Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Reconsider Shirley Sherrod’s Dismissal

What a blazing fast 24 hours this has been in the Shirley Sherrod story. Essentially fired Monday night based on a 2-minute Youtube clip, the former USDA official took to print and television yesterday to give her side of the story. Even as new facts emerged that caused the NAACP to retract its denunciation of Sherrod, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, with the White House’s support, doubled down on her dismissal.

Overnight, though, following the release of the full video of her remarks, Secretary Vilsack has released a new statement that seems to leave everyone concerned some wiggle room.

Here’s Vilsack’s statement, sent out via email communique by the USDA Office of Communications just after 2 a.m.:

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tonight released the following statement in response to the release of remarks in video from Shirley Sherrod:

“I am of course willing and will conduct a thorough review and consider additional facts to ensure to the American people we are providing services in a fair and equitable manner.”

Despite what Vilsack said yesterday, I had a strong suspicion that he hadn’t really listened to her side of the story. His revised statement yesterday didn’t, for example, seem to take into account the fact that Sherrod wasn’t even employed by USDA at the time described in her anecdote.

Hopefully, Vilsack has seen the light, or has been shown the light from higher up in the food chain. While the White House did express support for Vilsack’s initial decision, that’s a simple enough position to mitigate. It was done through a background quote, and can easily be spun as a generic show of confidence in their Agriculture Secretary, whatever he decides.

The question now is whether the President’s opponents, who suddenly supported Sherrod yesterday, will give Vilsack and the administration the room to do the right thing.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.