Discussion Topic: One Opinion: Shirley Sherrod Should Not Demand an Apology from Obama
1BWPStaff
07-22-2010 @ 6:06 AM
(From the Buzz Zone) Yes Shirley, folks jumped the gun. Yes they accused you of being racist when all you did was tell your story of personal growth. Yes, they forced you to text in your resignation. Yep, that was done to you.
But the parties that got duped by Andrew Breitbart and Fox News have apologized. For instance, the NAACP that initially backed the false accusations against you apologized repeatedly. Julian Bond and Ben Jealous filled the aireways up with apologies on July 20th and 21st. Then on the July 21st, the US Agricultural Secretary Tom Visack apologized to you. Hell, Roland Martin of CNN looks like a total ass for buying into the lies of Mr. Brietbart so easily. You have your apologies. You have your tape.
Everyone from Rick of Rick’s list, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schulz, and Chris Mathews have expressed sympathy and empathize with your situation. But to say you deserve an apology from the president, now you’re playing politics. Now you’re being coached. Now you’re becoming an opportunist that is all aglow with the power of the media.
Now you see how the media got you. Now you’re trying to do the same to the White house. The buck stops with Vilsack and the undersecretary of the USDA Cheryl Cook and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina not President Obama. It is easy to see. But now you deserve an apology from the president: If he chooses to apologize to you, ok. But to demand one; 100% wrong.
But, let us not digress too much. Much of her anger/disappointment has been targeted at the true culprit. Here is an excerpt from a Mediaite article expressing her anger:
The woman at the center of the Andrew Breitbart/NAACP/Obama Administration/USDA/probably-Journolist-but-who’s-keeping-track-at-this-point scandal, Shirley Sherrod, spoke to Media Matters’ Joe Strupp today about the experience of going from cable news villain to heroine in less than 24 hours, and unlike many in the media, Sherrod is not angered by the White House or the NAACP: She’s reserving her outrage for Breitbart and Fox News.
Even though she is tough as nails, the giving of an apology from a president should never be demanded, it should be purposely given.
You can continue to post bullcrap because Faux News did the same thing to VAN JONES and yet you want to say he does not owe her an apology. He allowed ACORN to be smeared in the same way without a through investigation. I guess you forgot when he likes to take full responsibility when shit happens to whites but all of sudden Shirley should not demand an apology from him. It is because of him that this happened.
He was the one who failed to address these racist from the beginnning. You need to watch this video and maybe you can understand why people are pissed as hell. He has helped to throw a lot of blacks under the bus. Where are they in his administration. You need to look at the root cause. He was the naive one who thought because his mother was white they would have immediately accept his brown skin. Well, WAKE UP TO REALITY. He needs to give Shirley Vilsack's job and fire his inept ass. But we know that will not happen.
Live Free or Die Trying
3BWPStaff
07-22-2010 @ 7:43 AM
mulberry, good point. After all he did have a beer summit after he (Obama) stoked the controversy. And yes, it is time to do what is right. The problem is that he has to do it all by himself. His cabinet, his congress, etc. does very little.
Naive. Nay, or he would not be prez. I saw the same Ed Schultz show, and would say the same thing. And don't be silly, no one, even you would think that folks would immediately accept you.
However, you are correct when it comes to Jones and Acorn.
Good reply.
Yes, we're starting somethin'
4dawilliams
07-22-2010 @ 8:14 AM
BWPstaff
Ultimately the buck stops with the CIC,Obama. Vilsack is the Secretary of Agriculture in Obamas administration. Therefore indirectly Obama is part of the equasion. Were it not for public media and the attention it brought to this matter it would have gone undetected and Ms. Sherrod would have been labeled just another lazy incompetent loud mouth malcontent Black person who lost their job and now is whining racism. Were it not for the media exposure none of these people would have put their tails between their legs and apologized. I am particularly incensed by the opportunistic attack of the NAACP. They more than anyone else know the nature of discrmination and racism in terms of employment in this country. The know the sleezy tactics often used to railroad Black people out of their jobs yet they publicly attacked this Black woman without investigating the facts and relied on the world of FOX Network a notoriously reactionary news TV station and Glen Beck a notorious right wing zealot. Thats like believing Rush Scumbaugh.
Obama sat down and talked to a white racist cop who got away with home invasion and the false arrest of a Black College professor. Whatever some of the posters here think of the Professor his rights were violated. The cop never apologized. This could have happened to any of us. He was rewarded for his bad behavior with a one on one audience with the President of the United States.
