Shirley Sherrod - Racist or Scapegoat?

[Palehorse]

Ms Sherrod was regional director for rural development for the USDA until yesterday. Ms Sherrod and her family owned a 6,000 acre portion of prime agricultural land, along with 10 other families 30 years ago, and eventually, because these families were all discriminated against by the USDA and those in power at the time, these families were forced off the property and foreclosed upon. Ms Sherrod is African American.

Subsequent to losing the farm, Ms Sherrod went to work for a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting farmers who were in trouble and offering assistance. 28 years ago in the course of her work she was asked for assistance by a white farmer, and although she had never historically been asked to help by a white farmer, she went about her work.

25 years ago, Ms Sherrod began using the story of her experiences in that case to motivate her audiences and provide an example of how people can work together if they can move beyond racial separation. 25 years ago! (She did not begin working for the USDA until 2009)

Fox news and Glenn Beck got hold of a copy of that speech, which was taped and edited so that it appeared that Ms Sherrod was making racially inflammatory statements in her speech, after it was posted by a conservative (Andrew Breitbart) on line post editing. The video went viral and even the NAACP issued a statement coming out against this woman.

The Secretary of Agriculture subsequently made a decision to separate this woman from her employment over this video posting, because it (in its edited form) appears to be racially inflammatory. Even though it was a speech made 25 years ago, 23 years before she ever became a government employee. Even though she herself had been subjected to racism and saw her family lose its livelihood, its home, and a father to the KKK. Even though the very family about which this video taped speech was about, has come out and stated publicly that Sherrod is NOT a racist and had worked long and hard to help them keep their farm! The family has nothing but praise for her and they remain friends to this very day.

As this story develops it increasingly appears that the USDA and NAACP have both gone off half-cocked, without investigating, without any effort what so ever to look into the matter, and wrongfully separated an employee in this situation. She is not a racist, she has been victimized by the racial divide. . .

Ms Sherrod's own description of what has happened; "The NAACP got into a fight with the tea party, and the tea party dug this video of me up, edited it and took a portion out of context, and my losing my position is the result".

[kimmi]

It seems to me that more and more people, groups, etc  are apt to not research things they hear from media and take it as gospel.  Now I don't know anything about this woman and I have not heard this story before.  But it seems to me that it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for a non-profit to have employed her for 25 years if indeed she was a racist.  I would think that when the USDA hired her, she had to have several references and lots of face to face interviews.  If she had been a racist, I would like to think it would have come out then.  It just doesn't make sense.

I think if Fox News did edit the original speech in order to change the context, they ought to be sued for slander.  IMO

[Palehorse]

In 2004 Andrew Breitbart  was a guest commentator on Fox News Channel's morning show and frequently appears as a guest panelist on Fox News's late night program, Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld. He posted the edited version of the video on his web site and youtube. He is the source for the edited version from what I can tell at this point, and the source for Faux-news and Glenn Beck as well. And sources indicate that Breitbart refused to post the full length video until Sherrod was removed from office.

[kimmi]

Yep!  Where is my attorney! 

[me]

I think she's being a scapegoat myself.  Glen Beck didn't do anything on her yesterday as a matter of fact and he is defending her and not only did Fox air the tape yesterday they did not edit anything, it was shown exactly like it is.  You can say whatever you wish but this is a blatant attempt to make Fox and Glen look like the bad guys at the expense of this woman and it's just plain wrong.

[me]

It seems to me that more and more people, groups, etc  are apt to not research things they hear from media and take it as gospel.  Now I don't know anything about this woman and I have not heard this story before.  But it seems to me that it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for a non-profit to have employed her for 25 years if indeed she was a racist.  I would think that when the USDA hired her, she had to have several references and lots of face to face interviews.  If she had been a racist, I would like to think it would have come out then.  It just doesn't make sense.

I think if Fox News did edit the original speech in order to change the context, they ought to be sued for slander.  IMO

They did not edit the original speech because I saw it and it was exactly as given. 

