Hillarysworld

Sanders · Diamond

Shirley Sherrod SCANDAL: Democrats, Republicans Unite To Insist She Be Rehired (VIDEO) (Huffington Post 7/21/10)

jdona · Platinum

I don't honestly know what I think about this yet Sanders. A lot of what she said was just undeniably racist. I don't think you can excuse it by stating Senator Byrd ended up being a good senator even though he was KKK. 2 wrongs don't make a right. Byrd was wrong, and a lifetime of service still can't erase the blot of his KKK membership. Can people redeem themselves, sure. I'm just not conviced she really shed that original skin of racism. I think she did her job because that was what she got paid for, but I don't honestly believe she somehow miraculously became race neutral. I just don't know what to think yet.

freespirit · Moderator

I saw the tape aired on FOX, first, and at the time I saw it I felt that she was getting a bum rap. My sense was that she was discussing her struggle to have the same empathy for whites that she did for blacks, knowing that many blacks had lost their land, as well (and probably with a smaller chance of getting them back - imo). She was being honest about an action she regretted in not helping a white farmer years ago.
I had not even heard of this issue before seeing her on the FOX tape, and my initial thought was that she was trying to acknowledge an error, while pointing out that she had since grown and regretted her action.

Now, IMO, that's about all we can ask of people. Who has not screwed up (especially as a young person, then, having had the insight to recognize our mistake, changed our approach. I applaud her willingness to engage in self-reflection and self-criticism. Her former boss could take a lesson.

BTW - I saw her later on AC 360, along with an 88 year old white farmer who said that he had exhausted all hope of help in saving his land. She saw the unfairness of his situation, and knowing that there was little time left to file the appropriate papers, contacted a lawyer she knew in a nearby town, and saved this man's family land.

Building 4112 · Moderator

I tell you we are living in a upside down society! I hope she sues and sues. I'd be damn if I would go back to work there.

Sanders · Diamond

I had followed the story from the get-go from the day it was posted by Breitbart on BigGovernment.com and knew almost instantly that it was an edited clip.

It surprises me that Tom Vilsack made a decision not by watching even the edited clip rather by looking at a transcript of the edited clip. For a lawyer to make an employment decision on an employee based on transcript (7% of the communication) when the video with tone and body language (the rest of the communication) is available to him is simply mind bogging.

When I saw her on John King on CNN I thought this woman is confident that she has done no wrong.

Then I saw the full clip.

Heavens, she even explained the context. She felt put down in the situation by this farmer... and her initial instinct was something that she overcame. When she shared her initial instinct.. the audience laughed/cheered -- the audience was wrong. Do I like it that she had those thoughts? No. Can I understand it, Yes, of course.

If we need to hold every single human being to the standards of perfection, I am sure we will not be able to heal race relations ever in this country.

Yes, Shirley Sherrod has now been offered a different job in USDA .. and perhaps that might have fair and just rationale, but I have to wonder why not the same job. In her place, I would ask for the exact same job even if I did not like it! It is something about redressal and fairness. You expect that the situation is turned back 100%.

But, we know it can never be 100% back to normal for Shirley even if she accepts the offer.

Yes, she would be well within her rights to sue. And, yes, she might sue if she is not offered the exact same job... and if she feels in any way slighted. She is fully within her rights to question why she must pay for the mistakes of her management. Yes, they can say she is employee at will, but hey there is fairness concept.

All that said, my take on Shirley... the Shirley I saw in John King is very unlikely to sue USDA. She strikes me as a conscientous person. Somehow I could relate to her even though I would never have the thoughts she shared.

-------------

On the highly germane matter of irresponsible 'journalism' by Breitbart and Beck... both lost their credibility.

I wonder if Shirley might sue Breitbart for libel and slander. Hmm...

-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 12:04:39 AM

Jen the Michigander · SuperModerator

I saw Breitbart on TV earlier today. He said his purpose in airing only that one clip from the video is that he wanted to emphasize the audience at the NAACP event applauding and cheering when Ms. Sherrod talked about her negative feelings toward whites. Not that that makes it any better. It's race baiting and a woman lost her job because of it-- and this is someone who was speaking about overcoming one's own prejudices, which is a good thing. But that part of the video was initially edited out.

