Just curious how consequential the Brittney Grines case will be to the midterms?

[NewsCenter28]

Do you think this could swing any seats, either a favorable or unfavorable outcome?

I just ask because we were really starting to build momentum in 2010, as now, until the BP oil spill came along, and the media seems to want to make her case into another BP Oil spill-type thing to bash Biden over. Like, I still wonder if we would have held the house if the BP Oil spill hadn't happened.

That said, I stand by President Biden 1000% in this regard and he has done nothing at all worthy of criticism in the Grines affair. I frankly think she made her bed when she chose to go to Russia during a time of war and it's unbecoming for her to whine about President Biden now. Sorry if that offends anyone.

[secondwind]

1. I just read here somewhere that the US is doing it's best

to free her. This is going to take some time.

[PoliticAverse]

2. No significant effect. n/t

[PBC_Democrat]

3. Don't Think It Will Be A Factor At All

Most people really don't care. The economy, gas prices, and inflation will be the issues that decide the election.

Roe vs Wade will be a minor factor ... most men don't feel strongly about it and a chuck of women agree with the SCOTUS decision.

D's need much better messaging and Pres Biden needs to be more out front.

[hlthe2b]

4. I am very sorry and concerned for Griner, but no effect at all...

I think people DO care, but it is one person, and given the impacts to literally millions of people, both Americans and not--from ALL the myriads of challenging issues today (not to mention the Ukrainians), concern for her plight is surmounted.

However, if Biden were to trade her for the horrific terrorist that Putin wants, game over for him. Even his supporters could not deflect from the devastating critique of "being weak against Putin" if that were to happen.

Griner is screwed. I hate it, but she is a victim of horrific timing in a country that does not give a damn about her or us. I want to blame someone... The league and/or her management for encouraging those most at risk of being targeted (e.g., POC and LGBTQ) from participating in this athletic tour. The state department for not sending clear warnings to athletic leagues and other performers, and travelers, as Putin's attacks on LGBTQ and the west were escalating in recent years. But, truthfully, there is no one to blame but Putin and his thugs.

[Dorian Gray]

5. Huh

We weren't at war with Russia when she chose to play basketball. She "made her bed?" For real? Geez.

While I don't think that Biden should be blamed here, I do think our government should be pushing HARD for her release. I don't know what they're doing behind the scenes; I truly hope it's something.

Get her back.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. What's Your Opinion Of Golfers Jumping To LIV?

We're not at war with Saudi Arabia, but many are rightly critical of their money grab.
Why is this different? I'm honestly willing to be convinced that it's different, but i don't see it now.

[Dorian Gray]

23. I think they're terrible

Still, if Phil Mickelson was held hostage by Saudi Arabia, I'd think we should do a lot to get him out.

But that's not going to happen.

She is being used as a hostage.

All the people saying it's her fault? They're victim blamers.

Do I believe she should be traded for an arms dealer? HELL NO! I never said that. But blaming her for Russia's actions? Also, HELL NO!

[ProfessorGAC]

25. We Disagree

I don't think questioning the wisdom of chasing Russian money is victim blaming.
Hence, this conversation is destined to go nowhere.

[PJMcK]

21. We're still not "at war" with Russia

Griner is a footnote. Her fate in the Russian system is a non-factor in the U.S. mid-terms.

She made a terribly stupid mistake by taking an illegal product into Russia. It was a catastrophic lapse of judgment and it's her own fault. President Biden had nothing to do with her foolishness.

There was an article last week that the Russians might use her for a prisoner swap for a high-level Russian spy. That would be a terrible mistake because the athlete is motivated by her own ego without any value whereas the spy is an important intelligence asset. There's no equivalency except they're both humans.

[Dorian Gray]

24. I agree with you

that her imprisonment is a footnote and a non-factor. And that she made a mistake by going to Russia. That mistake is very clear in retrospect.

I ALSO agree that we should not trade her for a Russian spy/arms dealer. NO WAY.

But I have a lot of sympathy for her predicament because she is being used as a pawn. And she's probably terrified and lonely. I don't like to see angry blame heaped onto her because when she went to Russia she had no way to know that this was going to shake out like this.

Someone comparing it to the Saudi golf league... I can see kind of how you'd get there, but when you take people like Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman and Bubba Watson (all of whom have made multi-millions in PGA golf tournaments) and you compare their careers to what the star WNBA players make... you SEE why they supplement their salaries with foreign leagues. it's a different beast.

Yes, I know you didn't bring up the LIV tour, so this is me continuing a response to another poster in this thread... but it related to what I was saying, so I put it here.)

[MichMan]

28. She was still making hundreds of thousands per year in the WNBA

More money than the vast majority of people earn. She chose to play in a totalitarian country because she wanted more. It's the capitalist way.

Certainly her right to do so, but it's not like she had to take a second job to pay her bills.

[Dorian Gray]

29. I went to Russia on a cruise

only three years ago. It seems inconceivable to me that I would choose to do so again in the future. When you've been going without problem several years in a row, as Griner had done, it's just what you do. It wasn't until Ukraine happened that it would seem inconceivable to go.

Griner was arrested February 17th, 2022.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.

Up until that date, many in the world thought it was posturing and wouldn't actually happen.

