"We need to protect the president from Shirley Sherrod's attacks"

[Enrique]

and other revelations from the emails released...

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/07/shirley_sherrod_emails/

*In her resignation letter, Sherrod wrote: "I feel so disappointed that the Secretary and President let a misrepresentation of my words on the part of the Tea Party be the reason to ask me to resign. ... I submit my resignation but in doing so want to put the administration on notice that I will get the whole story out. My whole life speaks for my conmitment to Fairness whether white or black." (pg. 15, Vilsack)

*In an internal timeline of events produced by the USDA, it's reported that Deputy Ag Secretary Kathleen Merrigan on Tuesday at 2 p.m. "expressed concern that Sherrod was attacking the Administration on TV and that our jobs as political appointees is to protect the President." (pg. 1, Merrigan)

*On that Monday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was "absolutely sick and mad over the S Sherrod issue," acccording to Krysta Harden, assistant secretary of agriculture. "He wants her immediately on Adm leave." (pg. 49, Cook)

*USDA officials thought it important to reach out to black members of Congress to help on damage control. John Berge, deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations, wrote Vilsack's chief of staff on Tuesday, July 20: "Can S call Clyburn today? It'll be a while, but we may need him to. We need his help with CBC outreach." The CBC is the Congressional Black Caucus. (pg. 133, Jett)

*Denise Wilson, special assistant to the president in the office of legislative affairs, wrote to a few USDA officials on Wednesday, July 21, about the fear that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who has been a thorn in the White House's side, would seize on the story and "play the race card" (pg. 53, Ross):

"Just had a conversation with Ron Stroman of the Oversight committee. Towns is very worried that USDA took action against Ms Sherrod w/o learning the facts which resulted in her being directed to resign. He has directed his staff to prepare a letter to Vilsak along this line. Ron said that Ranking Member Issa is expected to play into the media accounts that the WH was behind the move to take action against a black woman--and that Issa will play the race card against USDA and the NH -h1gh1ighting the Fact that we took action before the Facts were in. According to Ron,

*The USDA press shop apparently reads Wonkette, with Chris Mather, public affairs director, taking note of the site picking up a statement they sent out on Sherrod on Monday, July 19 (pg. 9, Vilsack).

[xultar]

1. Grrrrrrrrrrr

[rocktivity]

2. Well, duh.

If they'd all just considered the SOURCE--Brietbart and Fox News--and protected Sherrod and Obama from THEIR attacks--one of would have happened.

:eyes:
rocktivity

[Hello_Kitty]

3. And don't forget, the kneejerk action against Sherrod was in response to BREITBART

Fucking Andrew Breitbart. Who should never be given an ounce of credibility ever.

[guruoo]

4. Indeed, adm members failure to fact check first before acting is the real issue here