By Cullen Dirner

Jul 20, 2010 6:14pm

Former Agriculture Department Official Denies Racism, Is Backed By Fuller Video; Secretary Vilsack Stands By Her Firing*

A former Department of Agriculture official said her termination was an unfair casualty of a larger political spat on race between the Tea Party movement and the NAACP, but Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Tuesday afternoon stood by his decision to seek her termination based on a controversial anecdote she told earlier this year.

On Monday morning, conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart posted a video of Shirley Sherrod, then the US Department of Agriculture’s director of rural development for Georgia, along with an essay titled “Video Proof: The NAACP Awards Racism – 2010.”

The video featured a clip of Sherrod speaking at a March NAACP awards ceremony describing “the first time I was faced with having to help a white farmer save his farm.” Sherrod describes the farmer as “trying to show me he was superior to me… What he didn’t know was while he was taking all that time trying to show me he was superior to me, was I was trying to decide how much help I was going to give him.”

Sherrod continued, saying, “I was struggling with the fact that so many black people have lost their farmland and here I was faced with having to help a white person save their land. So I didn’t give him the full force of what I could do. I did enough.”

The video, cited as proof of Sherrod’s racism – since it seems to show a government employee saying she discriminated on the basis of race – was seized by cable news outlets and on the internet.

Left out of the story’s race throughout the media world, at least in its initial few laps, were the facts that the incident in question took place in 1986 when she worked for a non-profit, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund.

Sherrod’s larger argument was that her involvement with the white farmers in question — Roger and Eloise Spooner from Iron City, Ga. — made her realize a larger lesson. As she said in a different part of the video splice, “it was revealed to me that it’s about the poor versus those who have.”

Or, as she told ABC News Tuesday afternoon, she tells the story to share with people “how I grew. What happened to me while I worked for that farmer — it helped me to see that it’s not about race, you know, we need to move beyond that.”

But back then, why would she look at white farmers differently than she did at black farmers?

“Because I always – up to that point – I felt they had all the advantages,” Sherrod said. “Until I started working with that farmer, I didn’t think white farmers were treated like black farmers were treated by the agency….There are a few of them who get treated like black farmers.”

For decades, black farmers have said the Agriculture Department unfairly denied them loans or took much longer to process their loans. A class-action lawsuit against the Department followed. Earlier this year, the Obama administration agreed to a $1.25 billion settlement.

Sherrod’s story, she says, was to argue that race shouldn’t matter.

“And they turned into saying that I’m a racist,” she said.

Was she at all racist? Did she discriminate on the basis of race?

The farmer in question says no.

“It never, never crossed my mind,” Roger Spooner told ABC News. “Never crossed my mind. Me and the wife, we never, we never, we never saw that at all. Absolutely. It’s unbelievable.”

Spooner told ABC News today that without Sherrod he would have lost the farm.

”If we had not found her, me and my wife — we went checking here and yonder and everywhere — if it hadn’t been for her, we’d of lost. It was just a matter of a few months and we would have lost it.”

On Tuesday evening, the NAACP posted a more complete video of Sherrod's remarks, and the longer version supports her story. The fuller video shows her telling the story about how the white lawyer to whom she introduced Spooner did little to help him, with Spooner calling her to tell her "the lawyer wasn't doing anything."

So Sherrod helped him. "Working with him made me see that it's really about those who have versus those who don't," she said. "You know, and that they could be black, they could be white, they could be Hispanic. And it made me realize then that I needed to work to help poor people, those who don't have access the way others have." "

The shorter clip of Sherrod speaking at the NAACP banquet aired in the context of various racially-charged debates in the last year.

Most recently, last week, the NAACP passed a resolution calling on the Tea Party movement to condemn racism within its ranks. Some conservatives argue that the Justice Department should never have dropped a voter intimidation lawsuit against members of the New Black Panther Party who stood outside a Philadelphia precinct in 2008. The Department says it pursued a more narrow charge against one of the Panthers, but no voter claiming to have experienced intimidation could be found in the largely black precinct.

Within the Department of Agriculture are even more heightened racial sensitivities, with lawsuits from black farmers, Hispanic farmers, and other groups alleging billions of dollars in unfairly denied USDA loans, rooted in racial discrimination.

On Monday, Agriculture Department officials notified Secretary Vilsack of Sherrod’s comments. She was originally put on administrative leave, then ultimately Vilsack decided the department should ask her to submit her resignation. Deputy undersecretary for rural development Cheryl Cook called Sherrod in her car and asked her to resign.

“I said, ‘Well, Cheryl, I’m on the road and I can’t deal with this until I get to Athens,’” Sherrod told ABC News. Cook called her repeatedly during her 3 ½ hour drive, ultimately telling Sherrod “’They want you to pull over to the side and send a message up here resigning.’” Sherrod pulled over and typed a resignation letter in her BlackBerry.

Did they understand the incident took place 24 years ago before she worked for the Department of Agriculture?

“I told them,” Sherrod told ABC News. “They didn’t care.”

Why do you think this incident happened?

“The NAACP got into an argument with the Tea Party people,” Sherrod said. “And I guess in their search for something, they saw where I spoke at the NAACP banquet and saw the statements I made and then cut it and did whatever they did to make it seem like it was something that just happened and that I was working for agency and was a racist.”

Monday evening Secretary Vilsack issued a statement saying: “Today, I accepted Ms. Sherrod’s resignation. There is zero tolerance for discrimination at USDA, and I strongly condemn any act of discrimination against any person. We have been working hard through the past 18 months to reverse the checkered civil rights history at the department and take the issue of fairness and equality very seriously.”

Of course, Sherrod’s story did not take place when she was at USDA, and there isn’t any evidence that she’d committed any “acts” of discrimination. Did Vilsack know that the incident in question was in 1986 at a different place of employment when he issued his statement? An official with the Department of Agriculture concedes that he didn’t, but insisted that didn’t matter since her telling of the story in 2010 was the real issue.

Vilsack issued another statement later on Tuesday, saying he’d “asked for and accepted Ms. Sherrod’s resignation for two reasons. First, for the past 18 months, we have been working to turn the page on the sordid civil rights record at USDA and this controversy could make it more difficult to move forward on correcting injustices. Second, state rural development directors make many decisions and are often called to use their discretion. The controversy surrounding her comments would create situations where her decisions, rightly or wrongly, would be called into question making it difficult for her to bring jobs to Georgia.”

On Monday night, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said in a statement that his organization concurred with Vilsack’s decision.

“Racism is about the abuse of power,” Jealous said. “Sherrod had it in her position at USDA. According to her remarks, she mistreated a white farmer in need of assistance because of his race. We are appalled by her actions… Her actions were shameful. While she went on to explain in the story that she ultimately realized her mistake, as well as the common predicament of working people of all races, she gave no indication she had attempted to right the wrong she had done to this man.”

On Tuesday Jealous said “with regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias. Having reviewed the full tape, spoken to Ms. Sherrod, and most importantly heard the testimony of the white farmers mentioned in this story, we now believe the organization that edited the documents did so with the intention of deceiving millions of Americans.”

Jealous called his about-face an example of a “teachable moment, for activists and for journalists…Next time we are confronted by a racial controversy broken by Fox News or their allies in the Tea Party like Mr. Breitbart, we will consider the source and be more deliberate in responding. The tape of Ms. Sherrod’s speech at an NAACP banquet was deliberately edited to create a false impression of racial bias, and to create a controversy where none existed. This just shows the lengths to which extremist elements will go to discredit legitimate opposition.”

He said that while NAACP officials understand “why Secretary Vilsack believes this false controversy will impede her ability to function in the role, we urge him to reconsider and give everyday Americans a chance to surprise him.”

Roger Spooner said he doesn’t “feel like she deserves losing her job. .. She needs her job back and I’d give her her job back in a minute.”

And what would he say to Sherrod if he could?

“First thing I’d do is hug her neck. And then I’d say, ‘I don’t believe this is happening. I don’t believe this is happening.’”

- Jake Tapper and Stephanie Smith

*This post has been updated.

User Comments

So she is no longer a racist. She is still a Marxist leaning class warfare queen. So it’s not about race but about the “poor” and those that “have”.
So if a farmer went to her for help and she felt he was a little to rich for her taste – then what? He doesn’t get the help?
Just as bad as a racist if you ask me.

Posted by: FleshBomb | July 20, 2010, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm

“So she is no longer a racist. She is still a Marxist leaning class warfare queen.”
Life is simple when your opinions never need to be questioned.
Here’s a hint: it’s the 21st century. Unless your name is Castro, you’re not a Marxist.

Posted by: Whispers | July 20, 2010, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

It’s not the first African-American thrown under the bus by President Obama and it probably won’t be the last.
She’s blaming President Obama for her firing, even though the White House is denying involvement.
Whom to believe without being called a racist by the NAACP? I guess we’ll just have to believe both of them.

Posted by: Bob | July 20, 2010, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm

Glenn Beck on his radio and TV show today referee to this as a ‘pivot point’ story, and as this lady learned, they can be dangerous.
The admin acted ‘stupidly,’and now this woman lost her job – bravo!
I wonder if we can find a video of the USDA commissioner saying something equally able to be misunderstood so he can lose his job too. Zero-tolerance always sounds better in the abstract…

Posted by: N2vip | July 20, 2010, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm

Why on earth would any reporter take anything that Breitbart says seriously? Or believe anything that comes out of his ‘organization’?.

Posted by: meade | July 20, 2010, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm

Your report tonight (7/20) is typical of your usual reporting. You blamed FOX news for the OBAMA response to fire Shirley. Let me get this straight, Obama makes his decisions based on FOX news? Give me a break. Oh, and you failed to mention, FOX was the first to reveal the total content of her comments and suggested that her statement DID NOT constitute racism.
Your reporting is so predictable, no wonder your ratings are in the tank

Posted by: Don | July 20, 2010, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

Jealous called his about-face an example of a “teachable moment, for activists and for journalists…Next time we are confronted by a racial controversy broken by Fox News or their allies in the Tea Party like Mr. Breitbart, we will consider the source and be more deliberate in responding.
======
Frankly, being deliberate in responding to (or demanding response to) claims of racial controversy is something all sides should learn to do.

Posted by: MayBee | July 20, 2010, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

5 comments….not too much traffic on the ABC highway to utopian socialism….hmmmm

Posted by: FreeDOOMED | July 20, 2010, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm

“Here’s a hint: it’s the 21st century. Unless your name is Castro, you’re not a Marxist.”
Here’s a hint: There is a Marxist in the White House.

