You are correct, however they did jump right up and publicly denounce the tea party for being racist months after this comment was made. Hmmmm.............

And when they became aware, they reacted. Expecting the NAACP to react before they knew something is silly.

And they should continue to denounce the tea party.Two wrongs will NEVER make a right!

The NAACP does not monitor everybody 24/7. They reacted when the tape came out. So did everybody else. Do you expect NAACP to be clairvoyants ?

And when they became aware, they reacted. Expecting the NAACP to react before they knew something is silly

What ????? Her remarks were made to the NAACP!

just my thoughts, i guess you missed the part about it being an NAACP event with all kinds of NAACP officers in the audience!!??

These remarks were not made at a NATIONAL platform - they were made at a LOCAL one.

and after they found out they booted her, many people stating firm opposition to her comments, and saying they will investigate the people in attendance who reacted rascist as well, unlike teaparty express. They didn't castigate or boot him. The national teaparty had to suspend the whole teaparty express because they refused to. I also haven't heard the same level of condemnation to the types of actions - instead I hear plenty of people denouncing it as irrelavent or reverse racism. You can't have it both ways. NAACP and teaparty are not racist organizations but they are havens for racist ideals. Just like a fraternity is a haven for alcoholic ideals, even if that's not their mission/founding principles.

Piratewench, if it is an organization, and I am pretty sure it is, this is exactly the thing the oragizational structure is for. Reporting up and down the chain

Stop making excuses, it makes you appear to be OK with this. Are you?

Piratewench

These remarks were not made at a NATIONAL platform - they were made at a LOCAL one.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, well in that case...

reundoer - don't be ridiculous. They only "booted" her when they realized they had no choice - not because it was the right thing to do.

just my thoughts didn't you read where she spoke these words at a naacp freedon fund raiser lol . but to the others here yes there are racist in the tea party, but they don't represent the whole, but look at naacp the leaders and the people they have speak do show who represents the whole. we are all human, mistakes are made but why feed the fires of racist with more. there will always be racist, but we need to to be better and not be drawn into making it worst. both parties are ajoke hope we can agree on that. but we are americians until we all look at ourselves like that instead of our color, and we all are of the same blood, we are the human race. myself being a christian i beleive we all have the same beginnings we all came from the original 2 people, so no matter what your color is you are my brother my sister. until we can come to that realization. we can't over come

sorry just my thought, i meant mr fusion, my eye ar not what they use to be i am truly sorry

govhater, own up, your comments are just more of the same finger pointing that has politics in gridlock, nobody does anything but cry about the other side.

1) President Obama is not the cause of racism in this country. Many in this country were racist before he was born and will be after he is gone. NAACP is not the cause, and the Tea Party is not the cause.

2) @"The NAACP are now nothing but a bunch of black hipocritic racist that are trying to smear the teaparty.":

This statement is ignorant and hardly worth addressing, except to say that one should never group people into stereotypes or assume that they know everything there is to know about a person or a group of people.

3) @"The Liberals need to use facts to justify their position, not emotional sensationalism."

This is good advice for everyone, not just liberals.

4) @"The NAACP didn't have one word to say about her "shameful remarks" until conservative news outlets and commentators made sure this video saw the light of day."

You are implying here that liberal commentators would not have seen this act as wrong, in which case I think you are mistaken. However, it is true that many public officials only resign or take appropriate actions after the public holds them accountable.

It is painfully obvious that the only reason this individual was in her position of power was in meeting a race base quota.

how did you ever pass your ASVAB?

The ASVAB is the Armed Services Vocatioanl Aptitude Battery, it is an aptitude test to determine what you are the most proficient in, it is not a pass/fail test. If you are going to critique someone on their spelling and language, and then insult their intelligence, the least you could is prove your own intelligence by knowing what you are talking about.

Let's Not 'Scratch a Sore' - NBC News Dances Around Race Stories

http://www.thefoxnation.com/media/2010/07/20/lets-not-scratch-sore-nbc-news-dances-around-race-stories

The Obama administration must be stopped. How did this woman ever get her job in the first place ??

What did Obama have to do with this?

I think this country has a lot of racial mistrust, exacerbated now with a half-white president, that whites, blacks and even himself consider 100% black. I think everybody is racist in some degree, because you just can't tell what people are thinking behind their mask of been polite or politically correct. Nevertheless, at least in this country the white people started it and it would take a long time to break down that mistrust.

MSM wonders why they are so irrelevant? They never break a story on barry, always coming in for sloppy seconds. It is obvious that msm couldn't miss all these stories unless they tried and that is exactly what they are doing. Not reporting, just providing cover for their boy!

NAACP has connection with black. It is understandable that there are few to quite a few people in NAACP that share this racist's point of view by the way the NAACP audiences reacted to her speech.
NAACP has to decide what she wants to be. A black reverse-racists group or a champion for civil justice.
To be later, they have to clean their house through and through.
It is hypocritical when you practice what you accused others of.

) President Obama is not the cause of racism in this country. Many in this country were racist before he was born and will be after he is gone. NAACP is not the cause, and the Tea Party is not the cause.

Obama tries to use the race card every chance he gets. In the last 30-40 years I have never heard so much racism BS until this man was elected. The man is half black and half white so don't hand me that crap that it all started because a black man was elected president. Take a look at most of his czars and appointees.

How did the black panthers get a pass, what they showed was without a doubt racism and intimidating people at the voting polls which is illegal. Did eric holder just happen to overlook the whole thing. If any white group came out and acted like that he would be trying them for hate crimes. How come no one is calling him a racist or investigating the DOJ. The congress and the senate both have the power. The president has the power. WTF?????????

These damn liberals cause more problems with thier lies and BS that politics are sickening anymore. Everytime you turn around thier trying to use racism or the GOP did this or that. Wake up people, the GOP votes against all this crap because thier trying to do something about the deficit, the democrats just keep spending as if there was no tomorrow. Don't any of you people know how printing money works. IT DOESN"T, unless your'e one of the banks in the federal reserve!

Regardless of how this was brought to light or whether it seems the NAACP should have known about this incident or not, I welcome their condemnation as I welcome her departure from the FDA and the TEA Party Federation kicking the Tea Party Express to the curb. Racism is wrong whether it's a black official acting like a female Archie Bunker or a White organization's "leader" writing a hateful letter. I get constantly attacked as a racist for having strong views against Radical Islam but I don't condemn Islam as a whole and have had and will continue to have Muslim friends (who's beliefs are as strong if not stronger than mine against the ISLAMISTS). The only way to eliminate racism is to confront it and anytime that happens it's welcome news.

She is obviously a racist, and got what she deserved, but the real problem is the approving attitude of her audience.

If this was a White official, and a White audience reacted that way, it would be front page fodder throughout the World.

The media double-standard is fully exposed, since Blacks seem to think it's "impossible" for a Black person to be a "racist".

Matthew 7: 3-5

Tim, stop spending, stop the wars.

"however they did jump right up and publicly denounce the tea party for being racist months after this comment was made. Hmmm"

So what's your point? That they should not have condemned the tea party's racism because this woman made a racist remark in March? -- a remark they didn't know about? Hmmm. You're a moron.

Willowbrook, I was thinking the same thing.

Being from Southern Indiana myself, and knowing many farmers, I challenge anyone with a desk job in an air conditioned office to not feel a little insignificant compared to a farmer when you listen to what they do and go through every day. Then on top of that, he was most likely just trying to make a good enough impression to get help.

Did any of you bother to find out the rest of the story??? No, as usual. Big Government should probably post the speech in its entirety

http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/would-shirley-sherrods-full-naacp-speech-give-a-different-impression/19561003

Fiscalconservative, you are correct and I might add the only real thing the NAACP found shameful was that these racist comments came to the attention of the public. Otherwise, they were perfectly fine with it.

Does anyone out there believe this attitude is NOT rampant in this administration?

tim-580939

A few facts for you

The criminal charges against those racist POS in the new Black Panther Party were dropped before President Obama came into office. They were dropped by the DOJ under President Bushes administration. Obama's administration dropped the civil case, no doubt partially because of the deep sixing of the criminal case.

The deficit that you are so worried about, justifiably so, was mostly created by the GOP. Democrats are "tax and spend" while Republicans are "borrow and spend". Remember what VP Cheney said, "Reagan proved Deficits don't matter". Also remember that the debt was built up on purpose. Don't you recall Reagan's mantra, "starve the beast". Stop being a sheep and educate yourself. Every time you run around screaming "LIBERAL" you are being herded.

Try going to treasurydirect.gov there you can lookup the National Debt by the date, to the penny. Think about who was in office when the money was borrowed and spent.

Really? I do believe that this occured at an NAACP meeting, and judging by the reaction it was well received by all that attended. If we are lucky maybe Biden will make a comment about it, that would be awesome! Hmm what got nothing to say about this one Rev Jesse, or are you still having your foot surgically removed from your last embarassment.

Lynette,

There is a $100,000 reward for filmed evidence of racist remarks at a Tea party event.

It is unclaimed.

Why do you suppose that is?

if this was said about a black farmer and got out... I can see it now... Rev. Al and Jessie would be carrying banners, preaching from a podium, demanding that farmer get what he came for and so on.Those two allegedly stand up against racism. Well, just because a white guy got screwed by a black woman, who admittedly didnt do as much as she could for him, because he was white... is this not racism as well.

Hey AL, Hey Jessie.... where do YOU stand on this issue? What a couple of hypocrites those two are.

Maybe it's time for the creation of the National Association For The Advancement of White People, huh?

ScoMata

Well this is real from Yale. Why do you read if you can. If it doesn't make you sick and ashame. I think you should be the Leader of the TEA PARTY.

BUT, don't cheat read it ALL!

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/2/79.02.04.x.html

If it doesn't make you sick and ashame.

Why should someone feel "sick and ashamed" over something they had absolutely nothing to do with? Faulty logic and epic fail at trying to whip up guilt where there should be none.

Wilberta Berry,

I have nothing to do with the Tea Party or the Republican Party. Simply stating a fact.

I happen to be an Italian American working for a Democrat Governor in the executive branch of a state government.

You can take your condecending and insulting remarks and, well, you know the rest.

P.S. Insulting my reading capabilities in a post that has more grammatical errors than a quote from Bart Simpson does not carry much weight with me.

I looked and looked and just couldn't find the "RASCIST!"s denunciation by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Guess they hadn't seen the video yet. White farmer/black farmer....focus should be on "farmer".

Wilberta Berry - The article you posted (2.46) has nothing to do with this article, and in fact justifies what I said in my first post. Your article covers a period ENDING in 1950, that is 60 YEARS AGO! Much has changed since then. Bringing this article up, especially if you are a member of the NAACP, shows how you are part of the problem and not the solution. How about something from the here and now? (Oh wait, it will be examples of black on white racism, guess that won't help you, will it?)

cmon-864012

"govhater, own up, your comments are just more of the same finger pointing that has politics in gridlock, nobody does anything but cry about the other side."

Uh... did you see me pointing any fingers? Noooooo... I was only POINTING out the finger pointing that your republick'on counterpart was doing. So why don't YOU own up and actually read a post before running to cover each others backsides ok?

natedom

how did you ever pass your ASVAB?