VotedHillary · Platinum

As to Breitbart and Beck, enough irresponsible journalism already!

Saunders, ALL the media outlets had a hand in this....and they should all be ashamed. This is not just strictly the two you listed. The "hyper-PC" media unless it is someone they don't support has shown its true colors (no pun intended) with this incident.

RIP the Fourth Estate....1776-2008.

Sanders · Diamond

Jen the Michigander wrote:
I saw Breitbart on TV earlier today. He said his purpose in airing only that one clip from the video is that he wanted to emphasize the audience at the NAACP event applauding and cheering when Ms. Sherrod talked about her negative feelings toward whites. Not that that makes it any better. It's race baiting and a woman lost her job because of it-- and this is someone who was speaking about overcoming one's own prejudices, which is a good thing. But that part of the video was initially edited out.

Yep, I saw that when he said that on John King day before yesterday.. and that segment (to come) was aired even earlier in the day in another show on CNN in the evening.

VH, Breitbart is the originator of the clip and is not taking responsibility for what he has done - well he has risks. A charge of libel does not require intent to be proven; hence the journalists must be extremely careful in what they post. It was upto Breitbart to interject after that clip he chose and say something like the following: Sherrod went onto say how she overcame her initial covert bias and assisted the farmer... but look what the NAACP members in the audience did! If he had said that, that would have been the correct way to portray the clip without causing harm to an individual.

Yep, journalism is steadily on the decline. At times, I think I am more careful than some journalists in doing basic research about a person/organization before posting even found articles. It is really too bad that journalists with their callous articles may result in exactly what we do not want - a regulated industry with certifications for journalism who may be set apart from others, etc. I really would not be surprised if that resulted from this case. Protecting the "at large" individuals and the innocent is what the government steps in to do.

Meanwhile, clearly the charge of racism meted on the tea party groups has hit home. Breitbart was asking if the left media will "give us the tea party" a chance to .... That little "us" was a very telling word from Breitbart especially when it came out in the interview with CNN on John King. John King did not remark on that, but I noted it with great interest.

I used to visit Breitbart daily as a source of aggregated news.. but the site has lost its charge, of late, especially because he is absolutely so one-sided in his reporting. I did though like his sheltering James O'Keefe and Hanna Giles even though he did not sponsor them.

Dan Rather lost his way in journalism by being over-enthusiastic in his reporting - he made up his evidence. At least he was in the political sphere and he had his story accurate although he did not have the supportive material at hand to enunciate the full extent of the story. What Breitbart did is not quite Dan Rather... but worse in some ways - he disregarded his responsibility to the individual in carving a piece of their words and took it out of context and used it as a prop for another storyline. Individual person should not become collateral damage in a person's organizational/political interest/warfare.

Journalists should remember that the pen is mightier than the sword. Words do matter.

I sincerely hopes Shirley Sherrod holds Breitbart accountable.

-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 10:27:27 AM

Sanders · Diamond

Fired USDA official receives apologies from White House, Vilsack (Washington Post, 7/22/10)

President Obama speaks to Shirley Sherrod (Reuters, Yahoo! News, 7/22/10)

Yep! Not quite beer summit, but same concept..

Anyway, I hope Shirley Sherrod gets her old job or a better one. And, I hope she holds Breitbart accountable for the loss of face that she has experienced. No journalist should be allowed to harm an individual to the extent that that she has lived through without having to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, Shirley is indeed in a unique place to speak up on the issue of race relations. We might hear from her a lot more in the future. If she does, it is a very good way to leverage her experience... and I hope she does so in a very responsible way to improve human relations all around in the US.

Sanders · Diamond

Jul 22, 4:02 PM EDT

Obama apologizes to ousted Agriculture official (AP 7/22/10)

Excerpt:

Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart has said he posted the edited video of Sherrod's remarks to illustrate that racism exists in the NAACP, an argument he was using to counter allegations by the civil rights organization of racism in the tea party movement.