Posted by: FleshBomb | July 20, 2010, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm

The wife of the farmer in question said that this woman actually saved their farm and kept them out of bankruptcy by spending months on their case.
The complete story was that the white farmer hated her because she was black, so she did not do her best, but she still managed to save their farm.
In retrospect she said that the plight of this farmer taught here that people should not be discriminated against for any reason whatsoever/.
Apparently, the end of the tape was deliberately cut, so that it gave a slanted meaning to her words.
The incident happened over 24 years ago and she was not a USDA employee then, and she said that she has since realized that it was about helping all people, no matter how they treated you and no matter who you were.
Sounds like she was not a racist since 1986.

Posted by: CHUCK | July 20, 2010, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm

I cannot imagine anyone who has spent their lives experiencing racism and discrimination, whose ancesters were held as slaves or kept under the oppressive thumb of Jim Crow and severe segregation….why someone like that would NOT feel victims of whites over the centuries, and also feel reverse prejudice against the whites. I am a white person, and I understand and greatly sympathize with Ms. Sherrod’s opinions.

Posted by: A.Lincoln | July 20, 2010, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm

“Why on earth would any reporter take anything that Breitbart says seriously? Or believe anything that comes out of his ‘organization’?”
Reporter! It’s the NAACP who condemned her immediately and the White House who fired her immediately (except they say it’s nothing to do with them at all).
The entire knee-jerk reaction results from the NAACP playing the race card and having it played right back on them.
This employee’s firing is collateral damage in the little summer race war the left has cooked up.
Does anybody remember what led to the Beer Summit? Is everybody happier now that our “post racial” president continues in his on-the-job training?

Posted by: Bob | July 20, 2010, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm

Last I heard the NAACP wasn’t releasing the tape of the entire meeting, any idea why? Might there be some other comments they’d rather not have made public? I bet when the tape of the whole meeting is released, and it will be, this lady will wind-up being the most positive, non-racist speaker there…
Has the NAACP released the video from the entire meeting yet?

Posted by: N2vip | July 20, 2010, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm

the story as reported by Diane Sawyer and Co. on World News is misleading to say the least. The liberal bias is astounding. Twice during the case Sherrod’s comments were reported to be 24 years ago and this was the reasoning for her firing. That is simply false and Sawyer knows it. The comments were made this year in March at a NAACP event. The racist actions were 24 years ago. It is obvious from the tape (which was not in 1986) that she was proud of her racist actions. At least the story on the web points out her comments were made in March. THis is precisely why no one watches ABC World News anymore.

Posted by: Chris | July 20, 2010, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

If all of us who are white, were as honest as this black woman about something that happened 24, 34, 44 years ago… we’d all be fired for racist comments we made back in the days of ignorance and racial segregation.
I’d say there is a sad double standard being applied here.
She was talking about something that happened before our kids fighting in Iraq were even born.

Posted by: CHUCK | July 20, 2010, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm

i think it is unfair about the comment she made because black people are discriminated against every day just go to a bank and try to get a loan see how far you will gey with the loan another scenario i was employed with the nations largest employer i was harrassed on a daily basis about my breaks and my white co workers were not!

Posted by: bbw | July 20, 2010, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm

they are giving ms. sherrods the run around.black people as a whole are discriminated against on daily basis the job market,banks restaurants,the movies,real estate you name it i have experienced it firsthand.

Posted by: bbw | July 20, 2010, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

The NAACP isn’t a racist organization just because some folks associated with the organization are.
Just like the Tea Party isn’t racist even though some folks associated with it are.
Sherrod’s firing was obviously a rush to judgement – and a mistake that should be corrected ASAP.
Fox has an agenda – if they’re really fair and balanced, why do they have to keep reminding us?

Posted by: cdp | July 20, 2010, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

Meanwhile Mark Williams remains with the Tea Party Express……

Posted by: Ryan C | July 20, 2010, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

I feel a little sorry for her, but this kind of thing happens to white people every day. Bottom line is, she would scream racism long and loud if a white person had said something similar.
What’s fair for one is fair for all.

Posted by: Henrietta | July 20, 2010, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

This is silly, this was 25 years ago.. and further more the wife of the farmer she HELPED said if it was not this woman..they would have lost their FARM and the Farmers wife also stated today this is a injustice to this woman.

Posted by: ReckonTruth | July 20, 2010, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm

“There are a few of them who get treated like black farmers.”
It still sounds like racism to me, and I am not racist at all.
In fact as a child I stood looking at two yellowing (with egg shell cracks) porcelain drinking fountains wondering why one was labeled colored and one white. To my young eyes both fountains were yellowing!

Posted by: Ed Taylor | July 20, 2010, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm

mr.whisper well to be honest the white farmer didnot know how to farm the black man taught him how to farm!

Posted by: bbw | July 20, 2010, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm

***i think it is unfair about the comment she made because black people are discriminated against every day just go to a bank and try to get a loan see how far you will gey with the loan another scenario i was employed with the nations largest employer i was harrassed on a daily basis about my breaks and my white co workers were not!***
Who goes to the bank to get a loan any more?
And for the record, just because you don’t *see* other people getting reprimanded doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. That’s done in private most places.

Posted by: Henrietta | July 20, 2010, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm

where is the story about the mainstream media being complicit in deflecting the story about Rev.Wright and Obama’s relationship? There is documentation for this accusation. Read it on Fox, you won’t see it on ABC.

Posted by: dot | July 20, 2010, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm

I agree with Benjamin Todd Jealous in regards to this and am surprised that given the track record of both Fox News and Breitbart they allowed themselves to be snookered (its not like this is a first, for crying out loud). Everybody should be on notice and consider this: “Next time we are confronted by a racial controversy broken by Fox News or their allies in the Tea Party like Mr. Breitbart, we will consider the source and be more deliberate in responding. The tape of Ms. Sherrod’s speech at an NAACP banquet was deliberately edited to create a false impression of racial bias, and to create a controversy where none existed. This just shows the lengths to which extremist elements will go to discredit legitimate opposition.”

Posted by: conservatives or con artists? | July 20, 2010, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm

I agree with Glenn Beck, perhaps another Obama rush to judgement. The video should be reviewed and if her story is a she says, she should be returned to her position. Remember the cop who acted stupidly? This administration thinks it can be judge and jury.

Posted by: Downwithsocialism | July 20, 2010, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm

Its ashame. Instead of being used as an example how someone can learn and grow from their experiences, she is being penalized. I can understand it if it were last year or as long as 5 years ago, but 24-25 years ago??? Silly! The Director is just caught up in PC hoopla. Many people have grown from positions of which they at one time believed to be true. We must believe in redemption and that people can learn from abhorrent behavior. Just ashame!

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm

Hey Tapper, is this how JournoList wants this reported?

Posted by: Barney | July 20, 2010, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her — never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers. Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate! In my lifetime I have had to deal with several abusive customers but, just like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her — never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers.
Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate!
In my lifetime I have had to deal with several abusive customers but, like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Racist are sick… fools….stupid…trash…why are we spending time talking about this SCUM??? WHY???

Posted by: Lauren | July 20, 2010, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

What did she say on the tape at a NAACP meeting about a lesson learned in the 1980′s?
When I finally heard the entire tape, I heard her say that she once made the wrong assumption of racism when she worked for some department in the 1980′s.
She said because of that wrong assumption of racism, at first she held back and did not give the white farmer the full extent of help she should of.
Then she said that she realized how the assumption she made about racism was wrong.
Also she said that she returned to that farmer’s case and corrected the wrong she had done, and saved that white farmer’s farm.
She was talking about a lesson learned in the 1980′s and that she never allowed assumptions of racism back into her life again.
Too bad Fox News who did not air the entire tape and gave a misrepresentation of what was on the tape that they were reporting, it’s just too bad that Fox News has not learned their lesson yet!

Posted by: Angie | July 20, 2010, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

I have been denied the right to live a color blind life without prejudice!…I want part of a $1.25 Billion dollar settlement!…maybe more!
No….really!….I AM color blind….colors are messed up…reds and greens, blues and purples and reds…yellows, oranges….all those pastels with funny names! Its not my fault! Yet….how many ways can I tell you I get discriminated against?….street lights…color coded maps….color coded credit swipe machines…”just press the ‘red’ button” gives me pause to take a fifty fifty chance to embarass myself….you laugh! …How many color blind people out there face this same prejudice? I want to sue!!!….I’m tired of watching other people get rich off claims of being injured by this and that!…I want mine!….who’s the lawyer willing to take this class action on?

Posted by: ClarkOHrepub | July 20, 2010, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm

I am white and a Republican. I think they have mishandled this completely. She told a story about how she had a change of heart and how she realized that discrimination can be a two way street. She did her best to help this couple save their farm and did it when she was not an employee of the U.S. government/USDA. It’s essentially a morality story she was recounting to the NAACP. I think a woman who has helped people all her life deserves better treatment than this. She is probably more “color-blind” than the average person. This is so unfortunate on so many levels. She shouldn’t be made an “example of” by the administration when she has done nothing wrong as an employee of the USDA.

Posted by: FBI1976 | July 20, 2010, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm

“On Tuesday Jealous said “with regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias. Having reviewed the full tape, spoken to Ms. Sherrod, and most importantly heard the testimony of the white farmers mentioned in this story, we now believe the organization that edited the documents did so with the intention of deceiving millions of Americans.”
Jealous called his about-face an example of a “teachable moment, for activists and for journalists…Next time we are confronted by a racial controversy broken by Fox News or their allies in the Tea Party like Mr. Breitbart, we will consider the source and be more deliberate in responding.”
…Can’t blame FOXNews or their co-horts because you rushed to judgement! The old saying is SOOO true! “…know thy enemy!”

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her — never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers.
Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate!
In my lifetime I have dealt with several abusive customers but, like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm

Nice try, angie, but Fox news did NOT ask for her resignation. Fox news DID run this story about her being fired and DID run the story about her stating that she was misrepresented. Fox News DID run the story telling that the wife of the (white) farmer actually defended Sherrod. So your Faux indignation at Fox news is pretty misplaced. Now, for your edification….it was a player in the White House staff that demanded her resignation. The White House, aka, obama, demanded that she be punished. Last I checked, Fox News is not even welcome at the white house, much less allowed to make policy there. Now, if she were wrongly punished, it is all on your guy, obama……but like i said, nice try on your (typical) deflection of blame. Man, the “it’s not my fault” game you libs play is really really getting old. 104 more days of it!

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm

I would like someone to interview FOXNews and Breitbart regarding the “breaking” of such news and how they are “standing behind” their reporting of it.

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm

Refreshing piece of jouralism. Imagine that. If there weren’t so many racists amongst their ranks (See:Tea Party Express leader Mark Williams), tea partiers and republicans wouldn’t find the need to hyperventilate over out-of-context quotes. Any intellectually honest person who listened to the whole recording would see how Sherrod was explaining how she learned from her experience, overcame her racism, and changed her way of thinking. The white farmers of whom she spoke are coming to her defense and consider her actions to have saved their farm and they consider her to be a good friend of the family.
I learned this saying from one of my neighbors when I lived in Jamaica, “Half of the story is good. The other half is better.” The reporting by Jake Tapper and Stephanie Smith proves this point.

