Shirley Sherrod

[Siraris]

What a crazy, out of the blue story. For those who don't know, Shirley Sherrod (was) the director of rural development in Georgia, until a video was posted of an excerpt of a speech she delivered in front of the NAACP claiming that she decided to limit her assistance to a white farmer because he was... white. There was a knee jerk reaction, and Sherrod was essentially forced to resign.

The video was posted by the always lovable Andrew Breitbart, who decided to do so without any context. Had he done so, the issue would have been moot, as the clip that was shown was only the initial part of a story that she was relating about the lengths she went to help the farmer she supposedly discriminated against. With this being her first interaction with a white farmer, she initially felt he was being superior to her, but soon got over this notion, and went to extreme lengths to help him save his farm. The two went on to become friends, and Sherrod continued on to work with hundreds of other white farmers in the future.

The Department of Agriculture decides to can her, but as the facts start to roll in, she is defended by not only David Gergen and Donna Brazil, but Glenn Beck, who insists she should not have lost her job for this. Andrew Breitbart then goes on Sean Hannity to discuss what happened, vindictively admitting that he posted this video as payback for the NAACP suggesting that the Tea Party is racist, and yelled the N word at some black representatives at a rally at the Capital a few months ago.

The whole situation is nauseating to me, and embodies my utter distaste with the recent political climate, the 24/7 news cycle, and the talking heads that dominate the discussion. I believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe that freedom of speech can be abused. This video was not posted in order to expose malfeasance, it was deliberately edited (whether by Breitbart or whomever sent him the clip) and posted to smear a public official and attempt to cast the NAACP in a negative light.

David Gergen sums it up the best:

"This has ripped away the veil and shown us all that is wrong with politics today," he began. "An ideologue injects poison into the internet, other people rush to judgment on camera, and an administration gets stampeded and commits this travesty of justice. The NAACP has at least had the courage to come back and say 'we were wrong' and apologize. Now the administration needs to to the same thing. The president -- tonight -- ought to order the Agriculture Department to reopen this case, give this woman a fair hearing, and -- if the facts are as they seem -- reinstate her with an apology. Indeed, I think she deserves a whole lot more than an apology. I think she deserves honor for her attempts to bring people together."

[Ink Asylum]

The remarkable speed at which the story ascended through the media before it was verified by journalists, is a disgrace to the mainstream media. That the Obama administration caved so quickly before all the facts were in is shameful and cowardly.

[Generation ABXY]

Shame this hadn't been posted before the full video was revealed; it would have been interesting to witness some of CoG's own knee-jerk reactions.

[Karmakin]

The assumption really needs to be that if it's coming from that section of the political universe, not only is it suspect, but they're probably lying through their teeth.

[pomeroy]

Originally Posted by Generation ABXY

Shame this hadn't been posted before the full video was revealed; it would have been interesting to witness some of CoG's own knee-jerk reactions.

I can pretty much picture those reactions as it is.

[Karmakin]

Actually after doing some more reading, I actually think that the general conservative fallout to this actually has a good point. I'm not sure if they're actually trying to make that point, but I'm seeing a general theme.

The reaction that I'm seeing, is that the administration overreacted in getting rid of her. She was railroaded. That is, that they were just putting forward a strong argument, but that the current administration should take that at face value, and put their strong argument forward, and then just butt heads. It's a sort of an adversarial system. And they're probably right. The current administration really needs to realize this, and not to start by compromising. That's their biggest flaw.

[Generation ABXY]

Originally Posted by pomeroy

I can pretty much picture those reactions as it is.

Well, I still wonder. I have no doubt some people would have grouped me with a more unfavorable lot, but - whether they choose to believe it or not - my first reaction was, "Wait, why didn't they let it finish? It seemed like she was leading to something..."

That said, I can't say her admission didn't at all irk me, even if it was a tale of redemption.

[Kelegacy]

At first I was all for her firing, just as the USDA was. Seems like racism, right? I was one of those people Generation mentions, as I read the story and the transcript on a newsite without knowing the backstory and thought it was just.

Well, it was taken out of context. True, 26 years ago she did this thing. But she said she learned the error of her ways and grew as a person, which was why she was telling this story to begin with. It was a story of how the world isn't black and white, and she learned that from her errors.

She'll be reinstated, as the USDA head has ordered an investigation. I'm sure it will all come to light.

Meanwhile Fox News and the Tea Party is running with the story as the NAACP said it was snookered into siding with the firing originally until they realized there was more to the story and video.

[National Kato]

Typical type of 'news' coming from Breitbart and his mouthpiece FOX News. I'm not surprised, but it will end up saying more about FOX than about Sherrod.

[johnperkins21]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

The remarkable speed at which the story ascended through the media before it was verified by journalists, is a disgrace to the mainstream media. That the Obama administration caved so quickly before all the facts were in is shameful and cowardly.

