President Calls Shirley Sherrod

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

President Calls Shirley Sherrod
David Kurtz | July 22, 2010, 1:12PM

The White House's description of the call:

READOUT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALL WITH SHIRLEY SHERROD

The President reached Ms. Sherrod by telephone at about 12:35. They spoke for seven minutes.

The President expressed to Ms. Sherrod his regret about the events of the last several days. He emphasized that Secretary Vilsack was sincere in his apology yesterday, and in his work to rid USDA of discrimination.

The President told Ms. Sherrod that this misfortune can present an opportunity for her to continue her hard work on behalf of those in need, and he hopes that she will do so.

Read more: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/07/the_p...

[MineralMan]

1. I hope she takes that new job. That would be a good conclusion

to this unfortunate incident. I also hope Shirley Sherrod sues the shit out of Dumbbart and Fox for defamation of character.

[Turborama]

2. Agreed. I also hope that the WH will now treat Faux the way they deserve to be treated

Ignored as a real news station, but looked upon as a disinformation station which needs to be kept under a microscope for its constant seditious behavior.

[MineralMan]

3. Oh, I imagine the WH learned something from this, all right.

[Tempest]

6. The question is...

Will they apply what they've learned?

From what I've seen, I highly doubt it.

[MineralMan]

7. I've learned not to make predictions about what the White House

will and will not do.

[lunatica]

21. I find myelf unable to predict what Obama will do next

When you think he might fold he does something decisive and bold and when it looks like he could be bold to push an agenda he seems to fold. I really wonder how his thought processes are. I wonder if he's thinking about some outcome way out in the future.

JFK thought way ahead when he decided that the US should go to the Moon. Sometimes I think Obama does the same thing. When others take up the cause of single payer healthcare now that there's a foundation to work with then his moves will be brilliant.

[eleny]

10. I have the feeling that they will

Being burned twice by the same cast of characters ought to wake up people who are smart enough to have never been burned even once.

I've been disappointed in lots of things about this administration and posted here at DU about all of it. But I think Breitbart and like minded people and organizations had better tread lightly from here on out. It will never be so easy for them although I don't think they'll give up trying. Prejudice runs deep in this country and they'll try pressing those buttons. This administration needs to heighten its awareness and how they respond to the right wing. It's either that or they lose everything.

[azmesa207]

22. The white house

Should not blame anyone but them selfs for this debacle .There the white House for god sakes they should have gotten the darn video them selfs and showed the country what Fox News is all about . Rham Emanuel Should be fired as chief of staff for letting this happen to the president . Obama clearly isn't up to the job of fighting the right wing smear machine .

[patrice]

8. I'd bet there are plenty enough folk who would contribute to a legal fund for her. I know I would.

[Cleita]

13. I think most of these types of lawsuits are done

on a contingency basis, meaning the lawyers take a cut of the settlement for their fee.

[time_has_come]

29. I don't understand why she hasn't also been offered her old job back. Maybe she'd like that?

I dunno.

[ProSense]

4. More details

Obama talks with USDA employee forced out of her job

(CNN) -- Shirley Sherrod got her wish Thursday -- a conversation with President Barack Obama about her forced resignation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The president's office sent Sherrod a text message indicating that Obama had been trying to get in touch with her, Sherrod told CNN producer Julie O'Neill.

Sherrod said she called the White House and was given another number to call. She dialed that number a few minutes later and spoke with the president.

According to O'Neill, Sherrod declined to have the phone call videotaped by CNN, but she was "very pleased" with the conversation.

more

[Spazito]

16. Kudos to Ms. Sherrod for refusing CNN's despicable request ....

to have the phone call videotaped by them. Fucking vultures, all of them.

The admiration I have for Ms. Sherrod has increased exponentially every time I see her on air or read about her. Wonderful, very savvy woman, imo.

[Plucketeer]

5. I hope she takes the job, and

goes after not-so-Brietbart with both barrels blazin'!

[Sanity Claws]

9. I hope she goes back to USDA

but not to that new position. I heard Shirley speak about her work. She was obviously very connected to the mission of the work she was doing. I'd like to see her return to her work or a position higher in the chain. The new position may be nice but I think we would all be better served if Shirley was able to return to the work she was so committed to.

[TEXASYANKEE]

19. I agree.

Ms Sherrod appears to be passionate about her work. I hope she returns to it.

[florida08]

11. well ok then

I guess it's better than nothing but he should have had her come to his office. Not saying that won't happen but this woman was visciously and publicly attacked. A little drama is really ok Mr. President..but thanks for calling her.

[Bette Noir]

12. Actually, I was hoping the President would send her a hand-written note.

Her grandchildren could have sold it on eBay for college funds.

[wordpix]

14. she won't need to sell a hand-written note one she gets through with Faux et al

[Metta]

15. This is in lieu of supporting Elizabeth Warren, I'll bet.

Time will tell.

[Spazito]

17. Spurious speculation based on.....absolutely nothing...

I guess the lessons that needed to be learned about using spurious speculation without FACTS has yet to be learned by some.

[jaysunb]

18. +1

[Metta]

25. Read the papers and listen to the news.

Like, uh, this site.

[Historic NY]

20. The buck stops at the boss's desk..it was about he made that call.

[Igel]

23. No.

It was overkill.

Next topic: Why the fawning over the employee because of a mistake?

The Vilsack press conference was more than sufficient. Meeting with the caucus set up the next big, bad spin; I'm sure it's already lurking "out there."

If the woman's last name had been Matsumoto, one wonders if the rush to judgement would have been so great, if the embarrassment would have been so great if here had been a rush to judgment, if Vilsack would have offered so much as a personal apology in private, if she'd have been offered a different job, if Vilsack would have met with CAPAC, and whether Obama would have called her.

We won't even ponder those questions for a hypothetical "John Q. Sunderson" if the skin tones were flipped.

[glitch]

24. Wrong. Apologies are not "fawning" they are what adults do when they make a mistake.

I hope the country follows his lead, back to maturity.

[EFerrari]

26. "If the skin tones were flipped"? Wtf?

You aren't really trying to drag reverse discrimination into this AGAIN after you just had the world's best illustration of what utter rightwing bullshit it is, are you?

[truthisfreedom]

27. Turning point.

Perhaps this will be the incident that flips the votes this fall.

We need some help, Mr. President. Seriously.

[robcon]

28. I don't think this will 'flip any votes' this fall.

If anything, this will be used as a weapon by the rightwing.

Howard Kurtz's line will be repeated: "Sherrod may be the only official ever dismissed because of the fear that Fox host Glenn Beck might go after her. As Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tried to pressure her into resigning, Sherrod says Deputy Undersecretary Cheryl Cook called her Monday to say "do it, because you're going to be on 'Glenn Beck' tonight."