Posted by: AppeaseThis | July 20, 2010, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm

Ummm…i first read this story on MSNBC……It was also on ABCNews.com, but only about 3 paragraphs, and buried deep in the site. I did a search on it to see whether ABC would even run it. You guys can try to beat up on Fox all you want to….bottom line, it was OBAMA that rushed to judgement…..again. Much like the police officer vs his harvard prof pal, huh? Maybe obama can have Sherrod up for a beer?
At the end of the day, it’s just more proof of the ineptness of obama’s judgement. But of course you libs won’t see it that way…….you still think that this emprorer IS wearing clothes……..

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm

The NAACP had the entire video in its possession, why didn’t the Obama administration ask to review it? Glenn Beck is right when he says context matters. Glenn will not put on any snippets without reviewing the entire video or transcript facts, why does the Obama administration rely on faulty data? Oops, I forgot about Climategate, Copgate, Blame everyone else gate.

Posted by: Downwithsocialism | July 20, 2010, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

“I would like someone to interview FOXNews and Breitbart regarding the “breaking” of such news and how they are “standing behind” their reporting of it.”
I’m sure you will see something like that.
Their target audience is a bunch of lemmings so Fox and Breitbart can just change the subject.

Posted by: Ryan C | July 20, 2010, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

Mytakeonthis….you posted, “……Can’t blame FOXNews or their co-horts because you rushed to judgement! The old saying is SOOO true! “…know thy enemy!”………well, yes,they CAN, and will blame Fox News for this. Of course they will. To do otherwise would require the libs to admit that obama made a mistake….it would mean that they actually are starting to hold obama accountable…….and that just can not happen. It’s not allowed. I’m sure there will soon be a decree stating that this story must be buried…….

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm

WOW if this had been a white person the headline wouldn’t be “taken out of context”….It would probably be like the one early “Hatred in America”…what a load of BS ABC has turned into

Posted by: samhiguchi | July 20, 2010, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm

You know I never hear much about how anyone other than the ‘white people” go around making racist remarks. It is done all the time. We dont hear much about that now do we. It is poor me poor me. Get over it most people yelling and screaming that we are being racist it is just a crutch for them to get money or something out of it. Like said previously 104 more days of this Bullsh*t!!!!!

Posted by: CFO | July 20, 2010, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm

sorry…gotta go. I’m just laughing too hard at all the libs trying their amateur hand at spinning this to become the fault of Fox News. It is pathetically hilarious…especially the part where one of the lemmings is actually saying something about the fox news lemmings!!! and he doesn’t even recognize the sweet irony of it all. **tears in my eyes from laughing so hard..***

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm

Dear Secretary Vilsack: This honorable, honest, hard-working woman should be rehired and promoted.

Posted by: Mary Beth Marvin | July 20, 2010, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm

It’s Faux News and Brietbat that should be FIRED! What a bunch of LIARS! I hope she SUES them for defamation!

Posted by: mshare | July 20, 2010, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm

“Mytakeonthis….you posted, “……Can’t blame FOXNews or their co-horts because you rushed to judgement! The old saying is SOOO true! “…know thy enemy!”………well, yes,they CAN, and will blame Fox News for this. Of course they will. To do otherwise would require the libs to admit that obama made a mistake….it would mean that they actually are starting to hold obama accountable.”
No you can’t. FOXNews & co-horts are who they are. If anything this is just another example of their MO. Something of which they really need to be brought to task on! You on the other hand want to blame the President personally (and with such glee I might add.) The President probably knew nothing of this incident–except now given the fallout. A mistake was made here. The NAACP has acknowledged its rush to judgement and asked that she be reconsidered. However, it is NOW a public relations problem for the White House. The damage has been done. Trust me… Vlisack statement was carefully worded regarding “her decisions will always be questioned.” This is PR speak of; “We’ll make it up to you but we have to look like we stand behind our guy.” It is Bretbart who should really be the one feeling guilty for causing this woman to lose her job. But I’m sure he just views it as another notch in taking down an administration. …A really good American and great example for children…(something of which I’m sure you agree with.) SHEESH!

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm

In all our lives….WE SUPPOSE to grow in our understanding. This woman taught that night! This woman is honorable, and Fox News and the REAL RACIST are hiding behind a fake video that didn’t tell the entire story. Too bad she was fired, and I hope America will stand up to the RACIST elements in our society, and calls them out ONE by One. The Racist doesn’t seem to understand that a divided Nation will FALL! But I thought they were “patriots”……funny isn’t it!

Posted by: sara | July 20, 2010, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm

I hope that Shirley Sherrod sues the pants off of Tom Vilsack. This just continues to show how incompetent the Obama administration is. A bunch of fools like chickens running around with thier heads cut off. Maybe BO will do the right thing and fire Vilsack.

Posted by: InNC | July 20, 2010, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm

Fox news had no more to do with this than did MSNBC and or ABCNews……I read the story earlier on both of these sites. As well as CNN…..so why are you singling out Fox? Well, i know why….hypocrites that you are….

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm

I have seen many post stating that Obama had this lady fired? Where is this info coming from? Please provide proof that this is the case.

Posted by: Jimmy James | July 20, 2010, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm

I have seen many post stating that Obama had this lady fired? Where is this info coming from? Please provide proof that this is the case.

Posted by: Jimmy James | July 20, 2010, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm

As an Asian American, I think she had her chance and enjoyed serving our country. It would be unfair if she or the currently administration to reconsider or offer her again for the position she wouldn’t able to keep, not even talking about something gone questionable.
However, if the administration would need to fill such position, it would be somebody else turn, especially for other minorities normally underrepresented in government. There are many ethnic Americans desire this chance, Asian, Pacific, Hispanics, Arab, Indian-American, Native, Alaskan American, etc. Right?
We would hav another Oscar Grant riot if this position offered to a Black again. It would be Obama’s influence and connection and would be upside down for all of us. You here me?
Private Eyes

Posted by: Asian American | July 20, 2010, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm

Ok, let’s stop the Black and White things. I am tired of hearing it. What about other ethic Americans need to be on the headlines.

Posted by: Asian American | July 20, 2010, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm

“so why are you singling out Fox?”
FOXNews initially aired the doctored tape. Although their written story is complete (can’t speak to if it has been changed–but will give benefit of the doubt) the initial perception (headline & tape) fell more in line with Breitbart’s account.

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm

OMG. She should hire a good lawyer, and sue for $Millions!

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm

It ammasses me to see how stupid the liberals really are. I mean here this women is caught on Video tape bragging to the NACCP about how she refused help to a WHITE farmer and it some how FOX news fault! I mean WHAT???? Even for the brain dead liberals that is out there in never never land. You notice how they do not blame her for her racist remarks just fox news for reporting it. I mean WOW! This is Obama’s people and there running the country. See how that is working out?

Posted by: Wade Johnson | July 20, 2010, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm

” You on the other hand want to blame the President personally (and with such glee I might add.)”……”with such glee” is the understatement of the year. “glee” doesn’t even come close to telling you how good it feels when the clown in the white house steps it it so publicly and then tries to wipe his feet on……..but there’s no one there. So, yeah, glee is right. As far as Sherrod goes….why don’t you try looking at this from a different angle? Sure, this speech to the NAACP was about an incident that happened to her 25 years ago. But the subtle point is, she was essentially bragging about how she handled him (remember, this was before she got the idea that racism was wrong)…she was bragging about it just 18 months ago. Perhaps she was trying to explain her switch in viewpoints, and if so, I admire her for that. But ….now this is an important part….the members of the NAACP were applauding her and laughing (in glee, i might add) at the way she was handling the white farmer.

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm

And if you’d do some research, you’d see that Brietbart TOLD the NAACP that if they insisted on labelling the Tea Party as a racist organization, that he had a video that they would not want released..because it PROVED the racism rampant in the NAACP. So the tape was not about Sherrod….it was not to show HER racism; rather, it was to show the institutionalised racism that is still (at least 18 months ago) permeating the NAACP. And even the white house was too dense to see that. Actually, I believe that the did see it, and simply threw Sherrod under the bus to divert attention away from the real problem…….just try looking at it that way for a moment. And you just might understand my great glee at this uncomfortable moment for obama. He got a pass for rapidly condemning the white police officer at Harvard. Now you guys are making excuses for him AGAIN….and the more you spin, the funnier (and more gleeful) it becomes.

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm

The NAACP attacks the Tea Party where many black people attend and say that there is no racism that they have seen. Yet, the NAACP time and time again have shown how their organization thinly veils their racism. If they want equality and desire to fight racism they need to not be racist themselves. How can they not figure that out?

Posted by: W. Wallace | July 20, 2010, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm

And, mytakeonthis….i read this story initially on MSNBC……….it was quite a bit later before I saw it of the FoxNews site. And it was also on ABCNews.com…..although hidden way in the back. All had pretty much the same dateline………so, this “Fox initially broke the story” is just so much hoo hah……typical deflection

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm

according to Fox News this morning, they didn’t know why she would quit. They said that if you listened to the whole video, she was telling this story to the audience to relate her own growth from realizing she was a racist to understanding and overcoming her past point of view.

Posted by: Debbie | July 20, 2010, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm

This is an object lesson on how the right-wing media distorts things by giving half truths and evidence without context. She should have her job back. What she said was that she realized that she was racist and recognized that her job was to work for all economically disadvantaged people.
The hard right won’t be able to tell the difference between this and all the crappy, racist emails that I get from the right wingers – but that’s life. We have to stand up for what is just – she should get her job back.

Posted by: Mom | July 20, 2010, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm

As this story develops, the dynamic is fascinating. Yes, FOX didn’t completely vet the clipping. The white farmer she helped says he would have lost his farm if not for her help.
Get the whole story, everyone.

Posted by: Mom | July 20, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

I think this lady needs to get her day in court. I don’t think she will get justice appealing to the highest authority in the government. If people have to loose their job for saying something stupid and disgusting every time they say it then we will have a lot of unemployed people in the land of free speech. While I do believe in condensing the government until the deficit is wiped out completely. You should not be able to fire people for the wrong reasons. I am sure there is some other appropriate punishment instead of cruel and excessive one.

Posted by: GJKOTW01 | July 20, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

I am so tired of one-upmanship and gotchas, of knee-jerk reactions.
Everyone involved made mistakes. Some learned from their mistakes, specifically Ms. Sherrod.
No one else did…because there are all pointing fingers.