"The ASVAB is the Armed Services Vocatioanl Aptitude Battery, it is an aptitude test to determine what you are the most proficient in, it is not a pass/fail test. If you are going to critique someone on their spelling and language, and then insult their intelligence, the least you could is prove your own intelligence by knowing what you are talking about."

Yeah, as an 8-year Navy SeaBee I KNOW what the ASVAB is, and you should know that by any general indication term the word "pass" means to do well enough to be accepted. If you do not "pass" your ASVAB, your are not allowed to join. So much for proving YOUR intelligence lol!

And it most certainly should have seen the light of day but not by any conservative but by the NAACP itself who should've been the FIRST to take action and reacted to her intolerable behavior rather than proacted to being exposed.

Racism is alive and well in the Obama White House. So much for his "post-racial" society! A true shame.

But at least he can get an unemployment check... oh, wait, he was self-employed so he's not covered! Only 28 months until President Obama is unemployed too! :)

It’s interesting that MSNBC even posted this story. I think if it wasn’t for the furor directed at them for purposefully ignoring/omitting that Black Panther voter intimidation story they would most likely have ignored this story as well.

All bigots and racists are suffering from inferiority complexes. Therefor, anyone would appear to be acting superior to them. Such is the payment for your sins (skewed outlook on life). What goes around comes around. I surely hope she is charged and convicted for her criminal behavior.

nutgrape, you are correct, the incident in question did happen 24 years ago. and the lady did continue her story to say that she got over her racism and helped the white farmer. but between her racist admission and the heroric ending of her story, the naacp members in the audience seemed to approve her past racist behaviour overwhelmingly and without shame. maybe they should be fired too. cannons anyone?

peace

aunty

"There is a $100,000 reward for filmed evidence of racist remarks at a Tea party event. It is unclaimed. Why do you suppose that is?"

Just a shot in the dark here, but I'm guessing it's unclaimed because no one has yet produced any film evidence of racist remarks at a tea party event.

Did I guess right?

The reality is that no organization, the NAACP or otherwise, will bring negative media attention to themselves. That her comments were made at an event hosted by the NAACP would have had negative implications on the organization if the NAACP berated her for comments she made at one of there very own events, but that does not mean they are not in agreement. Her comments were distasteful because particuarly as NAACP president noted, she did not indicate she did anything to rectify the wrong she had done to the farmer, although she shared her story as a learning experience. The NAACP acted appropiately in my opinion. It's a national organization; this event took place in Georgia. Though, some NAACP representatives may have responded inappropiately to her comments, I doubt they represent the organization as a whole as the NAACP president indicates.

The important thing is that when it came to the media's attention they made it clear that they did not agree with her actions. If you can name an organization that would bring negative media attention to themselves by saying hey, we invited this person to speak at our event, and she said some distasteful and racist things, please list them for me. This concept isn't novel.

As to other comments about the NAACP blasting other organizations for their mistakes, duh! Do you ever hear Democrats saying, yeah, we screwed up, we're sorry until the Republicans force them to admit it and vice versa. It's called damage control, and in this case, they did it well.

They should've fired that despicible woman. People like that need the carpet calling wherever they crop up. NAACP needs to live by it's own organization's reason d'etre.

What I would like to know is where is the ACLU (American Civil Leftist Union) in all this to help the farmer? Oh, that's right, the farmer is white! Oops, sorry, can't help you!

Oh please! All we know is that she said these words in front of people. Breitbart has an agenda and he is no respecter of fact and truth.

The upshot of the matter is, the NAACP has condemened this behavior and they have pledged to address it. This is far more than the Tea baggers have done in the face of far less condemnation. The orginal resolution called for Tea Baggers to 'repudiate the racist elements it has attracted". This does not call all tea baggers racist (no it does not!).

You clearly have a point you wish to make whether the story/facts support it or not.

You are the perfect companion for the huckster Breitbart. At least this video may not be a deliberate distortion.

i'm sorry, willowbrook, 60 years is not that long ago in the collective thoughts of a people--a nation. my granny's 75--this stuff happened within living peoples' lifetimes.

there's a ripple effect to the shocks of those times.

and now that it's known that the clip wasn't shown in its full entirety...who's baiting now? frankly, i'm glad these discussions are reaching the forefront. barack obama really put the racial feelings out on display.

But Sherrod, in an interview with CNN, said her remarks to the NAACP were being intentionally misconstrued by conservative groups stoking racial tensions.

Love that bit. The "not my fault, it is the Conservatives fault for my racism."

natedom - You state the ASVAB isnt a pass/fail test which is true but you are aware that you must have pass a minimum score to qualify for the armed forces. That minimum score gets you into the armed forces but getting the career field you want is based on how well you did on the asvab due to the fact that every career filed has minimum score to qualified.

As a former recruiter see young people every day who can't pass the ASVAB but have a hs diploma; no surprise there.

This is not an isolated instance, but is typical of the black administrators that Obama has put into his administration. One of the worse, if not the worst racist, is Eric Holder. The AG of the U.S. who has told his employees to not prosecute black on white civil rights cases. I know this for a fact as the source is a current DOJ CR attorney and not Mr. Adams who resigned from the DOJ over this "guideline." And no, I will not disclose his or her identity.

It was 24 years ago. Can anyone of you criticizing her tell me you have not done something racist in the pass 24 years. I understand what she was getting at and I think most of you do too. What we don't need are the clear lines of hatred.

shaunb - Those folks who can still remember these times are not the ones making stupid political statements or condemning the Tea Party. Maybe your Granny should make it known how much things have changed since 1950.

chucky1169469

The Obama administration must be stopped. How did this woman ever get her job in the first place ??

What did Obama have to do with this?

July 25th Pigford VS Vilsack, she and her group were awarded 13 Million 5 days later she was appointed by Obama.

Racism from ANYONE should not be tolerated. I just wish everyone would TRY to get along and live in peace.

You sure don't know a lot of what you like to think you do. The ASVAB test is strictly used to "place" you into categories of jobs that you might be suited for. as an Example If I had a 77 in Mechanical and a 45 in Administration you would think I'd be more suited for one of the Mechanical fields. I chose a profession in one of my lower scores... they didn't and don't use it as a pass/fail. I have seen scores in the teens and they were allowed to join. So please don't try and impress us with "your" intelligence again. 20 year, retired AF ...

that's because her "remarks" aren't actually what the video shows. the comments which are being shown are the lead-in to a bigger story about how she herself learned to put race aside.

all you people jumping on her haven't even heard the full story.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/usdas-shirley-sherrod-disputes-clip-of-racist-naacp-banquet-comments/

buncha idiots.

24 years ago, the best shot that farmer would have had of getting help was not with a black woman on his case, but with a white man in Georgia.

So give it a rest. A bunch of rubbish on both sides. It was taken out of context, it was 24 years ago, and it doesn't matter.

Lots of things have happened in the past. Who cares? It's not like black farmers have never been left twisting in the wind. It doesn't appear that she did that anyway - if the farmer has any beef it is with the white guy who took over his case.

Our race problems here in the USA are so hard to stomach. We have some people saying it doesn't exist, we have some people who manipulate it for their own benefit, we have people who push hate into the mix, people that stand by and watch, and then we have those who try to help no matter the cost. White or Black there evil people in both groups. Granted White people started it, but we are in the aftermath and we have to solve this.

Although this is such a Utopian ideal, please people the internet is being used again for terrible reasons. Racism without a face. Is this not terrorism?

Who cares about this woman? She is just another bigot who came into the limelight. She is gone and still nothing is fixed.

Lets go back to the peaceful Christian way to deal with this. The ways of Martin Luther King Jr.

Just an observation made by a white 25 year old. I do not mean any disrespect. I am only trying to help. If anyone wants to email me, and continue this conversation. Please email me at CWillNet@gmail.com.

Please spread peace not hate. WWJD

It's amazing that she "resigned". Isn't that another word for FIRED.

How did this woman slip through the cracks?

The NAACP is a has been. They are the biggest racists of all. It was disgusting to listen to her yap about white farmers.

Some like her still have a "chip on their shoulder" because of the slavery days.

Nothing has changed in this country. Nothing, except for now Racism and anti-Semitism is rampant in this country and other European countries, including the Middle East.

Obama wanted to bring us together. We are all one--America is so divided, we are now part of the 1960's gendre. What a waste of time and lives. Racism has gotten worse because the Dems have incited it, i(ncluding few Conservatives) knowing they are in trouble, because O has not done his job. I saw the blame game again against the last Administration in one of his recent speeches. He is responsible now as our President. 2 years.

So, the final solution is for Racism to 'rear it's ugly head" again. This is unacceptable. No excuses for an incompetent job done in the WH; it would be refreshing to find something else to blame it on---our President treated as a Leader of the Free World and not a color.

Amazing how the NAACP is now backing this poor white farmer. Oh yeah, it is nearly time for mid-term elections, isn't it? No wonder...Here's a few questions for everyone: Why isn't there are a United Caucasian College Fund? Or an Oriental Entertainment Telelvision station like there is a Black Entertainment Television station? Or how about along with the Hispanic Channel we get one specifically for the Irish, Italian, and Russians? Seems funny how we segregate ethnic groups into superiority while being condescending in our actions, (and almost ostracizing, nonblatantly), the caucasions.

Being a fed govt employee she still gets her $100,000 pension.

A billion people's opinion:

Watch out for these special groups who tout their pure beliefs and accusations. They are hiding under wolves clothing, because they are the ones who are the exact people who they are against.

Shirley S. has now said it is a "misunderstanding". That's the apology these days. On tape, she is loud and clear. Hatred for White people.

She now is complaining the WH was behind her. She's trying to bring the White House down in retaliation.

@Jim something or another and anyone else referencin the Obama administration.

Her job has nothing to do with the Obama adminsitration and her comments do not prove she was not the best person for the job. Her comments prove that she used poor judgment in responding to someone she felt was trying to "act superior" to her. Note that her discriminatory actions took place 24 years ago before she ever held the USDA position. She just recently shared them to convey a point an NAACP event in Douglas, GA. Her actions wer taken while she was working directly for the State of Georgia and are obviously just becoming known to anyone. However distasteful her comments, She was more than qualified for the position for which she now rightfully resigned from. She was appointed as the USDA Rural Development Georgia State Director in July of 09 after working with Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund as the organization's Director of the Georgia State Office since 1985. This is where she worked when she made discriminated against the farmer. This organization worked directly with the USDA to secure funds for Georgia farmers so she was more than experienced in this area, and well-qualified for the USDA position. Being that Georgia, is a predominantly White Republican state, I am sure that she does not have a history of discriminating against other races in her job less it would have come to the forefront by now. I don't even think she's racist as a general rule because her comments indicate she reacted this way because the farmer tried to act "superior" to her not simply because he was White. I wonder how she would have reacted to a farmer of her same race acting superior by being condescending or what have you, but we will never know now, and if she has reacted the same way to someone of her own race who was trying to "act superior" to her, it would have been irrelevant to mention at an NAACP event. Her behavior was wholly unacceptable because when you are working in the public sector you have to deal with all types of personalties, races, etc. and you may get someone who you feel is unpleasant, but it's not your place to choose how to allocate government resources because someone offended you.