"He was willing to destroy me ... in order to try to destroy the NAACP," Sherrod said Thursday of Breitbart, who she said had not apologized to her.

Breitbart has not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Breitbart offered a narrow correction on his website, BigGovernment.com, acknowledging that Sherrod's remarks about hesitating to help a white farmer referenced something that took place before she worked for the government. The site had previously said Sherrod's comments were about her work as a USDA employee.

However, the site has not backed off its claim that Sherrod's remarks are racist and still labels the Sherrod posting with the heading, "Video Proof - The NAACP Rewards Racism."

Sherrod has said Breitbart appears to have intentionally misconstrued her speech and that she might consider suing him for defamation.

Full article at this link.

------------------------------------------------------

I am not at all surprised that she might sue Breitbart and BigGovernment.

=------

added link

-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 11:22:17 PM

Sanders · Diamond

Video of Shirley Sherrod Speech in full is at NAACP.

Read @ Chron.com

Sherrod gets biggest 'I'm sorry' _ from Obama

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Writer © 2010 The Associated Press

July 22, 2010, 8:23PM

WASHINGTON — Flooded with apologies from everywhere, Shirley Sherrod got the biggest "I'm sorry" of all Thursday — from a contrite President Barack Obama, who personally appealed to the ousted worker to come back.

Sherrod, who was forced to resign on Monday because of racial comments she made at an NAACP gathering, was asked by Obama to rejoin the federal government and transform "this misfortune" into a chance to use her life experiences to help people, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

More at Chron.com
======================================

Bill O’Reilly apologizes to Shirley Sherrod for ‘not doing my homework’

By Matea Gold / Los Angeles Times
Thursday, July 22, 2010 - Added 12 hours ago

NEW YORK — Fox News host Bill O’Reilly offered a rare mea culpa Wednesday, apologizing for airing a controversial tape of a speech given by a black U.S. Dept. of Agriculture official that was edited to make it appear she was racist.

More at BostonHerald.com
=======================================

Sanders · Diamond

Read @ RCP

(Emphasis added)

July 23, 2010

Was This a Teachable Moment on Race?

By David Harsanyi

When a story is too good to be true, it probably is.

It is safe to say that conservative gadfly Andrew Breitbart - whose notoriety exploded after helping expose ACORN's tax-assistance-for-hookers program - ignored this journalistic truism when he rushed to release tapes of a speech by Shirley Sherrod.

Yet, faster than an administrative assistant in the Ag department could type the words "we are in the midst of conducting an internal investigation," the administration canned Sherrod in what is, no doubt, a particularly terrible time for the White House to be embroiled in any sort of scandal.

Whatever the sins of the participating parties, however, the most peculiar aspect of this kerfuffle has been the onslaught of manufactured distress and outrage leveled by many in the media over the very idea that a political activist might accuse an opponent of racism without sufficient vetting.

Because, you know, that sort of thing never happens elsewhere.

[SNIP]

Let me suggest one lesson the nation might take from the Breitbart/Sherrod story: Let's take a breather from any more national dialoguing on the issue of race. Please.

[SNIP]

Nonetheless, the Sherrod incident should be a teachable moment for the left, as well. It illustrates how easily a reckless charge of racism can destroy someone. And why, perhaps, we should stop injecting race into every argument.

Read the full article at RCP

----------------------

I agree with calling it Breitbart/Sherrod story, because essentially that is what it is.

I disagree with "taking a breather" - to be honest, I think it is a fantastic teachable moment... and precisely the kind of story that we need to make any kind of progress on race relations in this country.

There are many assumptions we make about people that come through in our statements.

Someone once told me that I would "fit in well in Fiji" - and I asked why s/he said that and the answer was that there were many people of my national origin. Now, I think the person may not have even realized but I was deeply offended by the statement... so much so I recall that little snippet so well. I see myself more as an American than of a certain national origin. People are very unique in how they view themselves.. and until you realize that, the safer bet is to assume that they view themselves as Americans first.. if indeed they are American citizens.

We all cherish our American-ness.. and want to be treated as equals, with inclusion, fairness, and with dignity.

Shirley Sherrod was entitled to that from Breitbart... as well as from Tom Vilsack and from the President.

