Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Memo: Why Brittney Griner is a political problem for Biden
Google News ^ | BY NIALL STANAGE 07/05/22 06:43 PM ET

Posted on 07/05/2022 9:09:54 PM PDT by 11th_VA

The public outcry around the plight of Brittney Griner is growing louder — and that spells trouble for President Biden, who has been unable to free the basketball star from detention in Russia.

Griner wrote to Biden in recent days saying she was “terrified I might be here forever”.

Her wife, Cherelle, appears to have lost patience with the administration to take a low-profile approach to Brittney’s jailing.

On Tuesday, Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” that it was “very disheartening” not to have heard from Biden directly.

Cherelle Griner added: “It kills me every time that, you know, when I have to write [Brittney] and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with them yet?’ And I have to say no.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, generally a staunch defender of Biden, is seeking the administration’s help in securing a clergy visit to see Griner in Moscow.

In an interview with this column, Sharpton said that he had spoken with Cherelle Griner both on the phone and on his radio show last week…

Her plight poses several interlinked problems for the White House.

First, given the war in Ukraine, it seems highly implausible that Russian authorities will be inclined to release Griner for the sake of goodwill.

Second, the idea that Moscow might be able to use Griner as leverage to obtain the release of Viktor Bout, an infamous Russian arms dealer nicknamed ‘The Merchant of Death’ is unpalatable, both morally and politically. Bout was sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges in a 2012 trial in New York.

Thirdly, there are particular sensitivities raised by the failure to obtain the release of Griner, a Black, gay woman.

’ On Monday, Griner’s head coach with the Phoenix Mercury, Vanessa Nygaard, told reporters: “If it was LeBron [James], he’d be home, right?” …

(Excerpt) Read more at news.google.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; alsharpton; basketball; billrichardson; drugs; gaylobby; griner; hashoil; lgbtq; merchantofdeath; phoenixmercury; prisonerswaps; russia; sharpton; shirascheindlin; sports; viktorbout
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last
(Insert popcorn eating Gif)
1 posted on 07/05/2022 9:09:54 PM PDT by 11th_VA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

If Griner took drugs into Russia, that was very stupid.

But how do we know she did? Has she confessed? And if so, was it under duress?


2 posted on 07/05/2022 9:13:12 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA
’ On Monday, Griner’s head coach with the Phoenix Mercury, Vanessa Nygaard, told reporters: “If it was LeBron [James], he’d be home, right?” …

Most likely, but if it were Hunter Biden he'd sure be home.

3 posted on 07/05/2022 9:14:19 PM PDT by Bullish (Rot'sa ruk America. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA
(Insert popcorn eating Gif)

popcorn
4 posted on 07/05/2022 9:16:26 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

Off to Siberia.


5 posted on 07/05/2022 9:16:49 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2008 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

but Brittney- i thought you said you hate America- also- you were never concerned about political prisoners in America who have been in prison for over a year now- no trials- I’m guessing you think that they ‘got what they deserved’? IF so, what is good for the goose- is good for the gander-


6 posted on 07/05/2022 9:18:32 PM PDT by Bob434 (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

Guess America looks pretty good to her now.
Too bad so sad have fun dunking in Siberia.


7 posted on 07/05/2022 9:19:59 PM PDT by hercuroc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

I’m guessing Brittney gets at least one hour out of her cell everyday, just to stretch her legs and take a walk.
They probably don’t give her any other prisoners to play ball with. “What do you think this is, an American Prison Resort?”


8 posted on 07/05/2022 9:20:05 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bullish

Maybe they should send Hunter to negotiate for her.

Maybe we’d find out if he’s good for anything at all.


9 posted on 07/05/2022 9:20:22 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

Neither she nor her family has denied she took hash oil vapes to Russia, so I thing we can assume that she actually did that. Intentionally or not is another matter, but it’s on her own arse.


10 posted on 07/05/2022 9:21:43 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: max americana

Do you hate Siberia that much that you’d inflict Griner upon it? :P


11 posted on 07/05/2022 9:22:47 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

“But how do we know she did?”

Good point, I hadn’t thought of that.


12 posted on 07/05/2022 9:27:46 PM PDT by Sarcazmo ("Sarcasm is the highest form of wit" ~ O. Wilde)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

The public outcry around the plight of Brittney Griner is growing louder...

Oh sure. She checks all the proper boxes. Black and lesbian.

If she was a normal woman, this would be no big deal.


13 posted on 07/05/2022 9:28:05 PM PDT by Texas resident ( Let's Go Brandon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

her luggage being opened/seizure at the airport is on video...


14 posted on 07/05/2022 9:29:09 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

there aint’ no BLM there in the gulag. She can “kneel” down in front of her new white Russian jail cell girlfriend called Natasha.


15 posted on 07/05/2022 9:29:58 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2008 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

Not denying isn’t the same as confessing.

I don’t know Russian law, but I do know that she was leverage from the minute she showed up there. She was arrested one week before the invasion.


16 posted on 07/05/2022 9:31:47 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

She broke Russian law in Russia.

They enforce their laws.

Sucks to be her.


17 posted on 07/05/2022 9:33:18 PM PDT by Texas resident ( Let's Go Brandon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

Never gave it a second thought but She will be standing for the national anthem in Russia lol


18 posted on 07/05/2022 9:34:10 PM PDT by italianquaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Chode

Do you trust the video to be true?


19 posted on 07/05/2022 9:35:18 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

It was in her carryons and the whole thing was recorded on video. She apparently asserts that the items are hers on the video.

Also worth noting that she decided to show up for her trial on drug charges while wearing a *t-shirt* - worse, it’s a t-shirt promoting a world famous stoner, Mister Purple Haze himself.

She did this to herself. She should count herself as lucky that she didn’t do this in Singapore.


20 posted on 07/05/2022 9:36:02 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson