Deadbeat Dad, Granddad of the Year

By Rory Ryan

Most of us probably know a deadbeat dad (not to be confused with an actual father) or two. For the record, I don't respect them. In a few cases, I understand a measure of their difficulties, but I still don't respect them.

Not so with the current Deadbeat Dad of the Year and the Deadbeat Granddad of the Year. There simply are no excuses for the president of the United States and his son to disavow the former's daughter and the latter's granddaughter.

A 4-year-old girl is being punished – both financially and inherently – for the sole reason that she had the audacity to be conceived out of wedlock in a brief relationship that proved compromising for the first family. For that, her existence does not register with the Bidens. 

For her, there are no Christmas gatherings at the White House, no birthday parties, no christenings, no first communion. No nothing with her father and grandfather. Devout Catholic that ol' Joe is, mind you.

Frankly, given the Biden wealth and social station, this is inexcusable. Of course, it's because of their wealth and station that they get away with it.

In 2023, too many voters seem to enjoy "Reality TV Lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Season II." (Season I ended in January 2021.) Prior to that, we seemed to elect reasonable and rational presidents, regardless of political party. Some were good, some not so good. But most were worthy of respect.

This week, an Arkansas judge said Hunter Biden will need to sit for a sworn deposition and answer questions about his investments, his "art" sales (wouldn't you like to see the buyers' list?) and other financial transactions as it relates to his paternity case.
 
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that his client is paying $20,000 in monthly support and has given $750,000 – in total – to Lunden Roberts, an Arkansas woman who is the mother of their 4-year-old daughter.

According to reports, Lowell told the judge he wanted to "refute recent tabloid articles that called Hunter Biden a deadbeat dad and that he wanted to let the world know that he is paying what is agreed to.”

Cry me a river, counselor.

Last year, NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/analysis-hunter-bide…) reported that from 2013-18, Hunter Biden and his company brought in about $11 million via his roles as an attorney and a board member with a Ukrainian firm accused of bribery and his work with a Chinese businessman now accused of fraud.

Yeah, 20 grand a month out of $11 million qualifies Hunter for Father of the Year. Baloney. And the reason for the court hearing, counselor? The Boy Wonder of Burisma wants to reduce his child support payment.

Forget the money. There are many more things of importance about being a father. Start by being there, Junior. Insist that Sleepy Joe is there for his granddaughter. (OK. Never mind. That last part just sounds creepy now that I think about it.)

Independence County (Ark.) Circuit Court Judge Holly Meyer this week dinged Hunter Biden’s lawyers for hiding information that should be public and ordered them to re-submit their filings without so many redactions. Good for her.

The judge expects depositions in June with a trial possible in July. Smart money is that Hunter will keep paying the 20 grand, and as they say in New York, just forget about it.

And lest anyone jump to a partisan conclusion here, I said the same thing about one of my favorite conservative newspaper columnists, the late William F. Buckley.

Buckley died in 2008 and left an estate of some $30 million. He also left an “illegitimate” grandson. It is proper to note that the grandson's illegitimacy was, like the president's granddaughter, absolutely no fault of his own.

He was punished – both financially and inherently – for the sole reason that he had the audacity to be conceived out of wedlock in a brief relationship that proved compromising for the Buckley family.

Buckley wrote in his last will and testament: “I intentionally make no provision herein for said Jonathan, who for all purposes shall be deemed to have predeceased me.”

Nice.

The grandson reportedly was the child of author Christopher Buckley and Irina Woelfe.

William F. Buckley was the founder of what used to be my favorite magazine (during Buckley's leadership), National Review.

As with the Biden's, the Buckleys apparently believed that anyone so inconsiderate to be conceived during an affair should suffer the financial consequences.

Maybe that old battle-ax, HRC, knew what she was talking about when she said: "It takes a village to raise a child." 

It shouldn't, of course. But when actual parents are deadbeats, there you go.

These people have no shame. May God bless the children in spite of them.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County's only locally owned and operated newspaper.