Poll expert Nate Silver said he voted for Kamala Harris this election but lost his cool after outgoing President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden at a last-moment, surprising U-turn. Hunter Biden was convicted of illegal gun possession, lying about addiction and tax evasion. During the investigation into the case and when Hunter Biden was convicted, Joe Biden remained detached from it indicating that he would remain so but announced the major decision ahead of Hunter’s sentencing.
“Don’t vote for any Democrat in 2028 who doesn’t repudiate the pardon within 48 hours,” Nate Silver posted on X reacting to Biden’s volte-face. Citing the White House’s official statement after the election victory of Donald Trump that Biden did not have any plan to pardon his son, Nate wrote: “The WH flagrantly lied about this even *after the election*. Look, I could be persuaded if you wanted to tell me that politics is just bloodsport. But these people are convinced of their own moral superiority when anyone with half a clue knows otherwise.”
“I’m not saying this is going to be the decisive issue of 2026/28 etc. Probably second tier. But both the ethically *and politically* correct behavior is to call it out. Stop being so afraid of your own shadow.”
“Exactly the same people who were mad about my takes that Biden needed to step aside are mad about my pointing out his obvious hypocrisy. I guess if you forgive him for quite possibly throwing an election to Trump you’ll forgive him for anything.”
‘Voters saw through this s**t’
In his long rant, Nate said voters saw through this and voted for Trump. “Voters were smart enough to see through this shit. I voted for Harris. But that’s why I believe in democracy more than I believe in the Democratic Party. You’re not fooling anyone but yourselves.”
“Harris could also have distanced herself from Biden, although obviously a candidate who wasn’t his VP would have had an easier time doing so. She refused to for reasons that are… not entirely clear or coherent? But if you can’t grok the lesson here I don’t know what to say.”
“But please stop thinking of yourself as a defender of “democracy” or norms or the rule of law if you’re defending this. You’re just a garden-variety partisan dressing yourself up in sheep’s clothing. And voters are smart enough to see this even if you aren’t.”