Shirley Sherrod Explains To CNN Why She Turned Down Vilsack’s Job Offer

Shirley Sherrod, the Agriculture Dept. official who was ousted after Andrew Breitbart posted an incomplete video clip of her speech to the NAACP, has declined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack‘s offer of a new position at the department. It was Vilsack who demanded Sherrod’s resignation, and stuck by his decision even after he knew her side of the story, actions that apparently played a part in Sherrod’s decision not to return to his employ.

While declining the new post, Sherrod left open the possibility of working with the Department of agriculture in the future:

She told reporters she did not think she could say yes to a job “at this point, with all that has happened.” There had been indications that Vilsack, who apologized to Sherwood for pushing her out, had offered her a position in the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, which works in the civil rights area.

“It is a new position,” she said. “I look at what happened ow. I know he has apologized and I accept that. A new process is in place and I hope that it works. … I think I can be helpful to him and the department if I just take a little break and look at how I can be more helpful in the future,” Sherrod said.

This looks like a wise decision by Sherrod, whose high profile will allow her to be a much more effective civil rights advocate from outside the department.

Update – In a lengthy interview earlier today, Sherrod sat down with CNN’s Tony Harris to explain in much greater depth her reasoning behind not accepting the job.

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