The idea that Obama is to blame for this is ignorant and shows that many of you are ill-informed and perhaps racist yourself. Let's blame the Black president for the Black woman's behavior 24 years ago. That makes sense. Is it difficult to belive that a Black woman was qualified for the position by virtue of educational background and career experiences and not that Obama called Georgia (because he has time to be concerned about who's the of Director in one of the 50 states of a SubDepartment of one of the many Departments in his administration) and requested she be appointed. She was actually appointed by a White man who made a big deal about her being the first Black woman to hold this position and who commended her for her effectiveness in securing federal funding for Georgia farmes since 1985. I am sure she is now a big disappointment to him and she's one to me as well. I hope that her example is lesson to everyone that when working in public service, place your personal sentiments aside, particularly when they're bigoted as in this case, but please readers don't show your true colors and sentiments by blaming Obama for a nearly quarter of a century old incident that is just coming to light.

What happened was a long time ago. I would not hold a mistake against her for something that old. Everyone states something or does something sometime in their life that they wish they could retract. I wish she would have stayed on and faced the public with her head held high. I don't know her personally but suspect she is doing a fine job. With maturity she most likely teaches others to not make the same mistakes of her past and now leads by example. I wish her the best of luck in any future endeavors.

You forgot Ms. White America....we have Ms. Black America.......then of course we do have Ms. America which a black won.....Lordy,Lordy...it gets so confusing!!!!!

Wow, I get 100 votes, then I go straight to being deleted. Which way is it? Must of touched a nerve. Embarassed/angered about the truth being exposed? I'm thinking so.....

Didn't you know that EVERYTHING wrong is the world today is OBAMA's FAULT? I mean, it's not like he came into a bad economic situation with a deficit out of this world. I mean, Bush left this country in perfectly grand condition and here goes this BLACKMAN and destroys it all.

Not everything in the world that is wrong is Obama's fault, but it's about time he and his supporters owned up to the increasing amount of problems that ARE his fault. What Obama has done is akin to amputating a broken leg. No reasonable person is questioning that the leg was broken, and that it was broken before Obama showed up. The question is whether the extreme course of actions he has chosen to take are the ones he should have. Many of us say "No" - and it has nothing to do with what color his skin is.

It's a master stroke to put up a person of obvious ethnicity to be a figurehead in the ramming through of sweeping, unpopular changes, because those on the left who are already inclined to do so can claim that everyone who protests is doing so on "racist" grounds. Unlike liberals (and a significant percentage of the people I know personally who voted for him to begin with), the vast majority of us who wish Obama never happened don't give a flying flip about his skin color.

If a person of color told you to jump off a cliff, and you said, "That's a stupid idea," are you a racist for thinking it's a stupid idea? No.

We shall wait and see how this story re: Shirley S evolves. Now they say the WH did have something to do with a lot of what happened? Who going to be the Scapegoat for this scandal.

There is going to be more out about Rev. Wrights incidinary remarks in recent book, including Obama's campaign while he was running for President.

More stories unraveling. It's the wait and see, how this is spinned.

But Sherrod, in an interview with CNN, said her remarks to the NAACP were being intentionally misconstrued by -- groups stoking racial tensions.

OH! You mean like the NAACP! I get it.

Interesting that the comments not condemning this woman and/or Obma and/or the NAACP are the only ones not getting collapsed by the community. And you cry censorship the rest of the time.

Also interesting... the white farmer's wife corroborates Sherrod's story and calls her a "friend for life".

But why bother thinking first when you can just react... or in this case and many others, over-react?

This is why Government should not be involve in “health-care”, “Student loans”, “Banking” Because you get people like Shirley Sherrod, and screw your life up

Black America for the most part thinks racism is a one way street. They were taught by their "leaders" that because they are a minority only the institutionalized majority is capable of racism. Many bought into that along with the victimization and entitlement mentality that is so pervasive in the black communinty. They have been conditioned to be Democrats and to believe that the government exists solely to provide them with everything they cannot provide for themselves. With the election of the first bi-racial president, who never aligns himself with his white roots, only his balck heritage, everything is viewed through the prsim of race and racism. For one who ran as the great "uniter"He is the most divisive president in history and we as a nation and a people are the most polarized we have been since the 1960s.

People here need to look in the mirror, and "do unto others" before they all come screaming to verbally lynch "the others".

If people cannot look honestly into their souls and see that they are not perfect, that they cannot HONESTLY scream out "I don't have a racist bone in my body, never had, never will ... all the problems in my life are caused by THOSE PEOPLE" , then we just have to wait it out until the haters all die out, or destroy the world.

Evolve or die.

Check out the entire story before you "go git yur guns". Geez. And relax ... and maybe pray?

If there's a racist organization in this country it is the NAACP!

don't you know by now that only white people can be racists. this is clearly just another example of the white man trying to hold the black man....i mean african americans.......down.

it was on Huffington before Fox.

Too bad this couldn't have been spun fast enough so that the feds and media could say that Shirley Sherrod "mis-spoke." Thanks, Shirley, for further exposing and reinforcing what most people already know --- blacks can be VERY racist.

Tony Amodeo

If there's a racist organization in this country it is the NAACP!

Come on now Tony! Let's not forget La Raza!

I just wonder why she ever thought that race played into her position in the first place.

The NAACP didn't have one word to say about her "shameful remarks" until conservative news outlets and commentators made sure this video saw the light of day.

So are you saying that "conservative news outlets and commentators" made sure that this saw the light of day because she was BLACK?

Wow... imagine that... racists, complaining about racism...

Nothing new here..

It reminds me of a politition, calling another politition a liar, just to say it is OK if he lies, because they do it too!

"Republican Values" on display

Corey PA

The white people started it? Started what? Slavery? Racism? What?

Slavery was going on over 400 years ago in Africa. They enslaved their own kind. So don't tell us that the "white people" started it.

I hope there is a place in the History Books for Shirley Sherrod right next to Obama.

She will be the first Black person to lose her job for being racist.

Give me a break on the farmer!!! I'm sure he was condesending as any good republican farmer would be, imagine, having to humble yourself before a black woman!!!...he wasn't worried about saving his farm he was worried about loosing his hundred's of thousand dollar bailout that he gets EVERY year from the government.

When will the good people start looking at the farming handouts and say enuf is enuf...How many honest working people get 50,000 to 100,000 dollars a year not to work!!!! I'm sure she saw right thru him, and you would have done what she did also!!!!

The food we purchase does not come from the American Farmer!! American farmers sell overseas where they get a better price! The American Farmer does not feed Americans....

zaphod - you are not as clever as you apparently think you are. Because I don't believe I EVER said that. The point is that apparently it's OK for NAACP members to be racist at the same time that they are screaming "racism" at Tea Party members. It's called being hypocritical, if that's not too large a word for you to understand.

What a callused moron to be boasting of such a thing is unbelievable. I guess she knew her audience.

So this is a story because we have a very rare instance where a black person hinders a white person. Amazing...Now I will just sit an wait for the news story when a black or hispanic cop profiles an harasses a white person with out just cause. And hopefully we will have the same outrage. Maybe if i wait long enough we will hear a news story of how hard it is for a white person to get a job in black corporate America. Assuming that its only a matter of time before corporate America will be taken over by black people and the blacks in charge will systematically deny access to white people as how it was done in reverse.

Hate is hate people. but put please put some perspective behind it.

Kind of like if a women hits a man and that man hits back. Both actions comletely wrong but the effects are normally much greater for that women. Like the effects of racism compared to reverse racism. Oh yea your not a man if you have to hit a women.

this is aperfect example of how african american officls, like jesse jackon and al sharpton, scream racism around every corner. When the duke lacross team was tried for raping the black girl, they were out for blood. when everyone found out the girl was lying and the case was dismissed you never heard a word from jesse or al saying the coments they made were wrong. black people are just as, or even more racist than whites.

Racism is a big business. There is a lot of money to be made and the sheeple go right along with it.

Yes, I am aware that you have to have a minimum score in order to be accepted into the service, I am also aware that the ASVAB is a multiple choice test, therefore the belief that one would need to spell in order to pass is irrelevant. Of course, that person may have failed the spelling portion but that would not result in a score too low to be accepted.

I am sure you have seen many people that have "failed" the ASVAB that have received a high school diploma, just like there are many people that have excelled on the ASVAB and not received a high school diploma. Certainly not everyone that has scored well on the ASVAB's have gone on to join the service.

Interesting that she had to resign; she admitted she had not done enough; and the farmer in question states that she helped them save their farm and consider her a friend for life. What a shameful job she must have done! Not! She was harder on herself than anyone and had to resign because in her estimation she could have done more. She saved their farm so she must have done pretty well. But, those of you who want a reason to hate won't find that enough.

WHAT DO NON-WHITE RACISTS, LIBERALS AND THE NAACP HAVE IN COMMON???????????????

DENIAL!

These last few months have been testaments to the obvious bias and racism in the Non-White communities. Yet our government seems to be happy to just be selective in their approaching them as issues. Our Justice Department is obviously so racist it smells. You can never find ANY consistency in this administration. No one has a clue what the other person or agency is saying or doing. But they sure do know how to blame, campaign, party and throw out the race card whenever their backs are against the wall. The onlu success story so far in the Obama presidency is that he has managed to polarize our nation more than any time since the Civil War. Hope and Change are rapidly turning into Ropes and Chains.

Blacks, Hispanics, and any other ethnic group have been exposed over and over for their outright and uncontrolled bias and racism. The Cambridge Police incident was handled "stupidly"! The demonstrations against SB1070 in Arizona were filled with mobs throwing bottles and screaming racial slurs. The New Black Panther party, regardless of its size, showed its racist hand in intimidating innocent voters. Eric Holder easily claimed Americans being cowards for not addressing the racial issues yet he does NOTHING when confronted with these cases of overt racism. This must be corrected if we have any chance of our nation digging out from the other mass of problems we have.

Liberals for all their rhetoric about being for the "little guy" and the minorities have failed miserably for decades in improving their quality of life. The greates hoax of all is so obvious with the Liberal Progressive statement, "Hello, I'm from the government and I'm here to help you". Hundreds of Billions of dollars have been spent by our incompetent government fighting the Wars on Poverty, Crime and Illiteracy and NOTHING has significantly improved over 46 years since the Civil Rights movement. The Liberal Progressive's ridiculous notion that just because we may all want these things to happen for minorities and others it will happen. The affected must want it to happen. The affected must start to show their desire for improvements in their communities, schools and homes for it to work. No amount of money or Hope or Change will do a thing until those affected assume a level of responsibility. Maintaining whole generations in the welfare state with food stamps, subsidized housing and false hopes is NOT the solution.

The NAACP has become a shell of what it was intended to be. Its leadership is out of touch and out of control in what their purpose is. The repeated and absurd abuse of racism for any problem will never accomplish anything for colored people. Beside Hundreds of Billions of dollars and opportunities for equality they have been negligent in making any advances for decades. Their talking heads Jackson, Sharpton and others have been opportunists for their own gain and position and have done nothing for their communities. The latest NAACP resolution against the Tea Party was without merit or proof yet when one of their own is forced to resign because of racial statements about "white farmers" the NAACP mouth has suddenly become mute.