Posted by: malcat | July 20, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

“I have seen many post stating that Obama had this lady fired? Where is this info coming from? Please provide proof that this is the case.” Jimmy James, if you really need “proof” of this, then you are truly naive. Do you truly believe that a lowly secretary is going to demand the resignation of someone in this situation all by himself? It’s obama’s administration: He’s the boss. It falls on him. But just keep on keeping your blinders on…..and keep on making excuses

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

it may be the case that she was taken out of context. that doesn’t obviate the fact that a white conservative who made equivalent qualified statements would be run out on a rail and any excuses of contextual distortion would be branded falsehoods. the intellectually honest cannot deny the double standard that exists. it’s real and it makes a difference in the political process…to a bitter end.

Posted by: davidfrat21 | July 20, 2010, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm

This is bull, she is a racist!! She said it! If a white guy would say it it would be all over the mainstream media. We are starting to turn your own race agenda against you. I know, you can blame it on Bush!!

Posted by: Dan | July 20, 2010, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm

Let me make an analogy for you JimmyJames: Mr. Stewart, the CEO of BP did NOT drill that well. He did NOT make the decision to bypass any safety systems. But guess who gets the brunt of the blame??? Stewart. Why? Because he was the boss. Now…this firing…perhaps obama didn’t say, “she acted foolishly”, nor “fire her”….but he gets the brunt of the blame. Why? Because he’s the boss. But don’t worry…..he’s teflon….he’ll buy her a beer and it will soon be forgotten.

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 20, 2010, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm

Sherrod’s firing was a mistake based on a sham and lie. Her record needs to be corrected so that everyone knows the correct context of her speech and what really occurred, and she needs to get her job back.

Posted by: Jake | July 20, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm

Do you realize that enemies of our country want us to fight about race to break us apart? Look at it, Blacks, whites, Hispanics are all talking about it. Before Obama became president I thought we had come a long way toward equality. I surely don’t feel that way now. I hate that we are fighting this war of words with people we are neighbors with.

Posted by: Debbie | July 20, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm

I knew there was more to her speech at the NAACP. I was only hearing parts of it, but you could just tell, there was more she would say. We just didn’t get to hear it. I hope Ms. Sherrod is reinstated, and she should be apologized to publicly by everyone that terrorized her on her way home in her car and made her pull over by the roadside and quite. Shame, shame, shame.

Posted by: Joa | July 20, 2010, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm

ncpilot10: I disagree with you. I do agree that I possibly am wrong about FOXNews breaking it the story first. Its more accurate to say that it is where I saw it first. However, if you go to FOXNews even now, there is a Hannity interview with Newt Gingrich of which Hannity is not as transparent with the facts. Hannity does not say; “the incident was 25 years ago,” but says; “It was a while ago.” In fact, he sort of gives the impression (I’m sure quite calculated) as if the incident was recent. He then turns this into a story of “why” the NAACP should apologize to the Tea Party because of the racist statements by Sherrod. Its these little nuances as such which he peppers all throughout the interview.
In no manner did I think Sherrod was gloating as she told her story. My impression is that she was laughing at herself and her stupid “thinking/feeling” at the time of the incident. I think her story is a great one of how we can grow from incorrect positions.

Posted by: mytakeonthis61 | July 20, 2010, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm

If NAACP had never chastised the Tea Party for something they never advocated, this lady wouldn’t have been caught in anything.

Posted by: Debbie | July 20, 2010, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm

I fully support that Ms. Shirley Sherrod should be re-instated to her job. She seems sincere, honest and likely a very valuable employee. How can we help her?

Posted by: InNC | July 20, 2010, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm

24years agao where was Mr TOM?

Posted by: paapaako | July 20, 2010, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm

I hope she sues them.

Posted by: secondlook | July 20, 2010, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm

How about returning the 13 million she received for suing the USDA. What an embarassment.

Posted by: mister marty | July 20, 2010, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm

I think Bill Cosby,& Andy Rooney said it all about everything.I think the NAACP should stay out of it.If the woman did what she said she did then she should be held responsable for her actions.What would happen if she was white & did what she said she did to a black farmer?

Posted by: Teddy | July 20, 2010, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm

Are there no protections for employees who are forced out of a job because of a hit job by a biased media? This woman was caught in a political cross fire and does not deserve to lose her job. She did nothing wrong. Is there no justice for innocent employees in our country?

Posted by: ahumbleopinion | July 20, 2010, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm

You can’t have government officials using terminology like “white farmer” “one of his own kind” , etc. She also told the audience to apply to USDA because they can never be fired. This speech reeked of bias government bureaucrat. Good for Vilsack for firing her.
We should also note she never should have been hired: She is a community organizer who sued the government for $13 million and got $300,000 for her own “suffering”. She did’t suffer, she sues people. I don’t know how she passed a background check.

Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2010, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm

OMG. Conservatives/Republicans are supreme race baiters. They should not be trusted –- wimpy Liberal/Democrat scum should not be trusted either!
Shirley Sherrod should hire a good lawyer, and sue for $Millions!

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm

Is sad that the white has been decived and mislead by a big F O O L. This guy Andew Breitbart has no morals and there is no truth in him. he just want fame and money and he is getting by any means.

Posted by: paapaako | July 20, 2010, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm

OBAMA MADE BACK-ROOM DEALS TO BUY OBAMACARE. HOW MANY LOBBYISTS WILL HE MAKE DEALS WITH TO BUY THE NEXT ELECTION? HOW MUCH HAS HE SENT THE BIASED MEDIA TO DOWNPLAY THE CORRUPTION IN THIS ADMINISTRATION?
IT’S CONCERNING THAT JOURNALISM IN AMERICA IS DEAD.
OBAMA, PELOSI, REID AND AND THE LIBERALS IN CONGRESS, ALONG WITH THE BIASED MEDIA, BASED THE ENTIRE 2008 CAMPAIGN ON LIES. The Black Panther story wasn’t covered by the network news. The ACORN undercover video showing employees helping people posing as criminals was not covered. Obama’s czar Van Jones, friend of Obama, was forced to quit because of crazy statements (he’s a marxist who believes 9-11 might have been an inside job), but that was not covered. A State Department official comparing the Arizona illegal alien law to Chinese human rights abuses was not covered. When Dr. Donald Berwick, the new head of Medicare and Medicaid, said that healthcare should be used to redistribute wealth, there was no coverage. Now a video has surfaced showing Shirley Sherrod, an Agriculture Department official, regaling an NAACP audience with a story about how she withheld help to a white farmer facing bankruptcy — a video that now has forced her to resign — but she’s not going quietly!
WHY DID THE WASHINGTON POST WAIT SO LONG TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS? WHY ISN’T THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA NOT REPORTING THESE ISSUES? WHY DO THEY BLACKOUT STORIES WHEN THINGS BECOME UNPLEASANT FOR THE CORRUPT OBAMA ADMINISTRATION?
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS FULL RADICALS. WILL WE EVER KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ALL OF THEM?

Posted by: THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY | July 20, 2010, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm

Posted by: AMERICAN CITIZEN | July 20, 2010, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm

from one mom to another..mom, you say this is an example of the right wing media distorting the facts..my goodness, do you remember the MSNBC story about a white man bringing a gun to a political rally and the commentary about how racist it was and that these types were out to kill the black president? Of course the video was clipped so you never got to see the actual face of the gun toting BLACK man…this racism stuff is nothing but catnip designed to get the American people’s whiskers in a knot..stay focused on the politicians who are melting down this country and reshaping it! They want to make this about us, it’s about them!!

Posted by: cindy | July 20, 2010, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm

LMAO!… and of course, Fox News was all over this story yesterday with such things as “BREAKING NEWS”, etc. At least the NAACP apologized to Mrs. Sherrod for wrongly believing the right-wing propaganda network. I highly doubt that Fox News would apologize also… they’re not of the same character to do so… and their entire existance is based on feeding bottom feeders.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | July 20, 2010, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm

She is a racist with a big chip on her shoulder and should not be in the position to decide who gets help and who doesn’t.

Posted by: Kathy in Pa. | July 20, 2010, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm

What does she mean the video was “taken out of context” ? ? She was making a speech to NAACP members about how the old, destitute farmer was losing his farm and was making sure she knew he was “superior” to her (her very words), and how little she was going to help the poor guy. Somehow, with her admission, I just don’t see how it could be taken out of context. She just plain outright ratted on herself.

Posted by: MilitaryRetiree | July 20, 2010, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm

The farmer who was the object of this alledged dicrimination says it isn’t true. That’s good enough for me.

Posted by: LongT | July 20, 2010, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm

We really are such whining hypocrites..we just wallow in all of this racisim back and forth while we demand that the sunnis and shiites, who have been hacking each others heads off for centuries, shake hands and make nice for the good of Iraq. (reconciliation) Do as we say, not as we do.

Posted by: cindy | July 20, 2010, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm

Where were all the libs and ABC(one and the same)for the last year and a half on the Black Panther story?Talk about hypocrisy.

Posted by: bobmac | July 20, 2010, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm

MilitaryRetiree Said: “What does she mean the video was “taken out of context”? She was making a speech to NAACP members about how the old, destitute farmer was losing his farm and was making sure she knew he was “superior” to her (her very words), and how little she was going to help the poor guy.”
====================
LOL … MilitaryRetiree… you apparently do no understand the entire story. What was aired by Fox News was NOT the end of her story (they cut the clip halfway through). If you viewed the entire story, you would understand that the point of her story was that she was wrong for feeling the way she did, and that her helping the Spooner family ultimately taught her that race doesn’t matter.
By the way, this entire incident happened while she was working for a non-profit farmer assistance program, NOT the federal government.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | July 20, 2010, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm

Vilsack stands by her firing and Obama stands by Vilsack… enough said..
Obama VS America

Posted by: Yep I said that | July 20, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm

The only reason she supposedly recanted her racist act was the fact that the white farmer called her back because he got no help from the lawyer. She says as much herself in the “longer” version. It’s interesting that ABC likely most of the liberal posters today were the very ones who jumped on Mel Gibson’s “out of context” statements as proof of his racism. Interesting. Very interesting.

Posted by: wantingbalance | July 20, 2010, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm

I believe that this woman was talking about her journey from intolerance to tolerance. She was admitting that she the way she once acted was wrong and that she now thinks differently. I hardly think that it is fair to fire her without looking into all of the facts. Oh, and by the way I am a white tea party supporter. The tea party is simply a rebellion against our tax money being squandered and our constitution being threatened,it’s not about race.

Posted by: 3waymirror | July 20, 2010, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm

I consider myself a Tea Party Member and I would like to see the full tape. After hearing her side of the story, if it is true, she should not have been fired and deserves to have her job reinstated. No one like to be called a racist when they aren’t.