[Bo D]

They did not edit the original speech because I saw it and it was exactly as given.

You saw that speech 25 years ago and you remember every word? Unbelievable!

[Anne]

Ms Sherrod was regional director for rural development for the USDA until yesterday. Ms Sherrod and her family owned a 6,000 acre portion of prime agricultural land, along with 10 other families 30 years ago, and eventually, because these families were all discriminated against by the USDA and those in power at the time, these families were forced off the property and foreclosed upon. Ms Sherrod is African American.

Subsequent to losing the farm, Ms Sherrod went to work for a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting farmers who were in trouble and offering assistance. 28 years ago in the course of her work she was asked for assistance by a white farmer, and although she had never historically been asked to help by a white farmer, she went about her work.

25 years ago, Ms Sherrod began using the story of her experiences in that case to motivate her audiences and provide an example of how people can work together if they can move beyond racial separation. 25 years ago! (She did not begin working for the USDA until 2009)

Fox news and Glenn Beck got hold of a copy of that speech, which was taped and edited so that it appeared that Ms Sherrod was making racially inflammatory statements in her speech, after it was posted by a conservative (Andrew Breitbart) on line post editing. The video went viral and even the NAACP issued a statement coming out against this woman.

The Secretary of Agriculture subsequently made a decision to separate this woman from her employment over this video posting, because it (in its edited form) appears to be racially inflammatory. Even though it was a speech made 25 years ago, 23 years before she ever became a government employee. Even though she herself had been subjected to racism and saw her family lose its livelihood, its home, and a father to the KKK. Even though the very family about which this video taped speech was about, has come out and stated publicly that Sherrod is NOT a racist and had worked long and hard to help them keep their farm! The family has nothing but praise for her and they remain friends to this very day.

As this story develops it increasingly appears that the USDA and NAACP have both gone off half-cocked, without investigating, without any effort what so ever to look into the matter, and wrongfully separated an employee in this situation. She is not a racist, she has been victimized by the racial divide. . .

Ms Sherrod's own description of what has happened; "The NAACP got into a fight with the tea party, and the tea party dug this video of me up, edited it and took a portion out of context, and my losing my position is the result".

Wasn't on Gleen Beck last night. Ms Sherrod was fired before Mr. Beck aired the story.

[Henry Hawk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GNArUTCo0Q&feature=related

I don't see where fox did any editing to who words......she herself was telling a story about a white farmer who she discriminated against....I have no doubt the tea party is trying to show examples of racism by the very group who is screaming racism....I think she CLEARLY shows that she WAS discriminating against white people, and was probably speaking inappropriatly at a NCAAP conference...

I think of a bigger example where the NCAAP is wrong, they want to cast a shadow over a entire group of people who represent the "tea party", but yet has not come out against the "new black panther party".....who is of the utmost racist groups in existence today.....

I can wager you that there will NOT be ANY racial overtones that will be tolerated at ANY upcoming Tea Party event, especially now.....the vast majority of those folks will NOT put up with any racial crap....

to me it is nothing more than a attack on the Tea Party by the left to demonize this movement and try to take away the spark it has ignited.....

[me]

You saw that speech 25 years ago and you remember every word? Unbelievable!

I watched it yesterday on Fox in it's entirety...unedited....as given....You have been lied to plain and simple.

[me]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GNArUTCo0Q&feature=related

I don't see where fox did any editing to who words......she herself was telling a story about a white farmer who she discriminated against....I have no doubt the tea party is trying to show examples of racism by the very group who is screaming racism....I think she CLEARLY shows that she WAS discriminating against white people, and was probably speaking inappropriatly at a NCAAP conference...

I think of a bigger example where the NCAAP is wrong, they want to cast a shadow over a entire group of people who represent the "tea party", but yet has not come out against the "new black panther party".....who is of the utmost racist groups in existence today.....

I can wager you that there will NOT be ANY racial overtones that will be tolerated at ANY upcoming Tea Party event, especially now.....the vast majority of those folks will NOT put up with any racial crap....

to me it is nothing more than a attack on the Tea Party by the left to demonize this movement and try to take away the spark it has ignited.....