This can be expressed for many more pages on the hypocracy and denial. The fact is, many see right through these sham organizations and people. They decry racism but use it at every opportunity, right or wrong, for their benefit. It's time to be honest, these groups have to admit their racism and biases if they want to be considered valid.

Daisy, absolutely NOTHING you posted is true. Nothing. You need to educate yourself because you apparantly have no clue at all how agriculture works.

Rare? It is a greater possibility than you realize. When I worked in one office a few years back, my studio heard our African American Boss say get off the phone and loudly say "We'll make the white men pay!" I was uneasy for a few days, until I found out later his wife who was an attorney was running wanting to run for a certain Judgeship that interested her. She was told "you can run for the position, but we won't support you, we will support you if you run for this other judgeship though." It wasn't necessarily racism, but rather a seniority issue or political payoff for time served.

No one should use race as a reason for any action, especially retribution. The victims of that rage, may not be guilty.

How typical of the right wing, so-called "christians" to overlook the fact that she was relaying a story of something that she was admitting that she had done wrong (24 years ago, no less) and that it taught her a lesson and changed the way she thought. So much for those "christian" values of forgiveness and redemption. Of course what would you expect from the same people who continued to call Senator Byrd a member of the KKK decades after he renounced the group and became an advocate for the rights of people of all colors? Guess "forgiveness" only applies if you are a republican.

Nutgrape post 2.39, get your facts straight, will you? The charges against these black panthers were brought under the Bush administration in January 2009 but they were dropped on May 15, 2009 by Obama’s justice department. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights sent a letter to the Justice department demanding an explanation but they were ignored and continue to be ignored to this day.

Could someone please explain to me why it is that one or two racists (not in the leadership ranks), or even a handful for that matter, at a tea party rally of thousands and that makes the entire group racist, but a pastor leading an entire church filled with the willing that have come to listen does not allow for those filling the church to be labeled as racist? Even those of his parish know what he will be saying based on previous lectures, say 20 years worth of lectures?

To go to a KKK rally willingly makes you racist, to have a KKK member show up at your rally does not make you, or the rally, racist.

Why doesnt this apply across the board, only to select groups?

the fact of the matter is that sherrod did help the white farmer save his farm in spite of himself. he didn't want help from a black woman. she could have just gone away and left him empty handed. instead she referred him to a white attorney with whom the farmer would be more racially comfortable.she laments that she could have have done so much more for the white bigoted farmer. but he preferred paying a white person like himself than receive free assistance from a black woman. and it wasn't that unusual in parts of the south that needy white folks would refuse help from a black person. the movie in the heat of the night dramatizes this point.so who gives a rat's a##what she rhetorically said twenty four years later.except maybe for white tea baggers with a gotcha complex.the white farmer didn't want a black female helping him even after the passage of the 1964 civil rights act. and a few years before this incident it's doubtfull the white farmer would have even allowed a black person on his farm. and years before that he would have sicked his dogs on her. and a years before that she would have been picking cotton for the farmer. sherrod didn't unfairly discriminate against the white farmer; it was he who chose to pay for his bigotry, believing a black woman wasn't good enough to help him for free..

Wow Mike, with all of that reading you were able to do between the lines I am surprised the video did not go longer. You make a LOT of inferences and assumptions that allow this woman to be nothing more than a racist.

zaphod - you are not as clever as you apparently think you are. Because I don't believe I EVER said that.

and I never SAID that you did say that, I asked a question... Did you answer it? no... AMAZING!

The point is that apparently it's OK for NAACP members to be racist at the same time that they are screaming "racism" at Tea Party members.

and my point, which seems to have flown right over your diminutive head, was that if she wasn't BLACK, those same "conservative news outlets and commentators" you Harald, would not have found this as a story of interest!

It's called being hypocritical, if that's not too large a word for you to understand.

Note how they completely IGNORE the wording of what was said by the NAACP about some racist elements being tolerated within the tea party, and jump to defending themselves, by pointing at other racism..

Which very eloquently proves my point!

It reminds me of a politician, calling another politician a liar, just to say it is OK if he lies, because they do it too!

Thanks for playing!

zaphod - you are not as clever as you apparently think you are

Maybe, maybe not, but you just proved I'm ahead of you, which may not be saying much... ROTFLMAO!

Now, wait a minute. This was 24 years ago? I don't get it. What did she do. Make light of that incident and tell it as an amusing anecdote? If she was trying to pander to black leaders and blacks seen as powerful for black citizens, then she was right to step down, and is right to be called a racist. But if she is being held accountable for actions 24 years ago, this is just plain stupid. And if "the White House", IOW Obama called for her resignation, the hypocrites need to resign theirselves for punishing Honduras by withdrawing military aid and condemning their removal of the would-be dictator Zelaya from office. What is that? Discrimination in favor of policticians and dicatators?

Racism is a scourge in this country, and is the last refuge of the lowlifes and ignorant...well, maybe not the last. There's still politics. And Lawyers. We need to be more aware of the far-reaching consequences of our decisions, and at the same time, be more forgiving. Sometimes we make mountains out of molehills and sometimes we minimize the obviously large and dangerous. The human animal is capable of so much good. Too bad so many spend all their time vying for position, that they render theirselves incapable of being effective.

If anyone would have listened to the actual remarks, you would see she did go on to explain that those were her former feelings and she came to the conclusion the situation was not about race, but about being poor and powerless.

MCCARTHYISM is alive and well and our White House caves on too many GOP non-issues.

If she had been white and a member of the Bush Administration and said the exact same thing about a black farm: Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and a lot of libs would have called for her firing and then there would have been calls for a demonstration and a lot of other crap...she made a racist comment, and in with her position in the government her resignation (also known as " You're Fired") was the only logical choice,,be careful about how you justify racism there miss niteowlett...

It is absolutely amazing how many people on the left are trying to defend a blatantly racist speech by this woman. Had this been a white speaker making the very same kinds of statements she was making they would be linking him to the tea party toot sweet. But since it is a liberal with ties to Obama she has the apologists coming out of the woodwork trying to spray Lysol on the pile of @!$%# before someone smells it.

knuckledragger, you've got to get out of your cage once in a while to fully research a story. more than one newspaper in the south has aready apologized for limiting its facticity of the story to the video.actually i'm not reading between the lines.i'm merely paraphrasing what several media reporters are now saying after interviewing ms sherrod.however,in my closing lines i do read between the lines. it comes from my marine corps days in the south where i observed the shabby way knuckledraggers treated all black americans. i apologize if the shoe fits. eat another banana and chill out!

bill,

LISTEN to her complete remarks and get back to me re: the blantant racism.

Mike,

From my days in the Marine Corps we were taught to put your money where your mouth is, cite your sources or shut the @!$%# up! I have seen racism from blacks, whites, asians, and so on and so on also, should I allow that to taint how I view the story? I have seen blacks beat up whites because they were just that, white. Should I use my personal experiences to "read between the lines" with how I have seen whites treated by blacks? Guess what, they call that bigotry. And yes Mike, you can be a bigot against your own race.

And it is quite odd how they interviewed Ms Sherrod to allow her to refute the story when they have a white person charged with racism they have them accused/tried/executed on the evening news before they even get to the weather or sports.

"eat another banana and chill out", no wonder Marines are thought of as idiots!

First of all, Newsvine need serious help when posting articles. SHE SAVED THE WHITE MAN'S FARM.

I am a white person.

I heard the whole story from HER MOUTH (Ms. Sherrod) this morning on CNN.

Before she spoke, I watched THE PARTIAL VIDEO. I was peeved. I hit the roof.

Then I heard her story. She used this story in her speech so she could share with other black people about how SHE LEARNED TO STOP BEING A RACIST.

In fact, after listening to her, I cried because I knew that she did learn something. As she put it - "I learned it is not about race.... It is about those that have and those who do not have." There is no doubt in my mind that this was her personal watershed moment when she realized that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

I think it was very courageous of her to share her story with black people, ALL OF WHOM WERE NODDING IN AGREEMENT AT THE NOT WANTING TO HELP WHITE PEOPLE PART OF HER SPEECH. I hope those people actually learned something too.

At the end of the day, she saved this white man's farm. His farm had been put into foreclosure ILLEGALLY and his first lawyer was a waste. It was BECAUSE OF SHERROD THAT HE SAVED HIS FARM.

I am furious (again) with President Obama because his administration called her four times this week to resign.

I completely support this woman and I want her to get her job back. This is freaking ridiculous.

Yeah, right.

When a white person makes racist remarks it's "Off with their head!"

When a black person makes racist remarks it's always "misconstrued" or "taken out of context."

And as per usual the libs defend her racism.

What Bull Shlt!

Let me get this straight... for the record..conservative news outlets and commentators point at a racist BLACK woman, who is not the NAACP, because she is... BLACK, and RACIST, to prove that the NAACP is racist...

They all BLACK, so the actions of one BLACK defines all BLACKS as racist, which PROVES that the NAACP is RACIST, because they too, are all BLACK!

Do I understand the reasoning there?

All this to defend other WHITE people from charges that SOME of them are tolerating racism from SOME in their party.

Note how they didn't argue that some were not racist, or that some were not tolerating racism, but how their argument was "HYPOCRITE" look this BLACK woman is RACIST!

WOW.. amazing...

The White Farmer in this story with his wife is on CNN thanking her for the help she gave them in saving their farm.

Zaphod, With your ability to twist things, you really should consider getting a job in a pretzel factory ! I am sure you would be a high achiever in no time and your TWISTED pretzels would be delicious.

Face the simple fact.......a black woman was caught on tape making remarks which showed racial bias. The only thing amazing is that it took over three months to get widespread attention.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/20/agriculture.employee.naacp/index.html?hpt=C1

Meanwhile, the wife of the white farmer referenced in the clip told CNN she credits Sherrod with helping her family save their farm. Eloise Spooner remembered Sherrod as "getting in there and doing all she could do to help us."

She said that when she saw the story of the tape and Sherrod's resignation on television, "I said, 'That ain't right. They have not treated her right.'

She said Tuesday that those remarks were taken out of context and that the 1986 incident, which occurred before she started work for the USDA and was working at a nonprofit, helped her learn to move beyond race. She tells the story to audiences to make that point, she said.

Now why is this news?

Conservative website publisher Andrew Breitbart originally posted the video, which was quickly picked up by Fox News. The video says Sherrod's remarks were delivered March 27 to an NAACP Freedom Fund banquet, but it is not clear that is the case, nor is it clear where the event was held or how many people were in attendance.

ROTFLMAO!!!! and now you know, the rest of the story! [sorry Paul Harvey]

conservative news outlets and commentators

Zaphod, With your ability to twist things, you really should consider getting a job in a pretzel factory ! I am sure you would be a high achiever in no time and your TWISTED pretzels would be delicious.

He claims while failing to show how anything I've said is wrong or innacurate in anyway!

Face the simple fact.......a black woman was caught on tape making remarks which showed racial bias. The only thing amazing is that it took over three months to get widespread attention.

OH RLY? ROTFLMAO... 3 months? it happened over 26 years ago... read up!

LMFAO!

Liberals!! So since the white farmer likes this racist then everything is ok?!?!?!?!

I once knew the KKK grand wizard of Kentucky. He was a top manager at a company that hired over 5,000 people. This company was a client of mine. He had probably 25 college-educated blacks under him. So I guess he wasn't a racist since some of these blacks used to joke around with him?

