I have to admit that, at times, my heart breaks for Hunter Biden

[Siwsan]

I have NO doubt that Joe and Jill love him with all of their hearts. Just like I have no doubt Hunter might just suffer from the same emotional ailment that I have - survivor guilt.

Beau was obviously the 'star' of the family, as was my sister. She could do no wrong and fulfilled everyone of my parent's expectations. I run into people who still sing her praises. I took another route in life and never quite met that 'standard'. Hunter hears accolades about Beau on a really constant basis, but he is viewed as the 'other brother' who comes up short in comparison.

From my experience there's always that question - why them instead of me. And he has the added burden of surviving an auto accident that took his sister and mother.

It's an extra grief burden that some people don't realize others carry, and it's really, really heavy.

[LizBeth]

1. Very interesting perspective. Thank you. I am not in the same dynamic as yours, you explain it well.

I have seen it with others I care about.

[madaboutharry]

2. I have also thought this about Hunter.

Some people have a greater ability to overcome trauma. Hunter has suffered and maybe he has suffered in the shadow of his brother. I am sure his father loves him deeply and would do anything to help make Hunter's life better.

[Skittles]

3. thank you for adding perspective

I do believe most parents LOVE their kids the same, but may LIKE one more than others.

[Delarage]

4. Harris caught herself today

I noticed, when she said something about "...his beloved son Beau" quickly changing it to "...one of his beloved sons, Beau." She didn't want to forget Hunter, either (in plaid jacket as Joe is sworn in to office in their hospital room after the accident).

[Siwsan]

5. I noticed that, too, and it's kind of what triggered my post

[George II]

11. Biden had already been elected but not sworn in when the accident happened. It took convincing....

...by Mike Mansfield for Biden to even take the oath. He was devastated and didn't want to leave his two sons, so decided not to take the job as Senator.

Mansfield convinced him to do it.

[renate]

14. YES

I've been thinking the same thing about Hunter and Beau for years, and I thought it was INCREDIBLY sensitive of her to change it, on the fly, like that. That impressed me tremendously.

[Blue Owl]

6. K&R

[LisaL]

7. Dating your brother's widow is tacky as far as I am concerned.

Getting another woman preggo while dating brother's widow is also tacky as far as I am concerned. I think Beau was a star. His brother, not so much.

[Siwsan]

8. We all see things via our own perspective

I'm not saying any of that was right, but his most 'out of line' behavior escalated after Beau died. By my experience, that is significant.

I know I've fought off a lot of darkness. I guess unless you've been in such an unenviable position, it's hard to understand but people act out to deal with it in different ways.

[Demsrule86]

23. Being imperfect myself, I will not cast the first stone towards Hunter. depressed people or

those who suffer from mental illness often exhibit self destructive behavior and taking drugs is often a form of self medication.

[colorado_ufo]

9. Thank you for sharing this.

I wish I could package peace, wrap it with a giant bow and a kiss, and send it to you.

[dlk]

10. Compassion - what's been missing from much of our national discourse

It’s what sets Democrats apart and it’s what will help heal & rebuild our broken nation.

[RainCaster]

12. I have watched Beavis and Butthead trash him on twitter

I strike back every time. Those bastards have nothing to say about nepotism. Or corruption.

If we all did that, Joe's family would have more time to focus on the important things.

[hjh3rd]

13. I really don't know what VP Biden feels

about his sons, but I really doubt he he plays favorites among them. My heart broke when Kamala was speaking about Beau and the camera cut over to Biden and it looked like he was about to cry. He was really holding it back, at least in my view. I do think that if she had been talking about the troubles Hunter had been through, he still would have expressed those emotions. One does not go through the losses Biden has and not feel empathy for people. He was not my first choice in the primaries, but he is the right person for the times. Maybe we can’t get MCA, but it might be more important to heal the nation.

[Siwsan]

15. Welcome to DU.

It's not a question of playing favorites. Some siblings are just more accomplished than others and parents don't always understand the perception of the not so accomplished sibling.

Beau died just after I lost my mom and my sister, and died of the same type of cancer that took my dad. I think that tends to make me over-empathize with Hunter's situation. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child but I know when my older brother died, at just 25 years old, my mother never really recovered. I do know what it's like to lose siblings.

[IronLionZion]

16. I'm the screw up of my family too

and can relate to how shitty it feels to have everyone in your life desperately want to see you fail. And in my case it was my mother and grandmother who died when I was around Hunter's age.

[Chicagogrl1]

17. Very true

He probably suffers from c-ptsd. It explains his substance abuse. A shadow cast by a star sibling who is deceased, can cast a very big shadow to try to step out of. Wishing you all best on your path.

[NNadir]

18. It's funny, I was the favorite son; my wife, the one treated with the least regard by...

...her parents.

In our marriage, I am no where near as beautiful as she is.

I'm quite sure Joe loves both his sons; but one has died, and that adds a weight.

I do not want to outlive my wife, but I especially couldn't bear to outlive one of my sons, as VP Biden has.

[Siwsan]

21. I watched what losing a child did to my mother.

Her oldest, my older brother. I have to admit it was a relief that, when my sister died, Mom was at the end stage of Alzheimer's, so she never knew.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

19. Thanks you Siwsan for sharing valuable insight.

From reading your posts it's evident that you are an intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate human being.

We all have our own paths to travel and what matters most is living our lives with integrity, dignity, and decency. In my opinion, you do very well in those areas.

[Demsrule86]

20. I think he also suffers from depression, and I can tell you as a parent of a child who attempted

suicide...it is horrible for the child and the parent.

[PatrickforO]

22. Thank you for an insightful post. My dad had this same problem with his own younger

brother.

These feelings used to be called an 'inferiority complex.' Maybe still are. I don't know. But I do know that my dad suffered mightily from these feelings of not quite measuring up. For sure.

[cally]

24. I feel for Hunter Biden, also

For the same reason. And also that interview he gave awhile back that implied he felt tremendous pressure to make substantial money to support the entire family.

[dmr]

26. Hunter also paid off Beau's student loans way back when they started practicing law.

I don't remember the particulars. Beau was not making much money working in the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney's office. Hunter, on the other hand was in private practice making good money.

The brothers were very, very close. Not only did Hunter lose his brother he lost his best friend. His pain must have been incredible, and probably still is.

I marvel at this family. The love they share is genuine and beautiful. Joe and Jill did a wonderful job raising their family, and that begins with the love and respect and humor they share with one another.

I'm so happy they will be our First Family. I can't wait!

[cally]

25. I feel for Hunter Biden, also

For the same reason. And also that interview he gave awhile back that implied he felt tremendous pressure to make substantial money to support the entire family.