I am glad that Vilsack, apologized, ate crow.. and that the President apologized to Sherrod. A well internalized apology is a sign of growth and maturity, and not a weakness. Breitbart is stuck on stupid when he is not recognizing that he did wrong in not protecting the dignity of a human being in furthering his vendetta.

It is possible for people to grow. That is the essence of the message from Shirley Sherrod. It is also what we see from Vilsack and the WH - yep, the WH apology is indeed unprecedented!

I want to see more conversation and definitely not less in regards to race relations -- in fact, not so much in relation to 'black or white' rather of individualism and mutual respect, keeping in mind that all people can grow.

Yes, it should be a teachable moment for all. A charge of racism can very easily destroy someone, and that is very important to remember at all times.

A charge of racism even in private - however much veiled - can be highly offensive and detrimental to a relationship.

Assumption of racism is in many ways racism in itself. Hence we should be doubly careful before we lift the R word (or its connotation) on ANY person whether in public or in private.

-- Edited by Sanders on Sunday 25th of July 2010 10:08:19 PM

Sanders · Diamond

Read @ AJC.com

Shirley Sherrod and the right’s new weapon

7:00 pm July 23, 2010, by Kyle Wingfield

Soon, we will forget about Shirley Sherrod. But not the fallout from her smearing.

Sherrod might go back to USDA. She may give more speeches. But, while she has handled herself with aplomb, one could hardly blame her if she’s ready to step out of the Klieg lights.

As for us, we’ll promise not to rush to judgment next time, and to finally have that National Conversation about race. Maybe the president will even convene a Race Summit. Maybe, having already hosted last summer’s Beer Summit to atone for another hasty racial conclusion, he’ll seek the learning end of this Teachable Moment.

But one thing has changed.

Our politics increasingly resembles a cold civil war, and the Sherrod story was like the right’s first successful A-bomb test. Accusations of racism have long been the left’s, and only the left’s, most explosive weapon. No more.

I don’t make this observation with admiration or pride. I understand that this could turn out badly.

[SNIP]

Breitbart is clear about his desire to turn the tables on liberal media and activist groups. That’s why he went after ACORN, and why it makes sense that he’d set his sights higher than an obscure bureaucrat.

It worked. Some of the people quickest to denounce others as bigoted, as we saw, do so a little too quickly.

Full article @ AJC.com

============================================
I agree with the author. It is just the beginning of mud slinging.

But, if that is the only outcome from this, it is a massive failure of the system of democracy and open dialog our Constitution sponsors.

It is time for that national dialog. In fact, it was time for it when the good policeman was wrongfully accused and it is even more time when Shirley Sherrod was callously (that is putting it mildly) incorrectly portrayed with adverse consequences to her.

Sanders · Diamond

Read @ The Washington Post

Obama needs to stand up to 'reverse racism' ploy

By Eugene Robinson

Thursday, July 22, 2010

After the Shirley Sherrod episode, there's no longer any need to mince words: A cynical right-wing propaganda machine is peddling the poisonous fiction that when African Americans or other minorities reach positions of power, they seek some kind of revenge against whites.

A few of the purveyors of this bigoted nonsense might actually believe it. Most of them, however, are merely seeking political gain by inviting white voters to question the motives and good faith of the nation's first African American president. This is really about tearing Barack Obama down.

[SNIP]

The Sherrod case has fully exposed the right-wing campaign to use racial fear to destroy Obama's presidency, and I hope the effect is to finally stiffen some spines in the administration. The way to deal with bullies is to confront them, not run away. Yet Sherrod was fired before even being allowed to tell her side of the story. She said the official who carried out the execution explained that she had to resign immediately because the story was going to be on Glenn Beck's show that evening. Ironically, Beck was the only Fox host who, upon hearing the rest of Sherrod's speech, promptly called for her to be reinstated. On Wednesday, Vilsack offered to rehire her.

Shirley Sherrod stuck to her principles and stood her ground. I hope the White House learns a lesson.

Full article @ The Washington Post

=======================================

A little factoid.. The content of the full speech was revealed on CNN during interview with Sherrod who said what her full speech was about.