Posted by: grams09 | July 20, 2010, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm

Sherrod added: “The administration was not interested in hearing the truth.”
A video of the full speech — which runs more than 45 minutes — shows that Sherrod was trying to make a very different point from the one her critics saw in her inelegantly worded account of the episode with farmer Roger Spooner. An examination of her own prejudice, she said, taught her that “there is no difference between us.”
“The only difference is the folks with money want to stay in power. It’s always about money, y’all,” she said. “God helped me to see that it’s not just about black people. It’s about poor people. I’ve come a long way.”
Ultimately, she did help the farmer — and on Tuesday, his family was among those who came to her defense. “She’s a good friend. She helped us save our farm,” Spooner’s wife, Eloise, told CNN. “She’s the one I give credit for helping us save our farm.”
Sherrod laid some of the blame on the organization that had sponsored her speech. The NAACP, she told CNN, is “the reason this happened. They got into a fight with the tea party, and this all came out as a result of it.”

Posted by: CHUCK | July 20, 2010, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her — never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers.
Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate!
In my lifetime I have dealt with several abusive customers but, like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.
Conservatives/Republicans are supreme race baiters. They should not be trusted — wimpy Liberal/Democrat scum should not be trusted either!
Shirley Sherrod should hire a good lawyer, and sue for $Millions!

Posted by: James | July 20, 2010, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm

This was way BEFORE she worked for the US GOVERNMENT.

Posted by: CHUCK | July 20, 2010, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm

This woman is a sacrificial lamb so that Obama can try to get back white voters. That’s how dumb he is.
Obama still thinks his dismal poll numbers are about race.
Granted the dismissal of the Black Panthers is disgusting. His pandering to Hispanics by suing AZ is pathetic.
But Obama’s total disregard for taxpayer’s money, the ways he ignores the voter’s wishes, his anti-American apology tours, the constant lying…I could go on and on.
There are many reasons to dislike Obama. His skin color isn’t one of them.

Posted by: kyle | July 20, 2010, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm

Someone is lying.
Shirley says she was harrassed and forced to resign.
The White House denies that.
Considering that the WH has severe credibility problems, I believe her.
What will the Obamamedia do?
They love him and will do anything to cover for him.
But they don’t want to call poor Shirley a liar.
How will Obama get a pass this time?
Poor lapdog media. Obama really has them in a bind.

Posted by: ollie | July 20, 2010, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm

Give this lady her job back! She should have never been fired and she deserves an apology. I am personally sick of the politicizing of race relations and people suffering all for the sake of political appearances. Do the right thing, give her her job back!

Posted by: Lee Milam | July 20, 2010, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm

It’s so easy to blame Fox.
When all the NAACP and the White House had to do was wait to get all the facts before they reacted.
Who acted stupidly this time?
Obama once again.
The buck stops with him.

Posted by: fran | July 20, 2010, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm

This woman seems to not know what she wants or intends to say. Seems like a good candidate to not, repeat not, be in government. There are too many of her type already there.

Posted by: Mariposa | July 20, 2010, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm

The party most at fault here is that liar Brietbart. He publicized an edited tape of the speech, knowing that in truth, the point was the exact opposite of what appeared on the edited tape, because he purposely left out that entire context. Then, to get back at the NAACP for criticizing the Tea Party, he and Fox spread the lie around. Now that we know what the deception was, he needs to be confronted, and the woman needs her job back.

Posted by: Jake | July 20, 2010, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm

When, oh when, will we ever be able to get beyond all this rascist/negative talk??? We are all (everyone on the planet!) 99.99999% genetically the same!!!
United? we can survive anything.
Divided? we can, and perhaps will.. devour and destroy ourselves.
We need to learn how to love,… and how to learn …about each other.
And drop all the anger!!! which accomplishes NOTHING!!

Posted by: Bob Bennett | July 20, 2010, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm

The NAACP has shown its racisits colors many times over. Why is this racist organization even given any print?

Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2010, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm

Kind of embarrassing when Shirley encourages blacks to work for the government/USDA because no one ever gets fired.
Bet the WH didn’t like that endorsement.
With Obama’s massive expansion of government Shirley is probably right.
That’s where the good paying jobs are.

Posted by: hank | July 20, 2010, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm

“She is a racist with a big chip on her shoulder and should not be in the position to decide who gets help and who doesn’t.
Posted by: Kathy in Pa. | Jul 20, 2010 9:40:10 PM”
Do you actually understand English or just plain shameless? Even both Hannity and O’Reilly gave it a pass today.

Posted by: Greg | July 20, 2010, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm

“That’s how dumb he is.
Obama still thinks his dismal poll numbers are about race.
Granted the dismissal of the Black Panthers is disgusting. His pandering to Hispanics by suing AZ is pathetic”
It’s ridiculous to listen to a right-winger’s interpretation of what Obama thinks. The ones who are really dumb are the Republicans, thinking they can win elections by unsympathetically alienating whole voter blocs. Obama’s poll numbers aren’t that bad with about 2 years to go, and on the generic ballot Gallup has the Democrats UP by 6. Those of you who think the Republicans can walk into an easy win in Nov by offering nothing but the same worn-out ideas and Tea party nonsense may be in for a rude shock.

Posted by: Skip | July 20, 2010, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm

Shirley will come to her senses soon.
Probably after an offer she can’t refuse.
Even though she says the WH harrassed her and forced her to step down, by tomorrow Shirley will give Obama a pass and it will all be blamed on Fox.
Isn’t that what always happens?
Obama gets a pass.

Posted by: millie | July 20, 2010, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm

Obama and the NAACP wanted to fire up their base, looks like they got more than they bargained for.
They told lies about the Tea Party and it led to this. Karma

Posted by: manny | July 20, 2010, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm

Both Glenn Beck and Charles Krauthammer of FOX NEWS have come to Ms Sherrod’s defense and don’t feel she should have been fired.

Posted by: hillery | July 20, 2010, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm

Both the Administration and the NAACP threw this woman under the bus. Had this been Black man, they would have defended him first and asked questions later. They would have vetted the Fox story and shown it to be incorrect before calling for his head.

Posted by: G | July 20, 2010, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm

After the pass for Black Panthers by the DOJ and the NAACP issue Obama could not afford another racial problem so soon.
He had to start tossing bones to us white folk. Poor Shirley’s job was the bone.
Wrong again.
I think Shirley should get her job back.
The WH treated her really bad. Reminds me of the crappy way Obama treated IG Walprin.
Obama wanted the guy fired so he accused him of being senile.
Obama is not a nice guy.

Posted by: kyle | July 20, 2010, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm

“When are AA going to admit that Obama does not care about them, except for how they benefit him–votes”
Yeah right. In Righty World Obama only cares about getting their votes so he can stay in office to redistribute wealth to them….the bulbs aren’t real bright on the Tea party tree.

Posted by: Skip | July 20, 2010, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm

Mrs. Sherrod she sue fox news and Breit the liar for SLANDER! Next time the media wants to edit tapes and lie to prove their point….they will think again.

Posted by: concerncitizen | July 20, 2010, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm

What will Team Obama and the MSM do when their favorite political tactic no longer works?
They’ve played the race card so much until it’s become a joke.

Posted by: ollie | July 20, 2010, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm

NAACP and NBPP call tea party racists…and when this video clearly demonstrates the NAACP clapping, cheering and shouting affirmatives to this woman saying that she would not fully help this “white farmer”….Fox news is blamed.
This whole race card pulled by the NAACP and this regime will only lead to their own demise….
Keep it up Obama, Holder, NAACP and the Shabazz. You are the gift that keeps giving…to the Republican party.

Posted by: mjishernameo | July 20, 2010, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm

I feel awful, when I first saw the spliced version of the clip, I thought she was racist, seeing the full version, this poor woman deserves her job back. Her story was a heartwarming story, a story of forgiveness, kindness and redemption. And as for Fox news, I don’t trust them at all how dare they use her to set their tea party agenda. Now I feel awful for crucifying her in my previous comments. Gee this woman was above hatred, and I don’t blame the NACCP for not trusting Fox also. I liked this video, it was extremely forthcoming. I hope the president sees it in its entirety and will make the same plea for her case. I always like to look at all sides of an issue, want to be fair. Sorry Ms. Sherrod for being fooled, you are no racist, God Bless.

Posted by: phantomniter | July 20, 2010, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm

Obama & NAACP, you have demonstrated to the world that you are willing to throw Black women under the bus based on misleading journalism from Fox News.

Posted by: G | July 20, 2010, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm

As I sit and read some of these comments,I start to wonder to myself do some people only believe what they are told, and never bother to gather facts for themselves? This women told a story of something that happen to her 20 years ago, and as soon as some people heard the word WHITE and saw she was black, the jumped all over it. Shame on the WH, NAACP, O’Reilly, and Hannanity for there rush to judgement, and shame on your people who still believes she is a racist.
P.S.
The Black Panther issues was handled by the (BUSH) Dept of Justice.
Kyle

Posted by: Justin | July 20, 2010, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm

The NAACP and has made repeated but unfounded comments toward the Tea Party, stating they are a racist organization. Most of the major media outlets have carried the story without question. The NAACP is a part of the Black Nationalist movement which includes: the Nation of Islam, the New Black Panther Party, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Malcom X just to name a few. This whole movement is overtly, blatantly and unashamedly racist to the core. Do a You Tube search with any of those names if you don’t believe me.
In the past few days there has been a story of an USDA employee by the name of Shirley Sherrod. Earlier this year she was speaking at a NAACP banquet. She was recanting a story from way back in the 1980’s of a white couple in Georgia seeking her help when trying to save their farm. She described her acts of racism and discrimination toward the couple. At the end of her speech she tells how she realized that what she had done was wrong and it changed her life in a positive way. I’m sure the entire video is on You Tube by now so watch it for your self. She ended up resigning from her job today, under pressure from the Obama administration, over the video. I do not have a problem with her and I don’t think she should have been forced to resign.
However, I do have a problem with all the NAACP members present during her speech. As Shirley was telling her story of racism and discrimination the audience’s behavior and language was supportive of her racist actions. Isn’t this the same group making unproven accusations against the Tea Party? What a bunch of lying hypocrites! They’ve been caught in their own trap. The NAACP needs to immediately purge all racists from its ranks. How can they expect to be taken seriously when they are the mirror image of what the pretend to fight against?
I also have a problem with the Obama administration. Here they go again making rash rookie and amateur decisions. They go so quickly into damage control without even getting their facts straight. They force this poor lady to resign for nothing. Is this how they are managing our country? I find that extremely frightening. This administration is in britches way too big for it. It’s quite obvious they don’t really have a handle on exactly what they are doing. What do you expect from a person whose only executive experience is that of a community organizer?

Posted by: Bryan | July 20, 2010, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm

Oh America ! why ?

