CNN political director David Chalian joined the Thursday edition of CNN News Central to discuss Hunter Biden being formally indicted on three gun charges and to wax poetic about “this unbelievable Biden story” as it relates to President Joe Biden’s life.
Chalian tried argued that for Biden, “There's the political for him and then there's the personal. The political, obviously, this is an unwelcome development for any White House. As we said it's the first time ever a president's child is indicted on criminal charges. Nobody would want that. It's an unwelcome development for this campaign season getting under way. It's a distraction from what the White House and his team want to focus on.”
As for the personal side, Chalian sounded like Biden himself whenever he tries to shoehorn in references to his life no matter inappropriate they are to the current situation:
Just where this fits into this unbelievable Biden story of the last 51 years, you know, just remember he has buried two children, so he understands pain. And this is a painful day for Joe Biden, no doubt, but probably not pain like that, right? And, in fact, when his young daughter and his first wife died in the car crash, his two young boys, Hunter and Beau, were hospitalized and they almost didn't take up the post he was elected to as a young United States Senator wanting to be with them and raise them. So they have been -- these two boys were like the center piece of his life.
Chalian was just getting started, “He goes to the highest heights; he gets to the vice-presidency. His son Beau dies as attorney general of Delaware of brain cancer. And then as he's about to launch a presidential campaign and achieve his lifetime career dream, they are dealing with the ramifications of Hunter's drug addiction and how all his troubles are going to play into the campaign and consider that into their political calculus.”
Wrapping up his thoughts, Chalian repeated himself, “There have been more emotional ups and downs for this family, and this is now another day where the president is going to suffer an emotional down that his son is under these criminal charges, so I know—I am certain he's not just viewing this through a political lens, but obviously, he is somebody so identified with his children and his grandchildren as at the very center and core of his being.
Naturally, the idea that Joe Biden was something other than a heartbroken, empathetic father when it comes to all of Hunter’s “troubles” was something Chailian never considered.
This segment was sponsored by Liberty Mutual.
Here is a transcript for the September 14 show:
CNN News Central
9/14/2023
3:11 PM ET
DAVID CHALIAN: There's the political for him and then there's the personal. The political, obviously, this is an unwelcome development for any White House. As we said it's the first time ever a president's child is indicted on criminal charges. Nobody would want that. It's an unwelcome development for this campaign season getting under way. It's a distraction from what the White House and his team want to focus on.
But it is hard not to think about the personal for Joe Biden, as well. Just where this fits into this unbelievable Biden story of the last 51 years, you know, just remember he has buried two children, so he understands pain. And this is a painful day for Joe Biden, no doubt, but probably not pain like that, right? And, in fact, when his young daughter and his first wife died in the car crash, his two young boys, Hunter and Beau, were hospitalized and they almost didn't take up the post he was elected to as a young United States Senator wanting to be with them and raise them. So they have been -- these two boys were like the center piece of his life.
He goes to the highest heights; he gets to the vice-presidency. His son Beau dies as attorney general of Delaware of brain cancer. And then as he's about to launch a presidential campaign and achieve his lifetime career dream, they are dealing with the ramifications of Hunter's drug addiction and how all his troubles are going to play into the campaign and consider that into their political calculus.
Remember, Jill and Joe Biden put out a public statement when Hunter Biden began a relationship with his brother’s widow and they actually publicly addressed that prior to the campaign. There have been more emotional ups and downs for this family, and this is now another day where the president is going to suffer an emotional down that his son is under these criminal charges, so I know—I am certain he's not just viewing this through a political lens, but obviously, he is somebody so identified with his children and his grandchildren as at the very center and core of his being.