She was giving it as an example of where her thinking was wrong all those years ago and saying it isn't and shouldn't be just about black and white any longer it should be about people.  There was nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong with the speech and she shouldn't have been fired.  She was not portrayed badly on Fox period.   *Sorry to disagree with ya here HH but I happened to see what was aired yesterday and I know it wasn't intended to be a racist thing and was not inappropriate.

[Palehorse]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GNArUTCo0Q&feature=related

I don't see where fox did any editing to who words......she herself was telling a story about a white farmer who she discriminated against....I have no doubt the tea party is trying to show examples of racism by the very group who is screaming racism....I think she CLEARLY shows that she WAS discriminating against white people, and was probably speaking inappropriatly at a NCAAP conference...

I think of a bigger example where the NCAAP is wrong, they want to cast a shadow over a entire group of people who represent the "tea party", but yet has not come out against the "new black panther party".....who is of the utmost racist groups in existence today.....

I can wager you that there will NOT be ANY racial overtones that will be tolerated at ANY upcoming Tea Party event, especially now.....the vast majority of those folks will NOT put up with any racial crap....

to me it is nothing more than a attack on the Tea Party by the left to demonize this movement and try to take away the spark it has ignited.....

I watched it yesterday on Fox in it's entirety...unedited....as given....You have been lied to plain and simple.

I never said it aired on Glenn Beck or Faux News. It did not have to. The version was on youtube and that was the version that (initially) Faux and Beck had. CNN had it too, but unlike a lot of their supposed competition, they chose to investigate it before reporting on it. . . Also unlike her former employer.

Beck was scheduled to run a story on her and his show contacted the USDA for comment. Ms Sherrod was forced to resign under pressure and threat of firing. . .

Now, if you saw the full version, how you come away from it even thinking this woman is a racist is beyond comprehension. . . But big surprise here; right now you seem to agree with the NAACP. . .

EDIT: BTW, Sherrod herself was told by her superior over the phone, that "Beck was going to do a piece on her over that speech, and because of that the White House was insisting that she resign". This came from her bosses mouth according to Sherrod, and she was asked to pull over where she was and submit her resignation immediately.

The Secretary of the USDA himself issued a statement indicating that it was he, ad he alone, who made the decision to separate her, and the white house had no input in the matter, nor did he speak to anyone at the white house about it.

[me]

I never said it aired on Glenn Beck or Faux News. It did not have to. The version was on youtube and that was the version that (initially) Faux and Beck had. CNN had it too, but unlike a lot of their supposed competition, they chose to investigate it before reporting on it. . . Also unlike her former employer.

Beck was scheduled to run a story on her and his show contacted the USDA for comment. Ms Sherrod was forced to resign under pressure and threat of firing. . .

Now, if you saw the full version, how you come away from it even thinking this woman is a racist is beyond comprehension. . . But big surprise here; right now you seem to agree with the NAACP. . .

Did you not read my above post?  Fox did not air the edited version period.  They edited the full version.  They did not do nor did they intend to do what they were accused of.  Get off that Fox News bad guy thing for petes sake. 

[Palehorse]

Did you not read my above post?  Fox did not air the edited version period.  They edited the full version.  They did not do nor did they intend to do what they were accused of.  Get off that Fox News bad guy thing for petes sake.

Tell that to her boss, because that is what was given to her as justification for asking for her resignation. I am not saying it, I am repeating what Ms Sherrod herself said she was told to her by her superior! 

[me]

Tell that to her boss, because that is what was given to her as justification for asking for her resignation. I am not saying it, I am repeating what Ms Sherrod herself said was told to her by her superior! 

Because they thought Fox News "might" get ahold of the story?  That's a crock and she is being used.  Fox said when they did show the video that it was something that happened 20yrs ago and showed her saying she learned her lesson from that experience and it isn't about black and white but about people.  It wasn't even presented as a racist story.  I say again....the other media is lying about this pure and simple.