Posted by: Kwabena | July 20, 2010, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm

Did anybody bother to listen to the people she was speaking to? They agreed with her and were practically cheering her on when she talked about the white farmer vs the black farmer. I believe that was the true racism.

Posted by: Gretchen | July 20, 2010, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm

I’m a Tea Party member and Ms. Sherrod deserves her job back. Shame on this man for editing the tapes to fit his needs. People need to get their facts straight before they make a judgment.

Posted by: grams09 | July 20, 2010, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm

I think that the WH forced her without reviewing the whole tape, in which she makes a point that she learned it was not a black or white thing, but a poor v.s. rich thing. I don’t think she should have lost her job.
I would like to know why ABC news has not covered the new Black Panther controversy in which a number of Black Panther members were shown outside a voting place, one carrying a night club, and another shouting they, “are going to have to kill some crackers. Kill their babies.” A case of voter intimidation was brought but then dropped by the DOJ because they didn’t want to persue a case of black racism against whites. Why was this not covered, ABC? You are a NEWS organization that is supposed to provide your viewers with unbiased information about what is going on, in this case, with our government. You can’t pick and choose what you are going to cover in order to sway the public to your political views. Once you cross that line, you are propaganda and not news. Please choose the right path and present all newsworthy events and all sides.

Posted by: Anna | July 20, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm

“The NAACP and has made repeated but unfounded comments toward the Tea Party, stating they are a racist organization”
Except they didn’t, of course. What they did say was they want the Tea parties to crack down on racist elements within the organization. And in response FOX pulls out a fragment of a 20 year old tape.

Posted by: Skip | July 20, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm

The upside of this is that maybe, just maybe, journalists will start to be much more wary of videos and anecdotes posted online by people like Breitbart. This is now at least Strike Two against him, along with the misleadingly edited “Acorn” videos, a bogus sting that led to the dismantlement of an organization that primarily provided assistance to the powerless and the inner city poor, mostly minorities. I do sometimes start to wonder why much of Mr. Breitbart’s misleadingly edited “sting” attempts seem to be aimed against African-American organizations and people.

Posted by: Ron | July 20, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm

Bryan…..the same people who “respond” in the beginning “responded” the same way through the entire video…..it is called “call and response” it is part of the black culture. As a white person, I understood that. I do it in church it is part of our culture!
What is ironic is the same thing you blame this crowd is doing is the same thing the tea party did in a different fashion. They just didnt speak up against it. Mark Williams is the worst scum bag of the tea party and they “just” supposely kicked him “out” Race has no place in the tea party period. To show that the tea party is arguing with the ncaap is a WASTE of time! They need to focus on American values not how to disagree with “freedom of speech” and then make it their top priorty. What happen to constitutional values that they supported. UGH!

Posted by: concerncitizen | July 20, 2010, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

BTW: The short mention of the Black Panthers voter intimidation case in this article doesn’t count as ABC covering it because it doesn’t explain why it was voter intimidation and an act of racism.

Posted by: Anna | July 20, 2010, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm

Man, Viewers of FIXNEWS should stop watching FIXNEWS. They do this mess all the time people this is not the first or last time FIXNEWS will do this so this is why I and millions of people call that network FIXNEWS. I use to look at FIXNEWS every night until they lied about WMD in Iraq. Yes I am retired Millitary.

Posted by: Joesnopy | July 20, 2010, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm

FYI: The Black Panther voter intimidation occured during the 2008 election of Obama, but the case was not brought up and then dismissed until after Obama was already in office, so the DOJ that dropped the case was under Obama’s watch, not Bush’s.

Posted by: Anna | July 20, 2010, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm

This black woman’s own words prove that she is a racist. If the roles had been reversed and it had been a black farmer and a white woman, I can just imagine the NAACP bitching and they would be demanding that the white woman be fired.
The NAACP is an immoral,hypocritical and black racist organization.

Posted by: Citizen Steve | July 20, 2010, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm

Anna, when people vote for a president? They vote in November. The new president takes oath in January.

Posted by: secondlook | July 20, 2010, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm

if she wasn’t “in the wrong” then she should not HAVE RESIGNED. No, she resigned and will now probably turn up in the Dept of Education or Energy.

Posted by: eric | July 21, 2010, 12:12 am 12:12 am

she should keep her job and not be fired.most of the comments are racist.you should deal with your inner feelings about other races.at least she did admit…….how about you???

Posted by: bob allen | July 21, 2010, 12:16 am 12:16 am

Few have mentioned that in the full video, she accuses Republicans of opposing healthcare “because we have a black president”.
I’m glad the farmer had a good result in the original incident. But Sherrod’s attitude has no place in a professionally-run agency.

Posted by: BillyBilly | July 21, 2010, 12:18 am 12:18 am

This comment was made 24 years ago and she brought it up because she was making a point about it being the wrong thing to do…if some of our leaders in government were held accountable for thier comments 24 years ago, nobody would have a job!

Posted by: Shan | July 21, 2010, 12:20 am 12:20 am

Sure I heard this all day long, but if it happened 23 yrs. ago and she is confessing and has learned not to discriminate from this event, there is no reason to fire her. I’m just sorry that today’s talk shows and reporters did not tell the whole story. That make me even madder that what I heard today. Every one makes mistakes. And many of todays politicions do it on purpose. But confession for give her, God did.

Posted by: CarlB | July 21, 2010, 12:21 am 12:21 am

I sure don’t like the naacp, but a person to confess to wrong doing and change her moral behavior. Now that’s change that makes a difference! not this crap Ola new change in DC that amounts to a pack of LIES, LIES, LIES.

Posted by: CarlB | July 21, 2010, 12:27 am 12:27 am

what is most shameful about this deliberate misinformationm is the Fox propaganda machine’s thinly disguised effort to start a race war.

Posted by: earthmother | July 21, 2010, 12:27 am 12:27 am

There is more racism in this country now more then ever before,why cant we all be human beings,Our President is also racist ,maybe that is the reason.Wake up black america and white america.We are all equal in the eys of God.Lets teach that to the President also.

Posted by: Joseph Ray | July 21, 2010, 12:29 am 12:29 am

See how easy it is to destroy someone with lies and how fast others accept them without facts. This is just a testiment to the evil running rampant
in this society. Far too many out there willing to throw someone under the truck based on what others think and say about someone else without proof. And far too many without backbones, Ms. Sherrod’s boss Tom Vilsak would rather fire her to avoid any controversy, than stand up and support her.
A shame that no one can give a speech, speaking in retrospect, for fear of it being chopped and the only thing left is the initial attitude/deed. How can you show change and growth from previously held ideas, attitudes and performance if not by stating the past?
There goes sincerity and honesty for fear of retrobution.

Posted by: J. Lawson | July 21, 2010, 12:30 am 12:30 am

Vilsack is the one who should be fired. If he had an ounce of intelligence, he would have investigated and verified the accuracy of her statements. And as for Fox News, what a circus!!

Posted by: Gordon | July 21, 2010, 12:33 am 12:33 am

The game of got you is now both black and white!Period!

Posted by: rafalta | July 21, 2010, 12:33 am 12:33 am

25 years ago is 25 years ago,the head of this department didn’t check the date of the original speech;but, he can’t say that he made a mistake. how is he when he makes other decisions ?

Posted by: Celestial | July 21, 2010, 12:38 am 12:38 am

False News….strikes again. Somebody please, pull the plug.

Posted by: Jaydog | July 21, 2010, 12:46 am 12:46 am

Shirley should not have been fired. She wasn’t condoning the way that she felt at that time or the way that she acted at the time. She told the story as a teaching tool against racism of any kind. We need more people of integrity like this in politics. Let’s not fire people that have a conscious and are trying to teach others that prejudice of any kind is wrong.

Posted by: FFrosie | July 21, 2010, 12:52 am 12:52 am

SHAME ON YOU, President BO.
That woman’s heartfelt admission of how she dealt with her own racism in the
Agricultural Dept. was an inspiring story.
If she doesn’t get her job back PRONTO, you won’t get my vote for you in
2012!
I’ll let that freak from Alaska have the job, just out of spite.
How can you win if disaffected-progressives have given up on you???
Please get a clue, and sooner rather than later.

Posted by: Rick Shur | July 21, 2010, 12:56 am 12:56 am

what I find most troubling is that this is now the second time this has been done. Once it destroyed an organization that was doing good and now a person who deserved none of this. Why? For political gain. Who’s? REPUBLICANS!!!!
I’m troubled that people could 1. Support a “news” channel that reports this kind of garbage. and 2. A party that obviously supports this kind of garbage.
Once again we’re seeing the politics of personal destruction perpetrated by the right wing. How can you people honestly vote for these people?

Posted by: dk | July 21, 2010, 12:57 am 12:57 am

How does it feel now? This is the same treatment that Conservatives have dealt with for years. The news is reported, right or wrong, action is takne, jobs lost, positions resigned, careers destroyed… and then some imte later, the truth comes out.
Welcome to the club

Posted by: Steve C | July 21, 2010, 1:00 am 1:00 am

Both Glenn Beck and Charles Krauthammer of FOX NEWS have come to Ms Sherrod’s defense and don’t feel she should have been fired.
Posted by: hillery | Jul 20, 2010 10:48:52 PM
_______________________________________
and I’m sure they spun it as a shame on you Obama thing instead of the shame on your tea party and republican party where the true fault lies.

Posted by: dk | July 21, 2010, 1:01 am 1:01 am

Give me a break!! If you are not a person of color and are as old as she is, you probably will never understand!! Back in the day-when I was in the army the conversation was the same [its ok]. So please wake up, things have changed at least on the surface, so get over it!! As most of you know or act like you don’t know most things are run by old white men, Christian religions, TV networks, etc….so wake up and let her finish her career!! Pendejos…………

Posted by: Jaime Ortiz | July 21, 2010, 1:02 am 1:02 am

Ms. Sherrod deserves her job back. And Fox news, well this has put them in hot water. This is a human being, if theyhave an issue with the NAACP, don’t make up news and destroy a person’s reputation in the process. This person didn’t deserve that, especially watching that tape in its entirety. I surely have learned my lesson, (I hope). Well I suppose they did one good thing, they demonstrated their vindictiveness and how they would go about it to prove something that isn’t there. And I always try my best, don’t always succeed to comprehend both sides of an issue, gee no place for the independents these days.

Posted by: phantomniter | July 21, 2010, 1:08 am 1:08 am

I am a Conservative and a Republican and I just stated that Shirley should not have been fired and that her statement was taken out of context, but trying to use this against the Tea Party is ridiculous. The media constantly shares just what they want you to hear instead of telling the whole story. This isn’t an isolated case. If it is true that later on in her speech that she stated that people did not want the Healthcare bill, because Obama is black; that is a discriminatory racist comment and is crap. The comment made that the NAACP would have been all over this if it had been a white person that made those comments is also true. If the media wants to go after people why don’t they go after the people that Obama has put into czar positions or tried that have “way out there ideas” and ties to communism, etc., such as Van Jones, Kevin Jennings, John Holdren, Chai Feldblum and Anita Dunn.

