There is a obvious concern this week over the selection of the newest member of the board of directors for Burisma Holdings, Ukraine’s largest private gas producer: Vice President Joe Biden’s youngest son, Hunter Biden. Despite a strong resume, it seems rather coincidental that Ukraine is receiving aid from the United States and recently had a visit from Vice President Joe Biden only to decide that his youngest son was the very best person to sit on its board.
Hunter Biden will be in charge of the Burisma’s legal unit and will “provide support” among international organizations. The White House spokesman would only say that “Hunter Biden and other members of the family are obviously private citizens and where they work is not an endorsement by the president or vice president.”
Reporters were referred to Biden’s law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, which declined to coment.
Alan Apter, the chairman of the company’s board of directors, said it views the selection as part of its effort to “introduc[e] best corporate practices, and we’re delighted that Mr. Biden is joining us to help us achieve these goals.” Those “best corporate practices” are hardly the best ethical practices if the company is hiring the children of high ranking officials to curry favor. This is particularly a concern in Ukraine which, as we discussed earlier, leads Europe as one of its most corrupt nations where the family members of powerful politicians are routinely showered with gifts and positions.
Like many spouses and children of our politicians, Hunter Biden made a fortune as a lobbyist in Washington. That common path for children continues to raise troubling questions of influence peddling and corruption for our leaders as discussed in this earlier column. The company recently added Devon Archer, a wealthy investor and Democratic campaign bundler. Archer previously declared how his business deals at Rosemont Seneca rely on a “relationship network creat[ing] opportunities for our portfolio companies which then compound to greater outcomes for all parties.” That “relationship network” is precisely what many have objected to in the hiring of family members tied to our leaders — allowing companies to give millions legally to families of Democratic and Republican leaders.
In addition to his position as counsel with the firm, Biden is a co-founder and a managing partner of investment advisory company Rosemont Seneca Partners and serves as director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a network of 400 businesses. He is also the chairman of the advisory board for the National Democratic Institute, a non-profit that works to support democratic institutions and elections around the world. Even with this experience, I am rather skeptical. First, his selection as counsel to Boies, Schiller, Flexner, LLP, seems designed to create a tie to his father and the Administration. He was was chief executive officer, and later chairman, of hedge fund PARADIGM Global Advisors – an association that he co-founded with convicted financier Allen Stanford. He was later appointed by Bill Clinton to serve in the United States Department of Commerce under Secretaries Norman Mineta and William M. Daley. He was then nominated by President George W. Bush to the board of directors of Amtrak. It is a resume that many would envy but also one that reflects the type of opportunities that are often afforded children of our ruling elite.
Of course, the selection of a Bush for such a position in the prior administration would have had Democrats and liberals in an uproar but they are again largely silent in the face of another deal benefitting one of our ruling elite. Obviously, Hunter Biden is an adult and does not need the approval of his father to accept a position, though his father has had an obvious impact on his past opportunities. It is simply worth noting that while we rightfully criticize the Chinese for the “Red Nobility,” we have a long list of children and spouses receiving millions in cushy deals and positions in this country. However, in the blue state/red state politics fosters by both parties, such issues are quickly brushed aside by those arguing again that the other side is worse or that such ethical questions are merely an effort to smear their side.
Oh, dear, Foot In His Mouth Biden against The Bear of Russia is just embarrassing.
Annie:
I fully expect that should a third party rise to power, it would still be business as usual, because the backdrop is still the Beltway.
Whenever a “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” type does arise, he or she is ridiculed for not being one of the elite. Until recently, Presidents often rose from ordinary people – businessmen, soldiers, planters, an actor, and so on. In today’s political climate, it seems so unlikely we would ever have another Lincoln, born from humble beginnings and truly connected with most Americans.
It would be nice if we could reform the campaign contribution system, at least, to get politicians beholden to no one but their constituents.
Okay everybody let’s not get so hot and bothered. My educated guess is that this is simply a message to tovaritch Vladimir Vladimirovitch that he had better slow down because the United States does have political and economic interests in the Ukraine which it will seek to protect if need be. If putting this Biden in there as a symbol; of our interests helps to avoid a war, well you know what that is okay by me and I suspect with a lot of US moms and dads.
Mike – I would disagree. Everyone knows Biden is a joke. His kid is probably a joke, too. This is a message to Putin saying “This is the very least we can do and look like we are actually doing something.”
Colin Powell’s son Michael is another one…. Bush appointed him to head the FCC and now he president of the National Cable Telecommunications Association.
Paul s, Bloomberg is spending a lot to defeat the NRA.
http://time.com/100792/russia-scorns-hunter-bidens-job/
Then I’d know to vote for someone from the party that hasn’t been bought and paid for.
Well, that’s only a million a state. Bloomberg is going to need a lot more money.
Exactly SWM, I’d like to see some third party get enough of the dark money and even the bright money from the oligarchs to get a third party off the ground.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/05/14/hunter-bidens-new-job-at-a-ukrainian-gas-company-is-a-problem-for-u-s-soft-power/
In 2012, there was talk of Bloomberg forming a third party. That would provide for a lot of change. ….just kidding. But seriously, it is going to take a lot of money to get a third party off the ground due to Citizen’s United. The wealthy king makers like Sherman Adelson are in charge.
Bloomberg is willing to spend $50 million this year. We have not heard what Soros is willing to spend.
The point made in the post was that it is BOTH PARTIES. That’s why we need more political parties, so 2 parties can’t control this. BOTH PARTIES are corrupt!
Amazing to see the partisan prism of some people here. Write something about a Dem, and it evokes the Pavlov response of, “Yeah but, Bush.”
Crony capitalism for the well connected plutocrats. You would think that slimy actions like this would at least wait for a day after Joe leaves his White House digs..No honor (or shame) among thieves.
Trick to getting that dream job…it’s not what you know, but who you know!
At least it seems this Biden has a clear good resume which includes a law degree and previous work history. This is contrasted with Neil Bush who had no such credentials, yet was part of the board of Silverado S&L and who escaped any prison time while his fellow board members went to prison. His excuse was he did not know what they were doing was in fact illegal!
I agree that this practice is to say the least poor timing and bad ethics. Too bad that they do not try and do better. It is like LBJ who skirted the laws on many things, in addition to actually committing crimes which were the normal part of Texas politics.
Joe Biden’s net worth is estimated to be about 300,000 to 400,000. Many admire him for not cashing in. Looks like one of his sons has other plans. Probably won’t see much about it in the MSM because it really is, unfortunately, business as usual.
This won’t even cause a ripple in the MSM. The first female editor of the NYT was fired for having the temerity to inquire why she was being paid less than here predecessor. But, many think she committed a larger sin against the liberal bastion of the MSM. She said the obvious truth, “This administration is the most secretive of any I have ever dealt w/.”
I cannot see how we can dis Elizabeth Dole when Hunter Biden is doing this. Nice to know the old man is not going to have to take care of him in his declining years though.
We do indeed have Royal political families in the US, and they are all from a shallow gene pool.
“Of course, the selection of a Bush for such a position in the prior administration would have had Democrats and liberals in an uproar but they are again largely silent in the face of another deal benefitting one of our ruling elite.”
Cult of personality?
or
Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays virtue?
Or both?