This, right here, is my feeling exactly. The really sad thing to come out of this is simply the proof that journalism no longer exists in our culture. Hopefully this puts a spark under the ass of the media to start doing actual research before jumping to conclusions that have been plainly laid out for them. I doubt it will happen, but we can hope.

[CappinCanuck]

Originally Posted by National Kato

Typical type of 'news' coming from Breitbart and his mouthpiece FOX News. I'm not surprised, but it will end up saying more about FOX than about Sherrod.

I'm a bit surprised Hannity let that guy keep getting so sidetracked from the actual video to focusing on the anti-NAACP sentiments.

[National Kato]

Originally Posted by johnperkins21

I doubt it will happen, but we can hope.

Nah, it's proven far too effective.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Eh, I can certainly understand some of the mistakes made - that video seems incredibly damning. It really looked like she was saying "kill whitey", when the real story was "I used to say kill whitey, but then I learned that this was wrong".

If you put video evidence like that on my desk, I wouldn't think "I wonder what the real story is" - because I wouldn't have thought of a way for the story to be anything other than what was presented. And the footage wasn't doctored - it just stopped after a point, as it would if she changed topics in her speech.

The original releasing of the video is the only thing I see as shady.

Also, NAACP - you were "snookered"? This is your official press statement? Are you trying to sound as out of touch as possible?

[Zecon]

I know I'll start believing that the Tea Party isn't at all racist the day that Conservatives stop blaming the Muslims for attacking us.

Using her Twitter accounted, Palin wrote: “Peaceful New Yorkers, pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real.” The tweet was first reported by The Hill.

An hour later the former Alaska governor added: “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing.”

Good god, to think she could have been president with that grammar.

[Ox]

Aaaaaaaaaand another thread becomes "How Much Do I Hate Sarah Palin? Let Me Count the Ways".

[Zecon]

Originally Posted by Ox

Aaaaaaaaaand another thread becomes "How Much Do I Hate Sarah Palin? Let Me Count the Ways".

As every thread should.

[Ink Asylum]

Originally Posted by TheFlyingOrc

If you put video evidence like that on my desk, I wouldn't think "I wonder what the real story is" - because I wouldn't have thought of a way for the story to be anything other than what was presented. And the footage wasn't doctored - it just stopped after a point, as it would if she changed topics in her speech.

If you're a journalist and you're given that video then run with it without asking "Is this the entire speech?," "Can we get a transcript?," or "Has anyone contacted Sherrod for comment?" then you're a shitty journalist. You don't torpedo someone's reputation reputation without digging a little deeper than a video given to you by someone who may have an agenda.

[Ox]

I haven't actually followed this issue closely, so forgive me if I get the facts wrong. But my understanding is that Sherrod initially withheld the help she was supposed to provide the farmer due to racial animus. Later, she realized this was a mistake, and she and the farmer are now friends. She gave a speech to the NAACP about it, and the audience laughed when she described withholding assistance.

Again, I stipulate I haven't followed this issue closely and may be confused about it. But she does seem to admit that she initially treated the farmer differently on account of his race. Even though she now realizes that was wrong... shouldn't she be fired anyway? That's serious misconduct, and saying, "I'm never going to do it again" is not always good enough.

I understand the argument for forgiveness, and maybe she should be forgiven. But it's not obvious to me that this is a travesty of justice. Sometimes sorry isn't enough.

[ShivaX]

Originally Posted by Ox

I haven't actually followed this issue closely, so forgive me if I get the facts wrong. But my understanding is that Sherrod initially withheld the help she was supposed to provide the farmer due to racial animus. Later, she realized this was a mistake, and she and the farmer are now friends. She gave a speech to the NAACP about it, and the audience laughed when she described withholding assistance.

Again, I stipulate I haven't followed this issue closely and may be confused about it. But she does seem to admit that she initially treated the farmer differently on account of his race. Even though she now realizes that was wrong... shouldn't she be fired anyway? That's serious misconduct, and saying, "I'm never going to do it again" is not always good enough.

I understand the argument for forgiveness, and maybe she should be forgiven. But it's not obvious to me that this is a travesty of justice. Sometimes sorry isn't enough.

This was back some time as I understood it and she was in a different job. Ultimately, its one of those things thats not really an issue as I see it.

But Tuesday morning, Sherrod said what online viewers weren’t told in reports posted throughout the day Monday was that the tale she told at the banquet happened 24 years ago — before she got the USDA job — when she worked with the Georgia field office for the Federation of Southern Cooperative/Land Assistance Fund.

I mean 24 years ago in a different organization is quite a stretch, especially since she changed her mind while still at that organization and helped the guy out.

[Ox]

I get that. On the other hand, I'm not exactly wild about her current views, either: instead of performing or not performing her duties based on the skin color of the person in front of her, she says she now realizes "it's about poor versus those who have." I personally would prefer government employees who thought it was about performing your legal obligations versus not performing your legal obligations, but nobody listens to me.

Also, I find her history of slavery in America to be absurd and factually inaccurate.