Secretary Vilsack should resign. The USDA has a long history of racism. They represent many white farmers and lilly white counties that are indeed racist. Ask former Secretary Mike Espy the first Black man to hold that position. He was appointed by Clinton. The whites ran him out by framing him up.
The late Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz who served under then President Gerald Ford made the statment when asked by singer Pat Boone why there were so few Black people in the Repuublican Party that 'the only thing Blacks want is tight Pussy,shiny shoes,a cadillac and a warm place to schitt'. Gerald Ford made him resign because he was embarrased by these remarks but this is the type of mindset your dealing with in the Department of Agriculture. Gerald Ford also apologized publicly because he knew that this was insulting to the Black people who vote Republican. Hell Yes Obama should apologize like Gerald Ford did for the actions of one of HIS appointees. He is the CIC. Vilsack is his appointee. Ultimately this is a reflection on Obama whether he likes it or not.
Give the Republicans enough time and they will put a different spin on this situation to make it appear as if Obama does not really care about Black people. They are already trying to blame him by inuendo and indirect accusations. Trust me.
a luta continua
This message was edited by dawilliams on 7-27-10 @ 9:25 AM
5mem-ra
07-22-2010 @ 9:35 AM
what a dumb thread
6grassroot
07-22-2010 @ 11:17 AM
It's hard to respond to this thread because it is so ignorant and wrong in so many ways. Hell yeah, Obama should Apology to Ms. Sherrod. And to say that 'now you’re playing politics' is really, really stupid in that the whole issue is about playing politics. I thought that this was the name of this game. For those who don't know, it's all about politics.
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in other group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. It consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.
7dawilliams
07-22-2010 @ 11:30 AM
memrot
I guess it is dumb to you! In your envirornment your supposed to remaid docile and snitch on your neighbor! Thats about the only thing you have ever said about Black Canadians. So if it was up to you this woman would have remained silent. Because to speak out against injustice is in your words 'dumb'! That kind of thinking shows you for what you are!! Whats your favorite epithet 'Stupid Niggers'. You should look in the mirror everytime you say that. How about your other favorite epithet 'dumb ass coons'. Once again look in the mirror everytime you utter these words because your talking about yourself fool! Uh pardon me Professor Willy B. Mooseturd, B.S. (bullschitt), M.S. (mooseschitt) and Ph.D in Giberology ,Moosejaw University Graduate!!
a luta continua
8grassroot
07-22-2010 @ 11:38 AM
Obama spoke to Shirley Sherrod for seven minutes, the White House said in a statement.
"The president told Ms. Sherrod that this misfortune can present an opportunity for her to continue her hard work on behalf of those in need, and he hopes that she will do so," it said.
I think President Obama should have made this a little bit more public. What! He couldn't be seen in public apologizing to a Black women.
9mulberry
07-22-2010 @ 1:09 PM
YES, he should have made a public apology but we know his punk ass will not because he has no spine. Shirley can teach him a thing or three but that is what he is afraid of. He has not had to deal with black women who have walked the walk and will school his butt on what he needs to do.
Obama is too darn busy trying to be Mr. Hollywood along with his kept wife. For if she had a backbone she would have stood up for Shirley and made it known this should not be tolerated. But where was Michelle, yes hosted a designer party with how many designers of color..just noting!!!
People are tired of their crap and Obama needs to MAN THE HELL UP!
Live Free or Die Trying
10dawilliams
07-22-2010 @ 1:18 PM
cowgirl
I am forced to agree with you!! Believe it!! He also needs to drop those tough love speeches when he addresses a crowd of Black people and start giving up some jobs and money. He has taken care of other interest groups. Blacks have been pushed to the back. What else is new. One of my problems with Obama is this. He supports illegal aliens getting amnesty but he is against reparations for Black Americans. Unacceptable!!
a luta continua
11dawilliams
07-22-2010 @ 1:18 PM
cowgirl
I am forced to agree with you!! Believe it!! He also needs to drop those tough love speeches when he addresses a crowd of Black people and start giving up some jobs and money. He has taken care of other interest groups. Blacks have been pushed to the back. What else is new. One of my problems with Obama is this. He supports illegal aliens getting amnesty but he is against reparations for Black Americans. Unacceptable!!
