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

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.

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

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