Yep! The WH could learn a strong lesson there aboiut sticking to principles.

reddirtgirl · Platinum

I disagree that this episode is a right wing conspiracy. She said what she said, and if it had been a white person making those comments, s/he would have been fired on the spot and we wouldn't be having this discussion at all. That has been proven time and time again in our history. Sherrod should not be given her job back!

Sanders · Diamond

reddirtgirl, I would not call it a right-wing conspiracy... rather the doing of one zealot in Breitbart.

Please listen to the full video. She was recalling her reactions from about 20+ years ago and how she overcame those feelings and helped the farmer.

Breitbart took only the first part and made it sound like she made that statement of those feelings just recently. It was a completely taken out of context. Even the editor of Red State agreed that Breitbart was wrong to do that; I saw that in an interview with the guy this weekend.

jdona · Platinum

Sanders, for me there are two points, one is she said what she said, and while she might regret it now, she was still getting paid at the time to do a job that she conditioned doing based on race. She admitted herself that she didn't do all she could, she made the comment that she took him "to his own kind" to get help. Yeah, she says she doesn't hold the same feelings now, but at the time she was still drawing a paycheck and she didn't exert herself for the "white folks". She said it, I didn't. And I think reddirtgirl is absolutely correct, if this identical story was released as it was, and Sherrod was white, and the farmer black, it would have a whole different ending, and the NAACP would have crucified a white Sherrod and she would not have her job back, or a call from the President, or anything else. There is an awful undercurrent of racism and reverse racism in this country and I think it is just simmering right under the surface, and I do think it is going to tear this country apart. People are sick to death of the race card being played, I saw it all throughout the primaries, we couldn't get away from it then, and we can't get away from it now.

Sanders · Diamond

I agree there is a lot of undercurrent of racism in this country.

Until we can put a person in their context, their backdrop and see, hear and experience their filters, we will be unable to relate to them and their feelings.

Let's say you walk into a government building.. and you see some people who are middle aged and black who have worked there say 30 years. How many of them do you think about 25 years ago did not feel resentment if a white male came in and talked to them in a way that made them feel put down?

Given the backdrop of slavery in this country, I would understand that reaction in the context of 25 years ago from a black female, and would even forgive especially when the female did not leave the person without support, but goes on to ensure that the person does get the support they need.

I would be far less willing to condone such feeling/reaction today.

============

There is a couple who are both highly educated who I visit on occasion. Both came to the US in 1960's and are almost like my local parents. They talk of Chinese and Indians being brought to the US to work on the railroads in the 1940's and 1950's. In the 1980's I heard some thoughts expressed by these couple that I then thought were borderline racism. Lately, I do not hear such thoughts from this couple. Instead, I hear that Indians and Chinese have progressed in the US despite early arrival experience that was (almost) slavery.

I have heard that the Chinese and Indian early arrivers had it really bad in this country. Sub-par wage and extreme cold without shelter, poor living conditions, etc. Stories come very close to what I hear of Afro-Americans. But, honestly, (in my opinion) what the Chinese and Indian early arrivers experienced does not come anywhere close to the backdrop of slavery that Afro-Americans have in their history and folklore - and yes, it WILL BE passed down from generation to generation because it is their history.

Despite that heavy burden of an inheritance, I truly hope we all come to a well-centered place within ourselves where we can forgive each others' forefathers and not hold current and future generations accountable for the grave sins of the past.

Otherwise, we will walk into every government building and see every black face and wonder do they deserve to have a job. And, perhaps a colored person does the same about whites perhaps because they may be enjoying the fruits grown from the trees sown in the past?? Not a peaceful way to live for anyone.