[Celerity]

26. Agree.

[Takket]

6. I don't think that's an issue anyone will be voting on

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. I don't think most people even know about her.

I did hear something about a prisoner exchange

[Mike Nelson]

8. Hmm...

... I wonder if FOX and its ilk will use her to hurt Dems. I think they will mull and poll it over... obviously, we should negotiate in private and advise our citizens to stay out of Russia, for their own well-being. I hope she has friends in Russia, from her basketball career, who can help from that side.

[maxrandb]

9. I don't know

I guess it depends on how willing folks on DU are to turn obvious Russian propaganda designed to attack President Biden, into attacks on President Biden.

Thankfully, when Putin tried this in 2016 to suppress Democratic turnout and help Retrumplicans, it didn't work.

- President Obama didn't snap his fingers and solve all of America's problems. Why bother to vote?

- Hillary Clinton is "just the same" as an evil, racist, fascist circus clown. Why bother to vote?

- President Biden doesn't care about Britney Griner. Why bother to vote?

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

[betsuni]

33. +1

[MichMan]

10. Hardly anyone knows who she is, so I can't believe it makes any difference

If however, she is exchanged for a Russian mass murderer in a prisoner swap, it may not be helpful because that may be the takeaway by the general public.

[Amishman]

18. Agreed, she is not nearly famous enough to make a difference

If it was someone like Will Smith, Serena Williams, or William Shatner - then it would get people's attention enough so that the public overall would care.

[Sunsky]

11. For the black community it means a lot

Every station I listen to talks about her being ignored and equates it to the plight of black Americans. I think we brush this aside at our own peril. I have heard from colleagues who are watching the administration's action or lack thereof. She wouldn't be the first person helped through diplomatic means.

Wasn't she in Russia prior to the start of the war? I don't believe she entered during the war. It is even believed that she may have been there before February 11th when the Biden administration urged people to leave that region. Her last Facebook post was on February 5th. She plays for some team there and was doing her usual business before the war started. She was not the only American to do so.

This election will be crucial and you best believe the Republicans will use every tactic the steer people away from voting. Younger African Americans are very in tune with this story.

[MichMan]

13. Are black voters less likely or more likely to vote if she is still imprisoned?

[Sunsky]

15. That sweeping generalization

I wouldn't make. However, in a tight election, every vote counts. I know of some who use this along with other reasons to say this administration has let down our community and they feel no better than with the previous administration. I don't know what the polls are reflecting but I speak just from interactions. There is animosity towards this administration. I've even heard that Kamala has been marginalized. Incidents like Brittney's case make it tougher to get people out to vote. This has now become a propaganda tool. I believe the Biden administration is taking action. Many times we don't know about these measures until there's a resolution.

[BlackSkimmer]

19. Interestingly, Griner states she never voted before 2020.

No words.

[maxsolomon]

27. She's NOT being ignored. It is NOT racism.

Biden doesn't have a magic wand to wave and free her. She's not the only American being held unjustly as a bargaining chip; Griner herself mentioned them in her "don't forget about me" letter.

She's been in Russia multiple times playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg. She was arrested as she entered Russia to do so again, almost coincident with the start of the Ukraine War.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/brittney-griner-russia-timeline-detainment-wnba-season-2022/yden2dfccvadttwcd14algxq

[Novara]

12. I suspect Russia is usung her for political purposes so Biden needs to get her back here

That said, I doubt her plight will swing any votes. The Dems are making the right noises about her case but really, hardly anyone is asking them about her so she isn't on people's minds.

[Lovie777]

14. I believe there will be prisoner exchanges regarding Grines and other USA citizens . ....

probably before the mid-terms.

[Mister Ed]

17. I fear that the three words that may doom this nation are "Why hasn't Biden?"

Maybe the public will add "Why hasn't Biden freed Brittney Griner?" to such nonsense as:

"Why hasn't Biden lowered gas prices?"

and

"Why hasn't Biden restored Roe v. Wade?"

and on and on...

[betsuni]

34. +1

[ecstatic]

20. So you actually believe russia?

You believe the guy who launched an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation and is killing thousands of civilians as we type?

Not picking on you specifically, it's just that, thanks to the media, people will believe damn near anything when a black person is involved. I've seen it time and time again. I think Russia was very strategic in who they targeted. A lesbian woman of color essentially thrown under the bus. It's a strategic exploitation of the racial and cultural divisions in this country; and yes, it probably will affect some turnout in the fall.

[MineralMan]

22. I doubt that it will have any impact at all on the midterms.

I can't see any reason why it would, frankly.

[DET]

30. Should Have No Impact

This is a ridiculous non-issue, UNLESS Biden trades her for a Russian terrorist. That would hurt Biden badly, especially since Republicans would take maximum advantage of Biden’s alleged weakness. It may not be fair, but people who visit a country like Russia need to recognize that there may be some risks involved. That includes athletes.

[NewsCenter28]

31. On second thought

I was a bit too harsh on Ms. Grines. I wish her all the best through what is truly a horrendous ordeal. I hope she hangs in there, and what will help her to hang in there, is if she truly believes, as I do, and knows that President Biden and his administration will do everything within their power to secure her release if it doesn't harm national security. It's a tough situation.

[Samrob]

32. Russian linked to Republicans trying to make Biden look bad to demoralize the Dem base. nt