Liberals! God love em!

I once knew the KKK grand wizard of Kentucky

I wonder if guilty by association applies to Republicans like they try to make it apply to others...

If it does, that would make you a racist too.... right?

Zaphod, With your ability to twist things, you really should consider getting a job in a pretzel factory ! I am sure you would be a high achiever in no time and your TWISTED pretzels would be delicious.

So if you cannot show how ANYTHING I've said is wrong, or even inaccurate, wouldn't that make YOU the one that is all twisted?

Ironically delicious indeed!

Zap:

"I wonder if guilty by association applies to Republicans like they try to make it apply to others... If it does, that would make you a racist too.... right?"

Huh? The KKK guys was a democrat. And I did not associate with him other than he worked for a company I did business with. I bet you feel foolish now, eh Slappy?

Liberals! God love em!!

OH RLY? ROTFLMAO... 3 months? it happened over 26 years ago... read up!

Incident: 1980s.

Actual speech: March, 2010. That is the part receiving attention since it's what brought the whole matter to national attention.

Read up, indeed.

yea, but the farmers wife had some things to say about this.

She credits Sherrod with helping her family save their farm. Eloise Spooner remembered Sherrod as "getting in there and doing all she could do to help us."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/20/agriculture.employee.naacp/index.html?hpt=C1

Hey, teabaggers, read and learn:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/20/shirley_sherrod_breitbart/index.html

This is how the world works (all races)... this is not unique to the NAACP ... most people are not sorry until they get caught. Most people don't try to right a wrong until its in their best interest.

knuckledragger, i don't believe you served in the corps. guys with your intemperate gab would have been quickly drummed out out during boot camp. moreover , i don't believe you even served in the military period. as i reflect on my original post, i got my comments wrong about the white farmer. like you knucklehead i knee jerked to an incomplete account of the real story. karen in los angeles and rhazes got it right. i just finished listening on cnn to the white farmer's wife praise ms sherrod for saving the farm. the wife responded to the video saying that perhaps sherrod could have done more as she says to the naacp. but she did enough to save the farm and that's all the farmer and his wife wanted. the farmer and his wife have maintained a respectful and friendly relationship with ms. sherrod over the years. and despite these facts teabaggers like you are still trying to turn a situation of a black person helping struggling white people into a racist story.

This woman's resignation is a travesty that demonstrates just how incompetent the Obama Administration, the NAACP, and their ilk really are. First, this happened some 24 years ago. That's 24 years ago!!! You've got folks posting here who are not yet 24. Add to that the woman wasn't even working for the USDA at the time. Are you effing kidding me??? Second, when the woman's comments are viewed in their entire context, there is absolutely nothing offensive or racist in the woman's address. If anything, Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and USDA deputy undersecretary Cheryl Cook should all be fired for being incompetent and not getting all the facts first before jumping the gun. Clearly, the woman is a professional who gets great results even when not giving it her all. That is whole lot more than can be said about Obama and this economy. The US government doesn't deserve the services of Sherrod. And lets disband the NAACP while we're at.

This the last straw, Obama has got to go!

Let's demand the resignation of everyone who smoked pot 24 years ago. I'll bet you'll find Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and USDA deputy undersecretary Cheryl Cook all in that group.

And many more EXCEPT for you I guess?...........Oh you didn't inhale...........that counts

I am white 70 year old male. It was wrong for the USDA to ask for her resignation. She only told about a time when she did something wrong because of a persons race 24 years ago. It was 24 years ago. She however did help the man and his farm was saved. You can't fault someone regardless of their thinking at that time when people today are still thinking the same way.

These remarks were made to the NAACP back in March. The NAACP only did something after BigGovernment.com and Fox got their hands on the tape. Guess it isn't rascism until someone outside your group discovers it. Afterall, it only took 4 months to decide it was rascism. The NAACP should have made the call to the White House or DOA secretary the next day. The White House did not force her to resign until they found out Fox News had the tape. Guess it is only rascism when someone finds out about. NAACP, clean your own house before you make charges about others.

Her comments were made at an NAACP event. The NAACP is a huge national organization. Because she speaks at a local event doen't mean the organization as a whole knows anything about what was stated during the course of that event.

I am a caucasian male, and I find the amount of white people who actaully truly believe they are being discriminated against absolutely ridiculous. We have it so hard, let me tell you.

Discrimination in any form should not be tolerated, but please don't pretend this is in any way comparable to the last few centuries of injustices forced upon minority races and the female half of the species.

The NAACP response was appropriate and more than enough for the situation, and when her comments are taken in context with her story I don't feel she should have had to resign her position.

When you can't vote because you're white, then you can talk about discrimination. When you can't use a water fountain, or a restroom, or a cafe, or a bus seat; when someone follows you around a store the entire time you're shopping just because you're white, then you can complain about discrimination.

Otherwise, all your griping about is a few moderately racist comments made by select individuals and that is in no way comparable to a mass, organized, system of discrimination.

I grew up in the South and was exposed to plenty of old-fashioned racism. My family taught me it was wrong, but alot of people like to pretend it doesn't exist. And as long as they can pretend it doesn't exist it's easy to get worked up about these injustices against the white man. But if you take these instances in context with reality and history, then one can hardly fault a minority race or caucasian woman for a latent resentment towards their past oppressors.

Maybe you didn't personally oppress them, but if you can take comments as harmless as these and blow them up into a discussion of the injustices suffered by the white man, how would you feel after suffering true system-wide discrimination for a huge chunk of the history of this country?

Everyone here could sure use a lesson in empathy. Maybe then there wouldn't be such hatred spewed forth over such a minor situation as this.

And if I recall correctly, everyone gave Rand Paul ample time to give his side of the story. So, there you have an example of a white man allowed to defend what some people considered racism.

So, to summarize:
1. Discrimination is wrong.
2. White people who feel greatly wronged by simple comments don't know what true discrimination really is.
3. While that does not make said discrimination less wrong, it doesn't give you license to moan of the white man's burden.

None of you paid any attention to the story except for the part that you needed to condemn this woman and I will post them for you since you could not use them in your rant.

First the wife of the man involved says this.

The farmer's wife, Eloise Spooner, 82, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that Sherrod helped save their land. Spooner, who considered Sherrod a "friend for life," said that "the federal official worked tirelessly to help" the couple hold onto their farm as they faced bankruptcy in 1986, the Atlanta newspaper reported.

"Her husband told her, 'You're spending more time with the Spooners than you are with me,' " Spooner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "She took probably two or three trips with us to Albany just to help us out."

Second the woman was not a member of the USDA at the time but part of a small aid group. At that time in the south it was always better to have a white attorney. In retrospect these statements show you how much this actually mover her away from racisim....

I was speaking to that group, like I've done many groups, and I tell them about a time when I thought the issue was race and race only," Sherrod told CNN. "I was telling the story of how working with him helped me to see the issue is not about race. It's about those who have versus those who do not have."

So in fact she helped the man went out of her way to do so made two friends for life and had a change of heart on racism in the process. A remarkable story and now her life is ruined because a creep right wing tv station takes only what they need to run with the story to take a shot at the NAACP for having the uppity nerve to call out the racist tea party. Another day in the deceitful way the right s,ears everything from Obama down. All they had to do is read what she really said....

The huge number of idiots writing here about a situation that they know absolutely nothing about is amazing. This woman is a victim – not a racist. She was a victim when a white racist farmer killed her father; she was a victim when a white racist legal system let him go free; she was a victim when after overcoming her own racist fears to help a poor white farmer save his farm, and trying to use her story to teach others about overcoming their racist fears to work together, she was set upon by racist minded political hacks, had her words edited and misconstrued and broadcast to the world as a racist speech.

This woman deserved a public apology by the media, the people writing here, but most of all by the President of the United States of America. He should instruct the USDA to reinstate her with a promotion and apologize for the destruction of her character and livelihood by his idiotic Secretary. The USDA, NAACP, Tea Party Organization, Fox News and the other Media outlets need to broadcast a special apology to this lady. Thank God she has enough money now (she just received $13,000,000) that she can tell them all to go kiss her behind. The rise of the idiot class in America is indeed troubling.

It may be news to some of you but there are many instances of government sanctioned discrimination in America to day. This act was done when she worked for a non profit organization. There are many non profit organizations that are gender or racial in their origin which receive governmental support or sanction. There are organizations such as NOW and NAACP or that support only Hispanics or Latinos or Asians. There are also governmental organizations such as VA who are prejudicial in their membership. Until all forms of racism and gender issues are removed from organizations it will continue. It is great for the government to support the veterans because they have done something that a vast majority of American have not done. They have served their country and helped protect your right to be prejudiced or a racist or what ever you want to be. Does it make it right for you to be a racist or prejudiced? Not really, but you have that right. Come on people wake up this is 2010 and you are in America. It is really a shame that people want to identify themselves as African American or Hispanic or Latino or whatever, instead of saying I am an AMERICAN. It is good to remember your ancestry but to claim you are this or that instead of saying I am an AMERICAN is showing that you're racially prejudiced. If I were to do the same how would I have to describe myself. As a Scotch, Irish, Welsh, English, French, Dutch, German American. I am proud of all of my heritage, but first and foremost I am an AMERICAN. America truly needs to get over its self imposed prejudices and remember America is for all Americans not just this group or that group.

Put white color on this woman's face and black color on the farmer's face and what do you think the NAACP would do? My answer is, they would burn America and everyone who lives in it alive. But since this organization is a racist organization, they supported the black woman's racist remark. Dah! even a 2 year old can tell a racist when he/she sees one.

Your assignment for today is to read this article again from start to finish

This story has been proven to be a lie...Breitbart edited the video to change the meaning of her comments, the NAACP has rescinded their denouncement of this woman, and the white farmer who she supposedly was racist against has come out strongly and said it was all a lie and she helped keep them out of bankruptcy...it was all a lie!

Oop's spoke to quickly, now what will people say that the facts are out, see you can't put words back into your mouth once they leave your lips ...

And once again the fox news and the right wing nuts when after a innocent person because they hate to be told they are racist.

Racism is the key word for everyone who disagrees with the left, even when most of the time the subject has nothing to race.

gwen-482936

"And once again the fox news and the right wing nuts when after a innocent person because they hate to be told they are racist."

See what I mean? Name calling and accusations of racism from the left.

I am just gonna hope we all have learned that the first broadcast, printed story, commentary Just Maybe not be complete enough.

A very negative spin cast this lady as a racist until 4 hours ago. And, 24 years ago, maybe she was, but over her working career she has met many, many white folks in Georgia who she learned did not hate her because of her skin color.

Lesson learned for me to use in south Chicago today: do not become angry when someone having a different skin color, speech accent, higher or lower educational level, or otherwise provides an unkind attitude. Simply smile, conduct the business at hand quickly, and leave. Return another day and if the individual is still very unfriendly for no reason, take the problem on up the ladder.

When a black says something racist, they get the take back card. A white would have been burned alive by the naacp and other black groups. The truth will out.

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her -- never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers.

Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate!

In my lifetime I have dealt with several abusive customers but, like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.