-- Edited by Sanders on Monday 26th of July 2010 01:49:59 PM

jdona · Platinum

I'm not sure if you are referring to Indians from India or American Indians/Native Americans. Anymore its hard to keep up with all the politically correct names. I don't think you can win any argument based on this group had it worst than the other. Chinese Americans were slaves to the railroads, Native Americans were nearly exterminated in mass genocides, African Americans were slaves, Irish Americans were the resident trash, Italian Americans were labeled Mafia, hell, it goes on and on. But here is my two cents worth, there may still be a lot of bigotry and segregated neighborhoods in this country, but its not institutionalized. You have Little Havanna, you have Chinatown, you have Korean communties, its people choosing to live in a culturally predominant neighborhood because its where they feel comfortable. This isn't whites segregating others to cleanse their neighborhood, this is free choice. Is this a good and acceptable situation, no. We are segregating ourselves, we are isolating ourselves, we are NOT celebrating diversity, we are NOT becoming the universal melting pot, we are destroying ourselves from within. And that inclues black Americans. Pell Grants and National Direct Student Loans are not awarded based on race, they based on economic need. Yet, you have the United Negro College Fund, is there a United Caucasian College Fund? "Historically Black Colleges" are celebrated, what are "historically white colleges" called? Racist? You have BET, is there a WET? How many black women have won the Miss American Pageant? How many white women have won the Miss Black America Pageant? You have the NAACP, yet if you have any organization, I mean any, that excludes a person of color, you are racist and subject to federal fines and criminal charges on the basis of violation of civil rights. You don't think that is a double standard? And what I see happening in the next election is the return of the Angry White Male from Bush one years. I lay the blame on the Obamaphiles first who stirred the pot of racism, but I also blame Obama for sanctioning it during the primaries, plus his "bitter gun clinging" crap, I blame Al Sharpton who has never met a white person he didn't accuse of racism, and who takes advantage of every single situation to claim racism even when none exists. Anyone else remember the hockey players accused of rape in Durham? I know a lot of folks in my neighborhood have simply had enough of it. They truly, honestly believe race relations are worse now than at any other time, and they blame Obama first, and the media second. Anyone else read the column from Maureen Dowd that Obama's cabinet was too white? People are tired, exhausted from all of this drama. This is going to blow up, and it ain't gonna be pretty. My question is, what then?

Sanders · Diamond

I meant Indians and not Native Americans.

No, I dont say they had it worse. Just that they were in the same set along with Chinese.

You are making the same point as I am. The issue is that many sects of population feel oppressed -- via their ancestors - as they probably would have inherited better living conditions had their ancestors not suffered. That is something we have to consider when we listen to their grievances and their perspective.

When a group feels oppressed, it congregates to find ways to improve its circumstances and many of these groups evolve. At some point, the balance tilts and the organizations may have to assess whether their names serves their mission, whether their mission and membership needs refinement, whether there are opportunities to join forces with others and such. Many civic leaders do the society disservice when they harp on the issues of the past. Some scabs are best not picked daily.

Yes, I did read about Obama WH being predominantly non-black save for himself and Valerie Jarrett who lived most her early years outside the US. The story came AFTER Sherrod story -- or at least that's when I recall reading it. Too bad that if there are any appointments that will be cast with a shadow.. whether that is in reaction to Breitbart/Sherrod and follow on stories.

It takes people who are willing to work with all kinds in inclusive manner for us to make any progress.

Clintons are the best champions of inclusion. I bet the State Department is highly diverse.

Sanders · Diamond

Read @ TheModerateVoice

"Sirley Sherrod Will Sue Conservative Blogger Andrew Breitbart"

Posted by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief in Media, Politics.
Jul 29th, 2010

The Huffington Post reports that Shirley Sherrod will sue conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart:

[SNIP]

One thing: winning lawsuits such as this are easier said than done. But after working on two newspapers that were sued from time to time it is worth noting: even if a lawsuit fails, the fact it has been brought tends to instill a bit of caution. So whether he is successfully sued or not, it’s likely some networks, mainstream media and more careful Internet news sites will balk before running any of his future allegations — perhaps checking them out a bit more. Even if Sherrod loses, she will put Breirbart under the microscope and — most likely — on the courtroom stand. (Emphasis added)
================

Let's hope that results in a bit more responsible journalism...

Sanders · Diamond

And... she turns down the job offer.

Sherrod Rejects Job Offer From Agriculture Secretary (RCP 8/24/10)

She probably figured it is better to become a contractor than be a shaky employee! LOL.