# Hunter Biden artwork attracts ethics scrutiny **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 8, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031 "2021-07-08T21:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/281 "2021-07-11T00:37:33Z")
I’m a public servant. (State, not federal, but I don’t think it matters.) You have to avoid conflicts of interest but you don’t have to eliminate any potential conflict of interest because _ **that’s impossible** _. There will always be a potential conflict of interest. It’s like saying that if the rule is that you need to stay away from the edge of a cliff, then the fact that cliffs exist is a problem. It’s not. Just don’t go to them. There is no problem with Hunter selling artwork. It’s not a problem that he could sell it to someone who then gets preferential treatment from his dad. It really isn’t. Stop wringing your hands about it. **It’s not a problem until it actually happens.** ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/282 "2021-07-11T01:15:33Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Preventing the buyer from knowing who the artist is. No, that’s not more ethical. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Hunter is not fucking Banksy. The only reason people are willing to pay unusually high prices for his art is because of who his daddy is. Can we just admit that? I know. I don’t fucking care. As long as the money is not channeled to his dad, who gives a fuck? > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’ve looked. I haven’t seen any actual explanation of why this matters for the President. The President has no control over Hunter’s behavior. Nor has anyone demonstrated an actual problem with Hunter’s behavior outside of the bulldhit “it looks bad”. Is it unethical? Obviously not. Making this a discussion just plays into right wing bullshit. We need to stop that. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What the fuck? It’s like listening to people whine about Hillary Clinton all over again. Yep. There’s a reason the right plays us like a fiddle. We swallow their bullshit constantly. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Once again, turning every difference of opinion into a referendum of which side it supports vs. which side it undermines, is fucking obnoxious. But he’s not wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/283 "2021-07-11T02:36:50Z")
Yeah, I think you guys shoukd just go on pretending like there’s nothing there, that Hunter Biden is just another citizen and not the son of a President - a son who has already come under suspicion for trading on his Dad’s name and power to make deals with foreign powers. There’s an election coming in a year and a half. The left should just keep pretending that Hunter’s paintings are completely irrelevant. Because I’m going to guess that about 60-70% of the country will disagree with you. It may not be a huge issue, but it is an issue and the Democrats are on the wrong side of it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/284 "2021-07-11T07:13:03Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Because I’m going to guess that about 60-70% of the country will disagree with you. You’re seriously thinking that 60-70% of voters are going to decide their vote based on Hunter selling paintings?! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/285 "2021-07-11T10:41:41Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > > > Because I’m going to guess that about 60-70% of the country will disagree with you. > > You’re seriously thinking that 60-70% of voters are going to decide their vote based on Hunter selling paintings?! - Not sure about the “seriously” part but otherwise yes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/286 "2021-07-11T11:03:45Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The left should just keep pretending that Hunter’s paintings are completely irrelevant. Because I’m going to guess that about 60-70% of the country will disagree with you. If this is accurate, it’s not because Hunter’s paintings are relevant. It’s because propaganda works. Propaganda doesn’t work because the issues brought to light are important items the world needs to know about. It works because it’s repeated over and over, discussed as if it is legitimate and important to worry about. Nothing about Hunter Biden’s work thus far should raise a concern for the conscientious voter, he isn’t part of the WH, and has no role or influence in governance. What should raise concern is the propaganda, the attempt to influence future elections with baseless claims about the opposition. Discussing this topic as if the sale of paintings matters, IS THE PROPAGANDA, and I will not be part of it. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/287 "2021-07-11T12:41:27Z")
I think the art is pretty good and if I had money, I’d buy one. Not for influence, but as an investment and because the art is pleasing to me. I’d think art from the son of a former president of the US might be of some value in the future. Hunter isn’t doing anything wrong. I think it’s unfair to hobble him from earning a living in a perfectly legal way because the Trump spawn did it in an illegal way. I don’t think there is anything he could do that would satisfy some folks. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/288 "2021-07-11T13:04:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@QuickSilver](#): > > > > This is nothing but blatant and cynical opportunism on the part of Hunter Biden. > > That’s a synonym for “good business practices”. Celebrities bank on their name to sell stuff. That’s what branding is. There is nothing unethical about it aside from the general “down with kapitalism” sort of criticism. This Hunter thing, and frankly, all Hunter things, are a nothngberder, and I don’t think there’s anything unethical _per se_ with banking on celebrity. But doing so destroys the argument ad populi that because something makes an artist a lot of money that it must be better than art that doesn’t make a lot of sales. It’s often business practices. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/289 "2021-07-11T14:54:45Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Discussing this topic as if the sale of paintings matters, IS THE PROPAGANDA, and I will not be part of it. If you care about ensuring it doesn’t have an effect, you should try to combat the propaganda, because that’s what’s going to matter. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with the painting sales, but I’m offended that they came up with such a flimsy “anonymous” buyer protection plan. It is so simple that it is dismissive towards the concerns people have about the possibility of undue influence. And trying to show that there’s nothing to worry about because the buyers will be “anonymous” just makes me more frustrated. I don’t know if they think I’m stupid or if they’re stupid to think that it will work to provide any sort of real protection against influence. And the most stupid thing is, I don’t even think anyone is going to be buying the paintings for influence anyway. So they took a benign event and wrapped it in a stupid solution that makes people wonder if they’ve contrived a facade to hide what they are doing. What they should have instead done is say that all buyers would be public and that sales to buyers that might be deemed problematic would be cancelled. So if someone like a tech leader tries to buy a painting, their name is published and the sale may actually be cancelled if the sale could be viewed as a conflict of interest. And if it causes the prices to go down, oh well, they’re happy to accept that consequence to ensure that there is no corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/290 "2021-07-11T15:48:39Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I think the art is pretty good and if I had money, I’d buy one. Not for influence, but as an investment and because the art is pleasing to me. I’d think art from the son of a former president of the US might be of some value in the future. > > Hunter isn’t doing anything wrong. I think it’s unfair to hobble him from earning a living in a perfectly legal way because the Trump spawn did it in an illegal way. > > I don’t think there is anything he could do that would satisfy some folks. This is exactly how I feel. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/291 "2021-07-11T16:24:07Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > because he’s spent most of his life in jobs he wasn’t qualified for When I got into my career, I was unqualified for it. I’ve been doing it now for over 25 years, so at this point I’m _very_ qualified. The same goes for Hunter- at this point, he’s got a _lot_ of experience sitting on boards. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/292 "2021-07-11T16:29:18Z")
According to one of CNN’s legal experts, this does present an ethics issue, because the White House was involved in drawing up the agreement between Hunter and the art dealer. > Seems like the “but he’s just a private citizen, who cares,” argument falls flat when the WH involved itself in the agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/293 "2021-07-11T16:36:30Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Seems like the “but he’s just a private citizen, who cares,” argument falls flat when the WH involved itself in the agreement. So by trying to avoid a perception of impropriety, they’re now being accused of impropriety? ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/294 "2021-07-11T16:36:37Z")
An agreement to ensure the White House is isolated from these sales is somehow proof that the White House was not isolated from these sales? eta: What Lightnin said. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/295 "2021-07-11T16:59:54Z")
What resources–legal, PR, whatever–were expended on behalf of private citizen Hunter Biden? How is that NOT using government resources to benefit a family member? ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/296 "2021-07-11T17:09:26Z")
I doubt they were expended on Hunter’s behalf. More likely, they were spent on the Administration’s behalf at the suggestion of the OLC. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/297 "2021-07-11T17:12:38Z")
I, for one, appreciate your contribution to this thread. You’ve just demonstrated that no matter what Joe Biden did in this situation, someone would have taken issue with it. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/298 "2021-07-11T18:02:10Z")
If Hunter is a private citizen who is not bound by government ethics, why would the OLC make such a recommendation? The “L” in OLC is Legal, not PR. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/299 "2021-07-11T18:02:39Z")
If the WH did something to benefit Hunter Biden that’s a bad thing that should be condemned. So far no one has presented any evidence that this happened. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031/300 "2021-07-11T20:44:39Z")
Remember that when the “last guy’s” child had a design business, she and members of the President’s staff used their positions to promote her designs in a variety of ways - and, in at least one case, told their audience outright to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff”. > **[Kellyanne Conway plugged Ivanka Trump's clothing line. Was it ethical?](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/was-kellyanne-conway-s-ivanka-trump-fashion-line-plug-legal-n718831)** > > "Go buy Ivanka's stuff," Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump, said on Fox. But that’s different I guess, because…he was gangster and not a real President, so he got to play by gangster rules, or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-artwork-attracts-ethics-scrutiny/946031.md?page=16)