Now you learned Dear, if you want to make racist remarks publically then you have to be a radio host. Then you just get a couple of weeks vacation and get your show back.

Watch the full video.

She does not deserve any of this. Her story was one of showing how she was able to change her mind and overcome her prejudicies.

She has done absolutely nothing wrong and should be held up as a hero as to what we can be and achieve.

The NCAAP Fundraising crowd are the true villains. Clapping as they hear the beginning of her story not understanding the outcome she was promoting. Those are the villains. Even now NCAAP is re-tracting their story without investigating this.

Shirley Sherrod should be immediately re-instated and promoted to any position that will allow her to continue to inspire.

I truly believe the Black Panther party should be persecuted to the full letter of the law.

However, this poor lady has been ram-rodded and does not deserve this.

post 1-27

1-28

I am a 55 year old white man that now lives in the Midwest,i dont think this lady did anything wrong she said that 24 years ago while she had a position to help PEOPLE and she was givin the task to help a white man save his farm and she had thoughts that hey why am i helping him when so many black farmers cant get no help , well i can relate as 24 years ago things were a lot different than today not that they are good today but the black man has life alot easier today than 24 years ago i was born in 1954 so i dont really remember 1960 to good but 65 i remember real good and there was still a white side of town and a black side and everybody knew where it was divided and no matter what kind of crap you want to give me i see that it hasnt changed anything like the government would like us to think ,look at our federal prisons 68% black and mostly drug war prisoners, your tax dollars at work , NOW to fire this lady because she said that 24 years ago she looked at herself and said to herself that she saw herself acting out from the way she had been treated her whole life in a way that she didnt like and she effectively changed the way she acted towards others as a result of this and she has done a great job serving people of all races and even uses her own experience to share with others to show that even that she didnt see the bigotry in herself until faced with this issue and that when she did see it she was unhappy with herself and changed it, i commend her and i dont see anything to defend at all, and again i am a white man that lives in the midwest and yes i voted for that half black man and i am going to vote for him again but i do think that he has to start backing up his staff when they deserve it and this is a time when he should stand up with her , but then all the tards would yell hes black shes black and so on, SEE HOW THINGS HAVENT CHANGED AT ALL

The NAACP didn't have one word to say about her "shameful remarks" until conservative news outlets and commentators made sure this video saw the light of day.

fiscalconservative,

It's 10 PM and you still don't have a clue as to what really went on do you? Once again we see teabaggers and Repubs as willing to believe any lie fostered upon them by FAUX News and other right wing malcontents without checking for themselves first. You're not in the light you're completely in the dark and always will be. Research shows that the woman did nothing wrong at all.

They should've fired that despicible woman. People like that need the carpet calling wherever they crop up. NAACP needs to live by it's own organization's reason d'etre.

Was my idiotic post after reading the story and at first blush...

After learning the truth...

Mrs Sherrod... I Apologize From the Bottom of My Heart.

William re: 1.147

You, and a few posters all agree but you said it the most eloquently. I'm letting you know that I just copied your post because I am sending it to the President. You are demanding a Presidential apology afterall and I think he should hold a press conference to do it.

Well done and well said.

I am white 70 year old male. It was wrong for the USDA to ask for her resignation. She only told about a time when she did something wrong because of a persons race 24 years ago. It was 24 years ago. She however did help the man and his farm was saved. You can't fault someone regardless of their thinking at that time when people today are still thinking the same way.

and the farmer came back and said that she had saved his farm and he was friends with her. in the full speech she admitted that she had been wrong at the time, and that judging by race was a wrongful thing to do.

What this whole incident shows is how hair trigger the NAACP is to throw the race card for political purposes, and how hair trigger the Obama administration is to react to baseless racial incitement, again as a matter of politics. No due process, no getting the whole story, just knee jerk reaction on the basis of race. The Obama administration has to be the most racist administration we've had since FDR.

Fox Ewes creatively editing video to fit their agenda? Naw, surely you jest! As long as there are people who blindly believe them, they will break the rules about "fair and balanced news". Unfortunately, nothing will be done about their lying.

Why do stories like this one surprise anyone...The media is all about "FACT" and not "TRUTH". It's not uncommon for the press to do this type of reporting. It happens all the time. Do I condone it, absolutely not. But it is an example of how the press exploits their constitution right just to get ratings...

So today we know that an innocent woman was crucified by a conservative writer who played freely with the tapes. How duped do ya'll feel? This is a shameful ending for jumping to conclusions. The fake writer should be in trouble and yet an innocent woman lost her job.

What an embarrassment.

I have deliberately shut out all news sources in my life. I rely upon friends and family plus "my gut" to guide me through each day.

I am doing just fine and enjoying life.

The Media is both boon and bane to us all. I became too sick and tired of dealing with them....trying to read into the meaning of things, figuring the spin they had cultivated, answering their polls and other such meaningless chores.

I have better things to do and can rely upon ME, not their rhetoric.

Mike,

I will admit that my comments were also a kneejerk reaction. I am tired of only white people being tagged as racist and I am tired of statements being made when a person is young and inexperienced being held against them as they get older and have learned that their thinking was flawed. If I were to meet this woman I would apologize to her.

As for you, who gives a flying @!$%# if you think I was in the suck or not? I did my time honorably, I paid for my mouth in bootcamp and hit the pits like everyone else. Because some dolt on the internet doubts my service it makes no difference to me. If YOU were a Marine you would have confronted me based on what we were discussing and simply left it that, instead of questioning whether I served or not, what a @!$%#bird!. The Eagle Globe and Anchor were wasted on those like you, those that went UNQ in life.

Gov Hater, in the end it turns out to be just another politically motivated LIE, neocons, right winger, teapartiers are at worst cynical, power hungry, political hacks who will do ANYTHING for power; and at best uninformed, ignorant followers. The republican partys current stance of obstruction and obfuscation might provide them with short term gains, long term though they are dooming themselves to second tier. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever vote republican again adn I will do everything possible to expose the lies of the republicans.

She should be thoroughly investigated. How many whites has she victimized?

Betsy Ross - Shut up. Don't you get it that you've been lied to?

Fox was so all over this story, but the white farmer didn't have anything bad to say about this lady. I saw the interview with that farmer on the news - fox, by the way. This is so stupid. Both sides are stirring up trouble.

You make no sense. There were no "shameful remarks", just spliced together clips to make it seem like she was making "shameful remarks". Obviously you have been out of the loop for the past 24 hours or you would know the whole story by now.

Huh? The KKK guys was a democrat.

Funny, that does not answer the question at all! but it does show your real motivations...

And I did not associate with him other than he worked for a company I did business with.

But you knew who he was, and what he stood for, and you choose to actively support him, with your business...

I bet you feel foolish now, eh Slappy?

Nope, not at all. I did not dodge questions! I have nothing to hide and no partisan agenda at all.

Unlike you... I do not run and hide from questions, as I do not wrap any of my self worth or identity in either political party!

Does guilty by association apply to you, or just Democrats?

You have admitted to choosing to do business with him.. you chose your associations...

Okay foolish ratpublicklan. This woman's father was lynched by the KKK the same kind of mind set you find in the teabaggers party. She said "his own kind' because she was expecting a white person to take care of "his own kind". If she carried the farmer to a black lawyer he would have had no chance in court in racist Ga. But she then realized that it not about skin color it is about rich and poor. That is when her mind set changed. Unlike racist conservatives she can evolve. And the laughter you heard was her just making light of the fact that he had all this attitude and he needs my help. It like in restaurants you don't piss of the cook or waiter. If humble yourself to someone you need help from you get better results. I have never seen a compassionate conservative or Teabagger

Such a scary and dangerous time in America that has set race relations in the US back 50 years. The NAACP is truly in deep decline. Authentic civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King are surely rolling in their graves. As for the "rush to judgment" Washington crowd this is just the latest example of foolish, dangerous and premature remarks that has characterized the last year and a half plus. Back in the summer of '08 I had written and performed a folk tune - directed to a predominately liberal audience at that - that "we'd all sleep better every night, with John not Barry by the (red) phone" and I was right then and right now. There is no chance to "apologize" your way out of serious defense mistakes and that's very much unlike the continuing and intentioned efforts of racial division here in the US as this shameful (latest) episode demonstrates. For shame!

lots of apologies need to start happening now due to every nut job republican jumped to conclusions as usual.

ok ATTENTION ALL RIGHT WING TROLLS

The new thing is to blame the Naacp and Obama for firing the lady you all wanted fired yesterday before we fund out the tape was a phony so change over to your anti Obama and anti NAACP cut and paste folder ASAP.......

Now they wished they had not done so I would expect

They did nothing more than Obama has done. !st time was the white Cop doing his job. 2nd was the Arizona border law. She should still have been fired for what she did intially it doesnt matter that she went back and fixed the problem.

The NAACP jumped the gun to denouce racism. It seem under this admin. that everyone is hypersensitve to color. No appologies neccesary she messed up and placed race at the forfront of her job and then realized that she was wrong and finished what she was supposed to do in the fist place. Put them in differnt shoes. This white individual would have faced the same issues and lost his job. even though he had fixed what he should have done in the begining.

Again this just shows how hypersensitive the country is about race. and that is how the politians want it. nothing will ever get fixed unti people take on these problem with out government intervention. and leaders in all groups pointing fingers.

Did anyone actually read the story????????????????????????? Why is the NAACP at fault here??????? The story stated that the video was edited to make it seem like she was a racist. Posted on the same criminal blog as the Acorn story. This lady lost her job because the fart right extremist created a lie in the edit room. Why is no one concerned about the truth being changed after the fact? All of you should be angry about the fact the same blog keeps putting out lies and keeps getting caught doing it. You may not like the NAACP or even Obama but lies from any side should not be tolerated. Not from Obama nor from Rush.

Does anybody else think this "special" job they are offering her sounds like what the Japanese call a "window seat"; that is a useless position to shunt her aside. They screwed up, but she's not to get her old job back, she's to get a "special" job where she can be kept far away from cameras and anything important.

Robert is right on the money...The NAACP is at fault and a racist organization because they brought to light the fact that the video was edited? That makes a lot of sense >_>

It looks like the right wing-nuts missed the boat. Unfortunately, by her being fired, she can demonstrate real damages and this pretty much sews up a slander or libel suit. Wonder if the Tea Baggers will pay for the legal bills and the damages? There's nothing like just splicing together tapes in such a way as to tell a lie. No shame at all!

EVERYONE over reacted to the clip that was broadcast,including the NAACP and the White House ,dacincykid. I'm willing to admit that and I'll try going forward to get the WHOLE STORY before jumping to a conclusion. Regardless my statements against racism stand as written,barring the incorrect assumptions made about this case.

Chris...gotta hand it to you. You can make a bowl of @!$%# stew smell like a bowl of @!$%# stew. You pay her goddamned legal bills or axk your buddies at the naacp to pay her bills. Frankly I do not care who pays her bills. Although she was telling a quaint little story to the group, the plain facts are that the group found it quite amusing that she was dissing a white guy. She also, in that same speech accused the bush white house of 8 years of racism. I frankly don't give a damn who apologizes to her or even if she is able to find another job being as she ain't gonna win any lawsuit against her employer. If you goddamned people cannot yet see the damage your reckless use of the "their a racist" accusation can cause then this country is in deeper doodoo than I can imagine. You guys just keep on hurling your "he's a racist" bull@!$%# and see who will care next month. Keep it up please!