Posted by: FFrosie | July 21, 2010, 1:32 am 1:32 am

Hopefully Vilsack will come to his senses and reinstate Ms. Sherrod. If he thinks that by wronging her he can make right the historical wrongs alleged to have been done by the USDA – he deludes only himself.

Posted by: Cia | July 21, 2010, 1:56 am 1:56 am

Vilsack is a FOOL and he is the one that should be sacked. He fired this lady without doing a full investigation and her words were taken completely out of context. She was telling a story of how she grew and how she USED to think, 24 years ago BEFORE her current job. Is this the kind of people Obama is surrounding himself with? As an Obama supporter, I am VERY VERY disappointed with this type of foolishness. This woman should be reinstated immediately! I tried calling the White House today but called a little too late (switchboard was closed??). I will be calling the first thing in the morning.

Posted by: AngieJ | July 21, 2010, 2:21 am 2:21 am

Don’t know about racism but I do know about how USDA covers up animal abuse!

Posted by: Lawrence Tells | July 21, 2010, 2:25 am 2:25 am

The purpose of the video had nothing to do with whether the speaker was still a racist, it was to show that the NAACP audience laughed everytime the speaker mentioned how she discriminated against the farmer based on his race. The NAACP is every bit as racist as the KKK or the Black Panthers. They are a disgusting organization that spreads race hatred in order to keep racism alive and keep the donation flowing in to support their greedy leaders. They make me sick.

Posted by: Bret | July 21, 2010, 2:26 am 2:26 am

What doea thecolor of someone’s skin have anything to do with anything. Why did she care if the farmer was white, black, or purple for that matter?

Posted by: Karen | July 21, 2010, 2:27 am 2:27 am

Let’s turn this around:
Assume Bush is in power.
Assume Ms. Sherrod has the same postion, but is white.
Assume the farmer is black.
Who here thinks these reporters would have issued such a detailed apologia?
Nobody?
Thought so.

Posted by: Winston Lee | July 21, 2010, 2:52 am 2:52 am

Maybe liberal society will finally accept that racism against whites actually DOES exist.

Posted by: EPU | July 21, 2010, 3:17 am 3:17 am

What bothers me about this, is that FOX and Breitbart are still pretending the woman is a racist. She went OUT of her way 25 years ago to save their farm.
If you follow the story, INITIALLY, she only did what the minimum was, then she took their case to heart and fought for them tooth and nail.
The first lawyer (who was WHITE) dismissed the farmer and his wife. This lady then went to battle for them.
She said that treatment of those poor people opened her eyes.
Her father also was apparently murdered by a white farmer 45 years ago, so this should be a lesson for us all in humanity.
God Bless America.

Posted by: Chuck | July 21, 2010, 3:27 am 3:27 am

This also happened way before she worked for the government, 3 decades ago.
Funny, how hateful we have become towards each other as a society.
We are ALL Americans.
The sadness is that our kids are dying overseas to protect America and we have hate mongers who would destroy our nation, here at home.

Posted by: Chuck | July 21, 2010, 3:30 am 3:30 am

Well, I finally watched the tape on CNN.
No one in the audience was cheering and applauding racism.
They were a few saying, ‘uh huh’ and ‘Yes’, like an old time religion church gathering.
I am appalled at the lies and misinformation on FOX.

Posted by: Chuck | July 21, 2010, 3:34 am 3:34 am

Assume the President was Reagan
What would Reagan had done?
He would have investigated it first.
Then he would have found out that Andrew Breitbart had spliced and cut the Tape to falsely represent the contents of what was said on the tape.
He would have found out that Fox News was very misleading in their reporting for not showing the full content of the tape.
And both Andrew Breitbart and Fox News network would have been in deep trouble for deliberately misrepresenting an employee of the government.
Now isn’t there a law about giving false testimony? Oh yeah, it’s called Perjury.
To bad there is no law against deliberately giving FALSE REPORTING that led to the victim of the false reporting getting fired and their careers destroyed with their lives ruined.
Guess we just have to wait for both Breitbart and Fox News Network CEOs to pass away so they can come face to face with God and try to explain this one to him.

Posted by: Angie | July 21, 2010, 3:44 am 3:44 am

I am a little shocked at the response concerning Fox News it is obvious you are not watching.Did you watch the CNN interview? It was the White House calling for her to resign are we ignoring that? Is that ok that they are the ones calling for her to resign? America you better wake up and watch all the news stations,read other news on the Internet,even Fox.
Make an Informed decision.
I am sorry Ms Sherrod that you were forced to resign while your driving down the road by the White House because they said you were going to be on Glenn Beck.
Shame on this reporting!

Posted by: Tracy | July 21, 2010, 4:11 am 4:11 am

A word to the wise ,when dealing with Racism & Racist “LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP” and most certainly Get your FACTS before you draw any type of conclusion. Racist & Racism is a dirty game that relies on lies,deceit & illusions. They pray on the emotions and hatred of people ,

Posted by: sieben13 | July 21, 2010, 4:58 am 4:58 am

Republicans candidates would be smart to distance themselves from this Tea Party act of vengeance.
“oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”

Posted by: Shelly | July 21, 2010, 5:25 am 5:25 am

To me it looks like Fox news and its cohorts are nothing more than simple racist who have a platform to spew their hateful comments. Anyone with an ounce of ethics would have done their research before posting such a video or running this story on their news show. Fox doesn’t care because their agenda has always been right-wing and they will spew anything just to push their hateful agenda. Sad that something 20 something years ago is now made to be something of relevance and the circumstances were misrepresented.

Posted by: Anthony Ravenell | July 21, 2010, 5:41 am 5:41 am

Tracy, I’m not shocked in the least about the left’s attack on FoxNews. Matter of fact, I totally expected it. It’s all they got. When you have a portion of society that has been raised with a “poor me, i’m a victim” mentality, that portion of society finds it very difficult, if not impossible, to take responsibility for their own actions. So they look for a scape goat. Fox News is the most available scapegoat for the left’s bad behavior. Mark my words, though. It won’t be more than a day before they somehow twist and spin this story to include Sara Palin into it as yet ANOTHER of their villains. This story “broke” at the same time on all of the networks. The exact same video was shown on all of the networks (again, it was hidden way in the back of ABCNews.com, but it was their). Yet, it’s Fox’s fault. And most of the left is (intentionally, i think) missing the point. Bierbart was not trying to vilify Ms. Sherrod. He was pointing out the REACTION of the NAACP to her story about mistreating a white farmer. The NAACP members didn’t understand that she was maybe saying her racist actions were wrong….they were listening to her mistreating the white farmer. And here’s what Biebart was trying to emphasize: The NAACP member hooted, jeered, and cheered Ms. Sherrod’s words. And, Chuck? It was there. I never listened to the tape on Fox…i listened to it on CNN…and the cheering for the racist behavior was loud and clear. I’m still of the belief that Sherrod was asked to resign to divert attention from the real point of the YouTube tape: that point is that the reaction of the NAACP to her words shines a very bright spotlight on the inherent racism in the NAACP. So, of course, they are going to blame Fox.

Posted by: ncpilot10 | July 21, 2010, 5:47 am 5:47 am

I moved to Europe because I couldn’t stand the stupidity engulfing the American nation. Too many idiots for own taste.

Posted by: Carlos a. garcia | July 21, 2010, 5:51 am 5:51 am

Fox news it’s the culprit here it’s the blogger who misrepresented the facts. As always all Fox did was port a story they knew the main stream ( old ) media would not cover. The bigger story here is how quickly the administration and the NAACP were to throw this lady under the bus.

Posted by: hkdakota | July 21, 2010, 5:54 am 5:54 am

I don’t quite understand why folks get so detailed into this mess. Racism is racism is racism. Yes, it is also black on white, as white on black and latino against black and black against latino and white against latino and latino against white. Come on. It’s WRONG no matter who is being racist and removing someone from a position who can’t separate that from their job, needs to leave that job. We, as a whole society, will never learn if we keep breeding racism. It can’t be tolerated at any level.

Posted by: J | July 21, 2010, 6:13 am 6:13 am

The Tea Party people are not only angry at the NAACP for claiming that their opposition to the President’s policies is just a matter of racism but for the claims made by Rep Lewis during the end of the healthcare debate when he claimed that Tea Party protesters spat on him and shouted racial slurs. There has been no evidence of the event at all and yet the seemingly false and blatantly inflammatory lie continues to be repeated. Tea Party people are taking the President’s advice – “Get in their face and push back twice as hard” That’s where the blame lies.

Posted by: BDT | July 21, 2010, 6:18 am 6:18 am

As the female morning spokesmodel said on FOX News,”Being a reporter is just like being the President, sometimes when there is no news you just have to make it up.” Now you can draw your own conclusions on that one but FOX and all the other media have a long history of taking things out of context. After all, FOX is owned by Rupert Murdoch, the king of the tabloid. I’m just surprised they didn’t say she was abducted by an alien. :)

Posted by: speedy | July 21, 2010, 6:49 am 6:49 am

carlos a. garcia, europe’s a lot better, huh? with bums like berlusconi fleecing the italians, sarkozy and his buds taking payoffs from a billionaire french spinster, british politicians robbing the tax payers blind with personal slush funds, rampant anti-semitism, scandinavian “white cultural preservatio laws,” not to mention the occassional ethnic cleansing civil war. yeah, europe’s so much better.

Posted by: davidfrat21 | July 21, 2010, 6:50 am 6:50 am

naacp head ben jealous says that new black panther party is a creation of fox news.

Posted by: davidfrat21 | July 21, 2010, 6:51 am 6:51 am

BDT…. I’m just curious. Between 2001 and 2007, we had a Republican congress (Senate and House) and the national debt climbed just during those 6 years by 3 trillion dollars. That’s when we had so-called “fiscal conservatives” in the White House, Senate and House?
QUESTION: Where was this “Tea Party” back then?
ANSWER: Oh, I get it …yeah…sure…right-wing “fiscal conservatives” were in control of all that spending back then, so there was need to “take our country back”.
LOL…. Tea Party=Republicans in Sheeps Clothing (and yes, I am talking about the sheeps that the bible warned us about). They want their country back only so they get to decide on how the future trillion dollars are spent!

