Biden takes questions from kids in Ireland – and Hunter steps in to give instructions

President Joe Biden got help from his son Hunter when he took questions from children when he arrived in Dublin on Wednesday.

On the second day of the 80-year-old’s trip to his ancestral homeland, the president told the families of US embassy staff they could ask him “anything” — despite refusing to hold a press conference.

He told a complicated story about the late Senator Jesse Helms, discussed his German Shepherd commanding officer, and said the youngsters could ask him anything — even though he didn’t schedule a press conference during his four-day trip.

Hunter at one point corrected his father when he tried to remember whether Helms was from North or South Carolina, then guided him to “walk the rope line” once the event concluded.

The president’s son, under federal tax investigation and under constant threat from Republicans, was beside his father as he traced his family roots to the Emerald Isle.

The teetotaler stopped at Carlingford Castle in County Louth, then got a rockstar reception at a pub with historical links to his family – although he didn’t pour the traditional pint of Guinness.

“Do any of you want to ask me questions?” Biden asked the children. He was then distracted by a youth holding a toy model of Air Force One.

Then he turned his attention back to the crowd.

‘In the back. He has a question,’ Hunter says to his father.

The boy then asks the president to describe the “top step” to success.

Biden then goes into a long-winded answer about Senator Helms “not being very fond of African Americans.”

‘Oh, what’s the key to success? You know what I found out is the key to success? And I’m not sure I’m the best man to explain it; these guys can tell you,” he says.

“The key to success is that when you disagree with someone, it’s okay to question their judgment — whether they’re right or wrong — but it’s never okay to question their motive. If you question their motive, you can never agree.

“For example, if you say to someone, ‘The reason why you disagree with me is because you’re stupid, you’re bad, you’re — you just don’t like the people I like.'”

“Instead of saying I just didn’t – just say why, I disagree with you because of the following things.

“Because once you question someone’s motive – why they do something – because you don’t know. In fact, what happens next, you can never get an agreement, get together.

‘I learned that lesson a long time ago – I say that to all embassy people – I learned that a long time ago.

“There was a man named Jesse Helms from South Carolina – from North Carolina – South Carolina.”

“North,” Interjects Hunter.

North Carolina, Biden continues.

“And he was a very conservative guy who was very, very — not very fond of African Americans when he got here. He was everything – we were always arguing.

“And one day I went to the United States Senate, and Jesse Helms said — was — was on the floor of the Senate saying terrible things about Ted Kennedy and Bob Dole, the Republican leader, who both introduced a bill for making sure people with disabilities have access to curbs, access to buses and all these things. It’s called the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“And what happened was I was very upset when I walked in to see the Majority Leader when I heard this debate.

“And unfortunately I was more afraid that the Majority Leader would be late than… than that I would talk.

“I walked in, and I think I looked like I was angry. And he looked at me and he said, “What’s the matter, Joe?” I was 32 years old. And I said — and I went on about Jesse Helms, that he has no social redemptive value. “How can he say such a thing?” I could not believe it.

And he looked at me and he said, ‘Joe, what would you say if I told you that in 1970 Jesse Helms was sitting in his living room with his wife, Dot, reading the paper in Raleigh. And there was a picture of a young man on crutches – 16 years old, with braces from under his arms to his ankles, and two steel crutches.’

“And I said, what would you—and—” It was an ad for an orphanage. And it said, “All I want is for someone to take me home for Christmas and love me.”

“He said, ‘What would you say, Joe, if I told you they adopted that young man?’ I said, “I’d feel foolish.” Well, they adopted him. They did adopt him.

And I said — and I was going to apologize to Jesse Helms, because the idea that I disagreed with everything he said, but when he — but the suggestion that he did it because he didn’t care about people with disabilities, was wrong. I doubted his motive. I never did that again.

“That’s a long answer to a really quick question,” he finished laughing from the audience.

Another child then jumps in and asks, “How is your dog?”

“My dog ​​is fine,” he said. “His name is Commander.”

The president then asks the kid for his dog’s name – “Louie” – and then signals his performance is coming to an end by saying, “Anyway, guys.”

He then starts walking out, when Hunter says, “You’ve got to do the rope line, Dad.”

Biden looks around and asks, “Should I do the rope line?”

“Just to say hello to everyone,” Hunter tells him.

‘Okay. Well guys, thanks,” Biden says as he leaves.