The "Civil Rights" movement has been anything but civil. In her last majority opinion Judge Sandra Day O'Connor opined:

"Though we acknowledge that Affirmative Action exists in opposition to the United States Constitution; we do no feel the the American citizenry can handle the constitution as it is written at this time."

Now we see that Perversion Activists have adopted these unconstitutional tactics as their own; the number one weapon used in this war against our freedom is the coining of words to lend an appearnacee of righteous indignation...

They DID bury it! I searched for it earlier and they had it buried somewhere...deep...I wrote a comment on it and 3 other people followed...about 30 minutes later it was on the headlines! I believe they were forced to air it...I also went to CBS News...guess what...NOTHING! I'm so tired of the racist, biased media running our country!!!

"Congrats to MSNBC. I thought they would bury this story." Kinda like they buried the story that the Oakland shootout perpetrator is an extreme right-wing nutcase? Oh wait... THIS story is on MSNBC, THAT story isn't. Had the guy been a Muslim it would have been wall to wall coverage.

Congrats to MSNBC. I thought they would bury this story.

They finally posted it. BUT in doing so they "softened" it by paraphrasing some of the actual comments thus making it appear less disparaging.

We wouldn't want msnbc to fully expose a story that is contrary to their agenda, would we?

Jen-619159

Kinda like they buried the story that the Oakland shootout perpetrator is an extreme right-wing nutcase? Oh wait... THIS story is on MSNBC, THAT story isn't.

Actually the stories state that he hated extreme left-wing politicians. You don't have to be a "right-wing nutcase" to hate what they've done this year. Even the polls show that to be true. I know several moderates and centrists who feel the same way.

It doesn't make what he did right, but you did soften it up by leaving out that this guy had just got out of prison. The fact that he got in a shootout with cops shows he wasn't right in the head. The cops aren't left wing politicians.

Did any of you bother with the rest of the story? Nope? Big Government should post the entire video because like many Fox videos there is an abrupt cut off.

http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/would-shirley-sherrods-full-naacp-speech-give-a-different-impression/19561003

http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/would-shirley-sherrods-full-naacp-speech-give-a-different-impression/19561003

When the Tea Party stops paying attention to race baiting political entities and instead gets on with the addressing the crucial issues, I will then begin listening. Actually, whatever party begins addressing issues instead of wasting time on race baiting will get my vote. And for the record, after seeing Michelle Obama speaking at the NAACP last week saying something to the effect that we (african americans) need to 'intensify' our efforts to help african americans, I definitely will not be voting for Obama. I am tired of the race baiters. I suppose Michelle Obama is very proud of Shirley Sherrod and her efforts.

One thing I notice is that the Woman quit. Maybe she was forced too. But no where did it say she was booted or fired. Also the reaction to the speaker from those in attendance were by far more distrubing than anything else. If this is a local group, it maybe only this group, however I'm not so sure. We've seen the same in the local group in Raleigh NC. Even after they have gotten a black eye from defending a woman who lied to the police and then later showed just how bad she was. Backing a witch hunt for publicity. The tea party comment was all aimed at publicity. More money for their pockets. Why don't the blacks of America wake up and see what a waste this group is. All the new stories of abuse and robbery by the group leaders and yet they still go on as holy than thou. It this group that keeps the hate alive and only for money. They exploit the black communities worse than any other group.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN5StQAr7n0&feature=related

NAACP pfffftt!!

The next thing you know they will want to make a state park out of Neverland Ranch!! Oh wait....

LKessler... wow, way to make that statement up! The farmer kept his land with the assistance of Ms Sherrod.

Jen...that would have required that LKessler to actually READ the article...and it's so much easier for them to just get their talking points on the teevee from Fox News and then come here to spew them.

Jen-619159 --- From what I can gather, the only "assistance" Sherrod gave the white farmer was to turn his case over to "one of his kind" - a WHITE lawyer. In my world, that's called passing the buck and VERY RACIST.

NJ....apparently, you also need to actually READ the article...

The farmer's wife, Eloise Spooner, 82, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that Sherrod helped save their land. Spooner, who considered Sherrod a "friend for life," said that "the federal official worked tirelessly to help" the couple hold onto their farm as they faced bankruptcy in 1986, the Atlanta newspaper reported.

"Her husband told her, ‘You're spending more time with the Spooners than you are with me,' " Spooner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "She took probably two or three trips with us to Albany just to help us out."

@madkaw3

So, what is the statue of limitations on using of racism, when working as a government employee, that causes hardship and bankruptcy to someone?

I forget....

Maybe we can answer that question long after Obama is out of office.

Patrick,

LISTEN to her entire speech. You are coming to a wrong conclusion. Fox only presents HALF truths.

She did not make racists remarks other than to explain her own previous bouts of it and the turning point in her life.

Niteowlett,

There is NOTHING in that speach that SHOULD have been said, period. Its far worse than that General that Obama just fired for shooting off his mouth and she deserved the same without a doubt.

The only reason she said all this was to get favor with the NAACP, and that is the real sad part of the story.

I would take Half Truths over 100 percent lies anyday. That is all we are getting out of this administration time after time.

Obama supporters are too busy digging up stuff from the past to see where they are going.

Since Patrick seems to be all about making assumptions without all of the facts, here's my assumption...Patrick is a dittohead. Prove me wrong.

Your own ignorance is astounding. I am sorry you cannot read or listen to her entire speech but you are only hurting yourself.

Or, by half truths maybe you two are referring to the GOP who is not voting FOR the extended unemployment? Oh, maybe it's because they want to pay for it, but Obama only tells half truths but that's ok since you are obamabots!!

Or maybe when the NAACP condemned the tea party movement as racists and they didn't have a say in it, but that's ok since the NAACP is a political arm of the democratic party and since you are obamabots, that's ok with you also.

Or maybe when Obama acknowledged to reports at the White House that he didn't know the facts about the (white) cop who asked his (black) friend for his ID when someone reported a break-in at his house but said the cop 'made a mistake'? That kind of racism?

Or maybe after it was pointed out that Obama's church was racist, but it's ok since he said he didn't pay attention all those years? Those kind of half truths?

Or maybe half truths when Obama spoke about Arizonas law and told reporters he has not read it but it must be racial profiling.

Or maybe all the dems voting on the healthcare bill (which still hasn't been completely written yet but voted into law - IE, see Unconstitutional) but very few have read the bill but thought it was a good idea anyway. That kind of half truth?

Or maybe all Obama's czars (which are forbidden by the US Contitituion) and you obamabots eat it up as a benefit to America. Those kind of half truths?

Those kind of half truths and racisms?

Boy, I am with you guys. I hate half truths too!!

Yea, I want to know what's in that koolaid you are drinking!!

Patrick-1112710 -

you and those like you are very twisted. this reminds me of that Fox News item where obama was supposed to be looking at that woman's butt. then later, we get the truth elsewhere, certainly not from Fox.

this woman was commenting on her past beliefs, recognizing her failure and moving forward... period.

you could potentially look to her as a role model! the fact that you and your kind can obsess and point the racism finger so vigorously, given our KNOWN recent history in this country, is just so clearly stupid it boggles the mind.... what is your point? that the white man is oppressed by the black man? that the economic bottom 20 percent of our population oppresses the remaining top 80 percent? like i said, stupid.

Here's what really happened:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/20/shirley_sherrod_breitbart/index.html

if the woman was revealing a story of personal growth it is shameful that she be dismissed over it. If the woman was sharing this as a see what we can do to them type story she should be dismissed.

One thing i observed in her story is she thought the farmer was trying to demonstrate superiority as a function of race. when in fact anytime you deal with people who are in distress they try and preserve their honor by maintaining a similar air. it is human nature, and not race based at all. it is the fact that humans don't like having to get help.

How long can a news source continue to bury news stories and still be considered a credible news source?

With regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias.

Having reviewed the full tape, spoken to Ms. Sherrod, and most importantly heard the testimony of the white farmers mentioned in this story, we now believe the organization that edited the documents did so with the intention of deceiving millions of Americans.

The fact is Ms. Sherrod did help the white farmers mentioned in her speech. They personally credit her with helping to save their family farm.

Beck Supports Sherrod. Beck thinks Sherrod got the bum-rush,

You Know... Beck makes a great point here. I am really on Team Beck on this, I think.

Krauthammer just said on Special Report she deserves her job back... and restitution.

The Anchoress brought up this possibility -- that the tape didn't seem complete, and that Sherrod seemed to be building to something that we never heard.

In fact, that does seem to be the case, given that the wife of the farmer helped in this tale is now vouching for her.

LOL you clowns jumped the gun again and now have egg all over your puss......

The farmer's wife, Eloise Spooner, 82, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that Sherrod helped save their land. Spooner, who considered Sherrod a "friend for life," said that "the federal official worked tirelessly to help" the couple hold onto their farm as they faced bankruptcy in 1986, the Atlanta newspaper reported.

"Her husband told her, 'You're spending more time with the Spooners than you are with me,' " Spooner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "She took probably two or three trips with us to Albany just to help us out."

All in all a wonderful story a black woman faced with the desire to become a racist resists the impulse tosses those feelings and does the righ thing. Now she should sue the living hell out of the teaparty idiot that edited the tape and Fox news. Murdoch has deep pockets.

The NAACP should be disbanded. They are the biggest group of racists on the planet. They attack sports teams for having names like Braves and Redskins, but they keep the name National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I thought that Colored People was a racist term. If they want to attack other organizations about their names, maybe they should look inward and change their own. But then in their eyes it is OK for one black man to call another ni#$#, but let a white do it and they will explode. This organization is steeped in the idea of a double standard that they have become what they purport to hate, racist.

I can only hope that since you wrote your misguided, misinformed, and ignorant response, that it has been revealed to you that what you saw was a well edited snippet designed to smear an honest woman. Please note as well that both the white farmer and his wife were on national tv and noted the deep friendship that evolved between this woman, whom you have so ignorantly slighted, and themselves. You poor pathetic knuckledragger. Hurry, you'll miss your good seat at the Palin rally this evening.

I want to say that I am shocked that so many people did not take the time to look at the entire story before condemning Ms. Sherrod, with all that I see on line on a daily basis, I am not in the least surprised.

Even the white farmer she refers to has come forward and considers her a friend. Considers her a friend, for Gods sake! The NAACP should not be disbanded, but instead I applaud Julian Bond, NAACP President Emeritus for stepping into the fray, and stating that this woman's story not only should have been heard, but to have not heard it in it's entirety is a travesty and absolutely must be corrected.

To be wrong and allow ones self to admit they were wrong, is something that should be absolutely applauded, not edited and held up to undeserved scrutiny. Seriously, the people who were responsible for this hatchet job should be made to publicly apologize to Ms. Sherrod and her family!

Colored people is not a racist term it was the term used at the time the NAACP was founded. I do think but that to attack the sportsteams of Braves and Redskins is ridculous but certainly not racist. Oh and as for the organization advocating the use of the word n***** they have been openly against the use and spoken out against rappers and other black americans that allow the term to be common. Not every black person calls their peers that word, there are some who actually feel that it ignorant for any person to use derogatory terms towards a certain people. The NAACP is just very outdated for this time.