If Shirley Sherrod were Jewish instead of Black you can bet Obama and every other politician up there in Washington would be apologizing to her. Even those who had nothing to do with this incident would be aplogizing to her. We all know this is the truth!! What can I say there it is!!!
a luta continua
This message was edited by dawilliams on 7-22-10 @ 1:23 PM
12BWPStaff
07-22-2010 @ 1:29 PM
It appears that Obama did the right thing (according to folks in this thread) and gave his most sincere apologies to Shirley Sherrod.
Yes, we're starting somethin'
13dawilliams
07-22-2010 @ 1:38 PM
all
It appears as though the White House has chosen to take the diplomatic route. Obama is publicly aplogize to Shirley Sherrod. As in the case of Jimmy Carter this act of injustice occurred under his administration and as such he is responsible. This is a reflection on him.
Its to bad that most Black people who find themselves in this position have no recourse and their careers, families and lives are often ruined. Shirley Sherrod is the symbol for those who delt this type of racist blow and never got justice. --------------------------------------------------
Obama apologizes to ousted Agriculture official
By
MARY CLARE JALONICK and BEN EVANS, AP Writers
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama apologized Thursday to former federal official Shirley Sherrod over her ouster in the midst of a racially tinged firestorm that enveloped the White House.
Obama expressed his regret in a phone call, telling Sherrod he hopes she will accept the Agriculture Department's offer of a new position and saying she could parlay "this misfortune" into an opportunity to use her life experiences to help people, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. The president thought Sherrod was "very gracious," Gibbs told reporters.
Sherrod was forced to resign as a USDA official in Georgia earlier this week after a conservative blogger posted an edited video of her recalling at an NAACP meeting her reluctance 24 years ago to help a poor white farmer seeking government assistance. She later said that the video posting took out of context what had been a talk advocating racial reconciliation.
Obama spoke to Sherrod after a slew of nationally broadcast interviews. From network to network, she said she wanted to talk to Obama about her wretched week but that she felt there was no need for him to apologize, as Gibbs and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had earlier.
Sherrod, in an interview with CNN, called her talk with Obama "a very good conversation."
"I've been dealing with some of the same issues he's been dealing with, especially for the last five years," she said.
Earlier, Sherrod said in a television interview that she viewed the president as "not someone who has experienced some of the things I've experienced in life."
Sherrod said she is uncertain whether she will accept Vilsack's invitation to come back to his department, saying she wants to think it over.
The White House said in a statement that Obama expressed his regret about the episode and emphasized that Vilsack was sincere in his apology. The president had tried to reach Sherrod twice on Wednesday night, said a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes details.
Gibbs told reporters that Obama spoke with Vilsack on Wednesday night, but the White House spokesman wouldn't discuss the substance of the conversation. Gibbs said he doesn't see any reason for Vilsack to resign.
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.
In offering a public apology Wednesday, Vilsack told reporters: "This is a good woman. She's been through hell. ... I could have done and should have done a better job." He addressed the media after speaking to her by phone.
Sherrod has accepted Vilsack's apology.
How much involvement was there from the White House? Was there White House pressure last Monday to push Sherrod out, when the snippet of remarks incorrectly suggested a racist bias?
"No," insisted Vilsack. He said he made the decision without knowing all the facts and regretted it. "I am accepting the responsibility with deep regret," he told a news conference.
Gibbs has also insisted the decision was one made at the Agriculture Department and denied White House pressure for Sherrod's immediate resignation.
a luta continua
14mulberry
07-23-2010 @ 6:41 AM
Let's stop with the BULL. OBAMA's ass was on the hook and his WEAK ass knew he had to do damage control because VILSACK admitted he took the cue from FAUX NEWS..foreign owned trash tabloid channel. No Shirley is not the symbol, Shirley is the woman who stood up to these WEAK men who was throwing her under the bus for lies.
She is a human being who has more balls than OBAMA! The other side to this is why has Michelle not came out and said a damn thing about his. Oh wait she is too busy hosting designer parties..my bad. The actions of these people are pathetic. They have the opportunity to make significant changes but they cower to the stupidity.
And I am sure you noticed that the CCB was standing behind Vilsack when he apologized but they should have left him standing alone to make that apology...but then again..consider the source.
Live Free or Die Trying
15mem-ra
07-23-2010 @ 7:30 AM
still focused on obaaaaammmmmmaaaaa?
ok... wallow all ya will....
