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USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack Apologizes to Shirley Sherrod, Offers New Job

by Tommy Christopher | 7:10 pm, July 21st, 2010

» 10 comments

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a press conference this afternoon in which he apologized to Shirley Sherrod for jumping the gun and firing her based on a deceptively-edited video clip that was published by conservative activist Andrew Breitbart. He also revealed that he had discussed a “new opportunity” for Sherrod at the agency, an offer that he says she is now considering. He also took questions from reporters, and did a good job of taking responsibility.

Vilsack also stressed that the White House had not pressured him to fire Sherrod (nor to re-hire her), and that if Undersecretary Cheryl Cook had conveyed that to Sherrod, it was a miscommunication.

While the President’s most vigorous opponents will continue to try to make hay with this, they did the right thing, and if today’s White House briefing is any indication, the worst fallout will be reserved for activist journalism, which seems to have overplayed one hand too many.

Andrew Breitbart, Shirley Sherrod, Tom Vilsack

Ninja

Vilsack should offer his resignation, if he does not President Obama should fire him.
Moderate

“did a good job of taking responsibility.”

They did not need to throw Vilsack under the bus, he crawled under there voluntarily.
OldLadyUSA

TC – Go review Keith special comment tonight – returned from vacation. It is back to war for us kiddo. Game on, Fox “News”….. and ALL of it’s mind bending trolls. OldLadyUSA
http://www.movingpixelz.com shreya123

it is very good
RTB

Strike 1 for hiring her in the 1st place…remember the $13 million lawsuit she filed a while back. Strike 2 for apologizing to her….for what? And offering her another job after that brilliant naacp speech using the “other kind” dialouge…
This administration is clueless and gutless….a freaking embarassment.
Latin2

Shirley Sherrod speech shows that she is racist. She divides people down racial lines. When people do that is a racist.

IT WAS THE NAACP WHO FIRST THROUGH OUT FALSE CHARGES OF RACISM FIRST AND CAUSE ALL THIS MESS
Pablo

While the President’s most vigorous opponents will continue to try to make hay with this, they did the right thing…

Then why are they apologizing and backtracking? Jesus, Tommy, THEY know they fucked up, and here you are declaring them blameless.
Shrink the State

Tommy Christopher is a left wingnut as is this entire site.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rush-Youngberg/1695695248 Rush Youngberg

Obama is offering her another, mo’ betta job. Must be a helluva pay scale. Perhaps, the head of the USDA.
http://none pyrope

This move defies anything resembling logic OR ethics.