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | July 21, 2010, 6:59 am 6:59 am

davidfrat21 Said: ” with bums like berlusconi fleecing the italians, sarkozy and his buds taking payoffs from a billionaire french spinster…”
======================================
It’s funny that you mention “Berlusconi” (conservative side of the Italian political spectrum), and “Sarkozy” (conservative side of the French political spectrum).
You failed to mention the connections between me (GeorgieBushie)–>Cheney–>Iraq–>Haliburton/KBR.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | July 21, 2010, 7:04 am 7:04 am

What has happened here is the NNACP by calling Tea Party members racist without any evidence to that accusation has started a verbal race war.

Posted by: hkdakota | July 21, 2010, 7:10 am 7:10 am

This is horrible! It’s not enough to be tolerant, color-blind and unbiased today. Unless your were always tolerant, color-blind, and unbiased, you’re no good. Does that mean that no one can repent, no one can have a change of heart, and no one can grow? If so, then why improve? Sad.

Posted by: Steve | July 21, 2010, 7:37 am 7:37 am

A racist attack that DOES NOT make it into the Fawning Corporate Media:
“SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Southwest Workers Union’s living quarters, called “Solidarity House,” was sprayed with 15 rounds of semi-automatic rifle fire early Sunday, July 11. A 23-year-old man, James Domingue, was severely injured. His pelvis was shattered by bullets. He remains in critical condition in the hospital.”
We have racists going around shooting people and the FCM won’t cover it.

Posted by: Flash Override | July 21, 2010, 8:03 am 8:03 am

George S,
I can’t believe that you just stated that Andrew was wrong about Shirley. It makes it hard to trust that you are working to bring a balanced report when you make these kinds of comments. I think you need to decided where which side of the table you want to sit – the side of the reporter or the side of the person being interviewed.
that said, I don’t see where this was about Shirley. My first reaction to the video was the comments from the audience at the NAACP. And as Andrew is pointing out to you, the racism in the audience is the issue. And I believe the media are finally staring to understand that it is a bigger issue in this country that has been acknowledged. And it’s not just with the ultra-conservatives – it is just that they are the ones that are speaking up the most. Listen George and you’ll hear that it is getting louder.

Posted by: Forrest | July 21, 2010, 8:07 am 8:07 am

Uh…excuse me….we have a “much bigger problem here than most of you are talking about. What we have here is a “poisonous atmosphere” that allows frauds like “Faux News” and “Andrew Breitbart” to proliferate. It is simply called a “dumbed down electorate” that is conditioned to only think in “black and white terms” and whose penchant is to “listen to and believe SOUNDBITES”. That being said, someone like Breitbart ought to be sued into oblivion for the fraud he just committed that affected a good person’s life.

Posted by: CND FOX | July 21, 2010, 8:18 am 8:18 am

This is Ridiculous and doesn’t require a Health Bill length blog story which is an indication of ___________ . (not hard to fill in the blank)
The White House should rehire Shirley Sherrod, it is shameful that they threw her under the bus in the first place an indication of the type of people running the show there.
Then we can get back to the real issue,
“Video Proof: The NAACP Awards Racism – 2010.”
as if anyone really needed proof that the NAACP is racist.
Their name says they are.

Posted by: Noz | July 21, 2010, 8:33 am 8:33 am

And “Noz” those people that the NAACP represents…they have never ever been “discriminated against in their history”…is that what I here you sayin? I would say that people like you are a huge part of the problem that exists in tody’s world of “Faux politics”.

Posted by: CND FOX | July 21, 2010, 8:39 am 8:39 am

Just goes to show that FOX “News” is just another one of Rupert Murdochs tabloids and not even close to a real news agency. Then again, that shouldn’t be news to anyone who does their homework or pays attention.

Posted by: speedy | July 21, 2010, 8:40 am 8:40 am

Posted by: hillery | July 21, 2010, 8:58 am 8:58 am

This paragraph is somewhat misleading:
“For decades, black farmers have said the Agriculture Department unfairly denied them loans or took much longer to process their loans. A class-action lawsuit against the Department followed. Earlier this year, the Obama administration agreed to a $1.25 billion settlement.”
The class action suit was decided for the farmers against the USDA in 1999, before Obama was elected. Black farmers who had been discriminated against were already receiving checks from the Bush administration Dept of Agriculture.
The statement is factually incorrect. What the Obama administration did was to get congress to budget the money to pay for the settlement.
Why is this important? Two reasons: first, Jake and Stephanie play into the racist meme that Obama is overly generous to Blacks. Secondly, it is important to remember the tricks that the Bush administration played to keep all manner of expenses “off budget” and thus make the Bush deficit appear less than it actually was.

Posted by: Flash Override | July 21, 2010, 9:07 am 9:07 am

This shows how unfair decisions are made by people making decisions based on incomplete information. This is the same problem with the action that the NAACP made relative to the Tea Party!

Posted by: tillyerkt | July 21, 2010, 9:09 am 9:09 am

“And “Noz” those people that the NAACP represents…they have never ever been “discriminated against in their history”…is that what I here you sayin?”" – CND FOX
Of course not.
You can be a victim of racial discrimination while being a bigot yourself.

Posted by: Noz | July 21, 2010, 9:18 am 9:18 am

And “Noz”…with your 9:18 post…aren’t you “indicting and convicting” yourself with that explanation???

Posted by: CND FOX | July 21, 2010, 9:42 am 9:42 am

“And “Noz”…with your 9:18 post…aren’t you “indicting and convicting” yourself with that explanation??? ” – CND FOX
No sir, I am not.
or perhaps
No Madam, I am not.

Posted by: Noz | July 21, 2010, 10:01 am 10:01 am

Well Noz…looking back at your original posting of 8:33…you sure “fooled me”.

Posted by: CND FOX | July 21, 2010, 10:21 am 10:21 am

FACTS:
Racism: racial prejudice or discrimination…
Discriminate: 1 a: to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of…
2: to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences…
1 a: to make a distinction
2: to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit…..
Time for LOGIC to take the place of SPIN…

Posted by: Parallex View | July 21, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am

“Well Noz…looking back at your original posting of 8:33…you sure “fooled me”.” – CND FOX
I don’t see how I could have fooled you about anything.
I basically just said that the NAACP is a racist organization by it’s very nature.
That’s just common knowledge isn’t it?

Posted by: Noz | July 21, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am

As our President said about authorities involved in another race-related incident recently: “They acted stupidly.”
–The Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling for an apology from the Obama administration for ousting an Agriculture Department employee now at the center of a racially tinged firestorm.–

Posted by: Libs and the Lying Liars Who Elect Them | July 21, 2010, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

“Libs and the lying…” …and what is your point with bringing up Jesse Jackson? What makes you think that those of us who despise and detest right wing thinking and ideaology listen to him?

Posted by: CND FOX | July 21, 2010, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

Although I understand the anger toward Fox News and Brietbart, I think we are also overlooking the bigger picture. Ms. Sherrod, by her own admission, was at first not willing to help this farmer because of his color. Now, whether or not she did is a different story, but for now, just to make a point, I’d like to say that bigotry, racism, preconceived attitudes, etc. come from ALL races, colors, creeds and sexes.
Yes, the story SHOULD have been investigated further before everyone jumped on the bandwagon, but you cannot deny that her ‘thoughts’ toward white people (including this farmer) were biased at first. She seems to have ‘learned a lesson’ in her own words. I wish we all could. But we’ve GOT to remember that you cannot simply continue to target whites as the only ones who express racism. That is unfair, wrong, and only serves to make the divide even wider.

Posted by: Shoe | July 21, 2010, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

“…and what is your point with bringing up Jesse Jackson? What makes you think that those of us who despise and detest right wing thinking and ideaology listen to him?”
Posted by: CND FOX | Jul 21, 2010 2:14:17 PM
The powerful Congressional Black Caucus and this Marxist White House still listen VERY CLOSELY to Jackson.

Posted by: Libs and the Lying Liars Who Elect Them | July 21, 2010, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm

.. there they go turning to God and guns..and Fox News.

Posted by: Dontget818 | July 21, 2010, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm

“Although I understand the anger toward Fox News and Brietbart, I think we are also overlooking the bigger picture”
The lengths right wingers go to defend an admitted LIE shows how pathological dishonesty goes hand in hand with the ideology.

Posted by: Ryan C | July 21, 2010, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

“The lengths right wingers go to defend an admitted LIE shows how pathological dishonesty goes hand in hand with the ideology.”
Posted by: Ryan C | Jul 21, 2010 5:40:52 PM
The NAACP had the COMPLETE tape and the Truth, and still chose right off the bat to denounce Sherrod as racist.

Posted by: Libs and the Lying Liars Who Elect Them | July 21, 2010, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm

Ummm….Obama’s Admin fired the employee and…wait for it….not Fox News, not even G. W. Bush….Get Real…..

Posted by: Parallex View | July 21, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm

“The NAACP had the COMPLETE tape and the Truth,”
Good point.
Never believe a right winger.

Posted by: Ryan C | July 21, 2010, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm

Never, and I mean Never trust an ultra liberal especially a liberal journalist with an agenda….example the “journal-list.”

Posted by: Parallex View | July 21, 2010, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm

I don’t see where Mrs. Shirley has committed any crime we do have freedom of speech in the UNITED STATE when white have committed all these crime against Blacks hang them from trees .killing them just because the color of their skin when they did try them they where to old to stand trail and how old is this tape. We… can’t walk around keep thins build up inside side of us as our parents had to endure for years . Or is they said anything they where silents.President Obama should meet with her. All they has said about President Obama and the oil spill they wasn’t nice how van you blame the president for that. How can you blamed the president for plant’s closing/ people losing their job( WHY DID NO ONE BLAME BUSH FOR THE MESS HE CREATED AND LEFT FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA ) What is wrong with people in the world we had to forgive people for what happen to our parents and great great parents years ago. Who going to forgive you People treat other the way you want to be treated and stop finding f…

Posted by: doll | July 22, 2010, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

I am not surprised by the discrimination claims. The USDA is known for their discriminatory behavior. There are documents, tapes and witness to the constant discrimination by the dept. Gender discrimination is as alive and well as is racism. USDA uses the legislation that government employees can’t be held responsible for their actions to the hilt. They constantly discriminate and there is nothing the public can do about it. They are immune from following their agreements, regulations and contracts. There word is not to be counted on. This is all documented. I have written multiple times to the Secretary and Acting Secretary of USDA. I have never received even a simple response. Their motto as stated is “This is a Good Old Boys Agency and we do not want Women owners” It is a power play by USDA staff and is condoned by their leaders it. It is shocking the discrimination that goes on within the agency and how staff back each other in continuing the cycle. I wish you the best Shirley Sherrod and would be happy to provide further comment or documents on the discrimination that is alive and well in USDA.

Posted by: margaret | August 30, 2010, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

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Former Agriculture Department Official Denies Racism, Is Backed By Fuller Video; Secretary Vilsack Stands By Her Firing*

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