16tawhid
07-26-2010 @ 6:04 PM
Thank you, MUL.
ain't no right way to do wrong
17dawilliams
07-26-2010 @ 7:02 PM
all
The CBC stood behind Vilsack. The NAACP even attacked Shirley Sherrod the victim. Imagine that. They did not stand behind another Black woman who was framed up by the system. We all know the story behind Cynthia Mckinney. She too was framed up and her political career ended. She is fighting the good fight in spite of this. She is showing the corrupt politicians thats she does not need to be in their midst to be effective. Carry on Cynthia.
a luta continua
18mulberry
07-26-2010 @ 7:46 PM
I guess it ain't true until the whytes say it. Been saying this fools has too many of these Clintonites in his cabinet and they are afraid of speaking on the disparity of the brown people. Maureen Dowd is only saying what many of the "lethargic blacks" have been running from. _________________________________
You’ll Never Believe What This White House Is Missing By MAUREEN DOWD
WASHINGTON
The Obama White House is too white.
It has Barack Obama, raised in the Hawaiian hood and Indonesia, and Valerie Jarrett, who spent her early years in Iran.
But unlike Bill Clinton, who never needed help fathoming Southern black culture, Obama lacks advisers who are descended from the central African-American experience, ones who understand “the slave thing,” as a top black Democrat dryly puts it.
The first black president should expand beyond his campaign security blanket, the smug cordon of overprotective white guys surrounding him — a long political tradition underscored by Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 when she complained about the “smart-ass white boys” from Walter Mondale’s campaign who tried to boss her around.
Otherwise, this administration will keep tripping over race rather than inspiring on race.
The West Wing white guys who pushed to ditch Shirley Sherrod before Glenn Beck could pounce not only didn’t bother to Google, they weren’t familiar enough with civil rights history to recognize the name Sherrod. And they didn’t return the calls and e-mail of prominent blacks who tried to alert them that something was wrong.
Charles Sherrod, Shirley’s husband, was a Freedom Rider who, along with the civil rights hero John Lewis, was a key member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee of the ‘60s.
As Lewis, the longtime Georgia congressman, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he knew immediately that something was amiss with the distorted video clip of Sherrod talking to the N.A.A.C.P.
“I’ve known these two individuals — the husband for more than 50 years and the wife for at least 35, 40 — and there’s not a racist hair on their heads or anyplace else on their bodies,” Lewis said.
We may not have a “nation of cowards” on race, as Attorney General Eric Holder contended, but we may have a West Wing of cowards on race.
The president appears completely comfortable in his own skin, but it seems he feels that he and Michelle are such a huge change for the nation to absorb that he can be overly cautious about pushing for other societal changes for blacks and gays. At some level, he acts like the election was enough; he shouldn’t have to deal with race further. But he does.
His closest advisers — some of the same ones who urged him not to make the race speech after the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue exploded — are so terrified that Fox and the Tea Party will paint Obama as doing more for blacks that they tiptoe around and do less. “Who knew that the first black president would make it even harder on black people?” asked a top black Democratic official.
It’s the same impulse that caused Obama campaign workers to refuse to let Muslim women with head scarves sit in camera range during a rally. It’s the same impulse that has left the president light-years behind W. on development help for Africa. In their rush to counteract attempts to paint Obama as a radical/Muslim/socialist, Obama staffers can behave in insensitive ways themselves.
“I don’t think a single black person was consulted before Shirley Sherrod was fired — I mean c’mon, “ said Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, a black lawmaker so temperate that he agreed with an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal on Friday by Senator James Webb of Virginia, which urged that “government-directed diversity programs should end.”
“The president’s getting hurt real bad,” Clyburn told me. “He needs some black people around him.” He said Obama’s inner circle keeps “screwing up” on race: “Some people over there are not sensitive at all about race. They really feel that the extent to which he allows himself to talk about race would tend to pigeonhole him or cost him support, when a lot of people saw his election as a way to get the issue behind us. I don’t think people elected him to disengage on race. Just the opposite.”
Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s House delegate, agreed: “The president needs some advisers or friends who have a greater sense of the pulse of the African-American community, or who at least have been around the mulberry bush.”
And why does the N.A.A.C.P. exist if not to help clear a smeared champion of civil rights who gave a stirring speech about racial reconciliation at an N.A.A.C.P. banquet? Its president, Ben Jealous, shamefully following the administration’s rush to judgment, tweeted Monday night that Shirley Sherrod was a racist without even calling his Georgia chapter president or reviewing the N.A.A.C.P.’s own video of the speech.
It was Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist, who, after hearing the entire speech, pushed to get it out and helped clear Sherrod’s reputation on CNN.
The president shouldn’t give Sherrod her old job back. He should give her a new job: Director of Black Outreach. This White House needs one.
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