a reply to: DanDanDat
This has been happening ever since lobbyists become a thing. Politicians allowed themselves to be lured in by the big money corporations which has turned Washington into a giant cesspool of corruption. Once addicted to the cash and benefits they’ll say and do anything to keep the flow coming in. The common denominator of all failed countries is greed, the lust for power and money and the willingness to do anything for it.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: DanDanDat

The reason why Republicans are so incompetent when it comes to putting Democrats in jail is they think their own opinions are facts. They simply do not understand conjecture of wrong doing or conjecture in breaking the law is not the same thing as evidence. If Democrats are breaking the law I want Republicans to be competent and put them in jail or at least face some consequence.

Trump just incriminated himself again on the Whitehouse lawn by saying he's going to leverage China premier XI to dig up dirt on Biden as the make trade negotiations. That''s twice now in full daylight with documentary evidence Trump blatantly broke Federal Election Laws. At some point Republicans have to put the Constitution and the rule of law ahead of their own party. Loyalty to your own party at the expense of the rule of law and the Constitution is just not right in my mind. Trump took an oath. He swore to uphold the law. Obvious he does not believe in God in terms of upholding his sacred oath.

Ukraine has started an audit of the last TWO prosecutors now. So as long as some other countries law enforcement finds any wrong doing by anyone except for the Bidens it will no longer be election interference, it will just be prosecuting crime. You are ok with that right?

How about even if the crooked Bidens are prosecuted for their pay to play? $50,000 a month? They could have at least made it either a living wage or $1,000,000 a month... they were gonna be found out either way

Lolz🤪

For those of you who remember Rudy Giuliani forcefully telling Sean Hannity 3 times while discussing Joe/Hunter Biden Ukraine problems, "Keep Your Eye On Romania next, Sean!"

JOE/HUNTER BIDEN in ROMANIA...More troubling dealings and associations coming to light:

Source 1: www.nbcnews.com...

Source 2: thefederalist.com...