OMG. The issue is that she admitted that she emotionally struggled to help a white farmer whom she perceived to be acting racist towards her -- never mind the fact that the government at that time was being systematically racist toward all black farmers.

Was she a fool for honestly admitting the truth? I do not think so, because I can relate!

In my lifetime I have dealt with several abusive customers but, like Shirley Sherrod, I treated them all professionally! I can honestly state that I never spat in the food of any customer, gave substandard service to any customer, gave incorrect information to any customer, gave incomplete information to a customer, or withheld information from any customer.

We know who the racist are,now we know that this whole thing was a lie buy the right wing and fox noise.

@Get The Point

I doubt you ever will...

Your messiah is calling you back to the flock.

This is getting the the point of the rediculous!!!!This Person has given all her life and now for some twisted political reason is being brought to the this point.It really pisses me off.Yeah I,m Canadian.I live in Windsor right across the boarder from Detroit.This Crap has to stop.My son married a malato(half Black Half White) I love my Daughter in law,I am so proud of my son and my three grandchildren.We had a Bar-Q. yesterday and there were alot of people with diferrent pigmentations of skin.We really are family.The whole question of race.It is imature and not real.When I hold my grandson.The fact that I have a pointed nose and my grandson does not,was brought up I laughed I love that child.I love all my grandchildren.For this hard working dedecated woman would not reject a hug from me.Please all you all in positions of power let these mental games STOP!!!!

Another one gets a real good position and screws it what a waste.You can have a racist NAACP but youll' go to jail if you have a white organization,the state of Illinois pays big money every year for BLOCKS IN CORRECTION, no money for scools but by god they better have money for that.

the NAACP and the black panthers are the most raciest people on the face of this earth their name says it all.

bigjboy. "Another one"? Who is this "Another one" you are referring to?

Why hold back? Why not simply tell us exactly how you feel? Then go over to the CNN website, and watch the Spooner's tell you that Ms. Sharrod is not at all racist, and that they consider her a friend!

I am sorry. I know this is a website were people are allowed to share their views, but I sure wish at times like this that people had to post their full names. If one wants to make a remark that is not based in fact and is wholly meant to inflame racial animus, they should have to stand by it personally!

OH MY GOD,

Are you all lemmings?

As Faux says you believe!

Shame on all of you

When people are faced with poverty they strike out at those that are in poverty. When people are faced with the reality that they may have to live beside those that they detest, they become angry at those. This is what happen during reconstrution. The same patterns are in place today. Don't hate because you are going to be poor, hate yourself for spending to much of your income.

NAACP,

Get used to this happening more. The world is a circle and what goes around comes around. As I understand the details of this, this is over something she said 20 plus years ago about not giving a White farmer her full help because she believed White Farmers had the advantage over Black Farmers. I watch the video and it was a racist thing for her to say and do.

If White People are still expected to pay for the fact that "some" of our anchestors owned slaves, then this person should have to pay for her racist remarks regrdless of how long ago they were made. They were (at least at the time) how she trully felt about White People.

To post 2-21...

I really don't care what the contents are in the actual video. I think this is the greatest thing that could happen to the NAACP, after calling me, a Tea Party member, racist. I know exactly how that woman must feel, because she is now a racist, and exposed as one, exactly as the NAACP did to the Tea Party.

Except the NAACP did not call you, a Tea Party member racist, but challenged you to boot those within your ranks that clearly are.

You have absolutely nothing in common with Ms. Sherrod, as she actually stood up and not only admitted her own personal bias, but took the time to learn and grow from it!

Shame on you andreasjva!

Wow... what a snow job! FOX had the original video so edited that it goes without saying that the end product is a lie and a simple case of defamation of character! This is just a case of pay back for calling out the leadership of the Tea Party to ferret out racism in their own ranks (a modest request at best by the NAACP). The video in its entirety is about redemption, her introspection, self doubt and self questioning as to her own buried racism (her Father was killed by a Klansman). She saved the white farmer's farm and they are good friends to this very day. The white couple in question even appeared on TV on her behalf! FOX has never been and never will be about journalism - this is a political organization whose principal product is propaganda, half truths, misdirection, slanted polling data and out and out fabricated lies!!! If you want to see the video in its entirety you can see it on CNN and or MSNBC.

The "Civil Rights" movement has been anything but civil. In her last majority opinion Judge Sandra Day O'Connor opined:

"Though we acknowledge that Affirmative Action exists in opposition to the United States Constitution; we do no feel the the American citizenry can handle the constitution as it is written at this time."

LMAO! Uh, no, she said nothing like that. And you've got to be the biggest imbecile on the whole Internet if you believe it.

@chris An organization that received public funds may as well be a government organization. Nice try. You are basically an apologist for racism.

Nice try, but you're an effing imbecile, as the organization receives no such funds.

The huge number of idiots writing here about a situation that they know absolutely nothing about is amazing. This woman is a victim – not a racist. She was a victim when a white racist farmer killed her father; she was a victim when a white racist legal system let him go free; she was a victim when after overcoming her own racist fears to help a poor white farmer save his farm, and trying to use her story to teach others about overcoming their racist fears to work together, she was set upon by racist minded political hacks, had her words edited and misconstrued and broadcast to the world as a racist speech.

This woman deserved a public apology by the media, the people writing here, but most of all by the President of the United States of America. He should instruct the USDA to reinstate her with a promotion and apologize for the destruction of her character and livelihood by his idiotic Secretary. The USDA, NAACP, Tea Party Organization, Fox News and the other Media outlets need to broadcast a special apology to this lady. Thank God she has enough money now (she just received $13,000,000) that she can tell them all to go kiss her behind. The rise of the idiot class in America is indeed troubling.

Oh William! We should not have to result to name calling when we discover a difference in opinions. I believe she is a victim and a perpetrator. She admitted that she did not do what she should have for that farmer. Whether she was a white woman helping a black farmer, etc, what she did was wrong; however, she is a victim of political tit for tat and knee jerk assumptions and denouncements. It is one thing, to present an argument, but to tailor the argument to suit a belief, without putting the entire context into view, was wrong on the blogger's part.

Only in my humble opinion, blessings to everyone!

Truth is, if she is telling a story that explained how she has grown, she should get her job back. In fact if she told a story that she hated white people but did nothing to hold them back as far as her job, she did nothing wrong. We learn by letting the addict or sinner or bigot or whoever tell their story. Let them give testament and do not hold it against them if they are telling the story to promote healing or forgiveness.

Regardless of how Foxnews edited this clip is how the President responded in firing Sherrod. Fox News,MSBC,NAACP,The Civil Liberties Union, didn't fire Her. Barrack Obama fired Her!

fenderbluesjr

Do what you 'conservatives' do best--pass the buck...

Do you folks ever take responsibility for anything? Your party is priceless!

fenderbluesjr -

you and your kind are a joke and you just keep digging the hole deeper and deeper. have you no shame? LOL.

Praying-1191497

Oh William! We should not have to result to name calling when we discover a difference in opinions. I believe she is a victim and a perpetrator. She admitted that she did not do what she should have for that farmer.

Wrong! Go to the CNN website and see that the White farmers in question not only got the help that they needed from Ms. Sherrod, but consider her a friend.

Whatever you believe she admitted to, it might help if you listen to her statement in it's entirety. This isn't about a difference of opinion, but an inability for people like yourself to see the forest for the trees!

Why do people kept saying "she helped these people saved their farm"? Wasn't it her job to do just that? This wasn't a charity work that she did. She got pay to do a job that she did less for Whites and more for Blacks. This is called discrimination based on race, period.

But wait there's more!! After hearing all of this story this may well be the reverse of the incident that led to the beer summit. I admit I was angry after hearing the tape but now that I know, in the words of the late,great Paul Harvey,"The rest of the story" I'm not so sure the right thing was done here.

mybestfriend

Why do people kept saying "she helped these people saved their farm"? Wasn't it her job to do just that? This wasn't a charity work that she did. She got pay to do a job that she did less for Whites and more for Blacks. This is called discrimination based on race, period.

Have you lost your full f'n mind? People are saying that, because the Spooner's, couple in question are saying that. Her job was a state job, and no one is saying it was "charity work" or that it was "more for Blacks" than Whites! That is a figment of your over active imagination, and shows that you are obsessed with discrimination, especially when it does not exist!

Some people are just incapable of acknowledging a mistake. An simple apology is then just patently out of line. These folks would rather engage in apologism (an entirely different thing, righties)

I'm tickled that the liberals are attacking conservatives for not getting the "whole" story, when the NAACP attacked Sherrod just yesterday. Sounds like they didn't get the "whole story" either.

The NAACP has lost all credibility.

It's that simple.

Brad - 2.28

I cut her some slack over her opinion that the man was trying to make her know she was superior to him.

She'd live in the racist south her entire life. In my opinion, this was a defense mechanism and a way to keep him away.

But it didn't work. Her HUMANITY came out and she realized that this man was JUST LIKE HER.

I live in Albany GA where the Sherrods live. They had her on the local news tonite 7-21-10 the utube clip was a lie they editted all the good parts out. Mrs Sherrod did help the farmer find a lawyer who helped him keep his land. Him & his wife ( the Spooners) still live there. The Spooners credited her for all the help they received & called her a friend for life. I'm a white man & I know the Sherrods are good people. I think her husband Charles died not to long ago. Obama & his administration did her wrong. They have worked all their life helping people.

ROY WILSON-336103

The NAACP has lost all credibility.

It's that simple.

"It's that simple" to who? You?

Well then I guess it's a good thing no one asked since the NAACP has now done what no one on Faux News or anyone else on the radical fringe right has done. Admitted that they were wrong for chastizing Ms. Sherrod, without gathering all the information first! Should I hold my breath until Faux News does the same?

Oh, wait! You were trying to intimate once again that somehow the NAACP is a racist organization, now based on what Ms. Sherrod said, right? Well since you now know that her statements were taken completely out of context, I am sure your opinion of the organization was changed...right?

stc1993, Obama walks a fine line when it comes to any and all race related issues, as there are so many people looking for him to favor one race over another, then jump on the opportunity to crucify him for it.

However, in this case, I want to see Obama not only personally reinstate Ms. Sherrod to her former position, but do so with her by his side, in front of an entire bank of camaras, with the farmer's in question also in attendance. This woman has been wronged, and it is time to at least take some opportunity to make it right!

Oh, wait! You were trying to intimate once again that somehow the NAACP is a racist organization

That kind won't let fact or anything keep'em from pounding their same tired old message. Damn the torpedoes and rocks and edge of the world!! Full speed ahead!!

It takes the kind of courage some folk just do not have to admit error and move their minds around that fact.

I'm getting a gut feeling President Obama is starting to see that working to appease the right is a lose-lose situation. Maybe we'll start seeing this more often from the POTUS, bsb.

If a white person makes any kind of racial slur, he's out the door within seconds after the words leave his mouth. The pendulum swings both ways. She was at an NAACP meeting. She knew her comments had racial overtones, but she said them anyway. That was a poor indiscretion on her part. My opinion. I think society as a whole is a little fed up with the "race card" being used at every opportunity. She's being held accountable for what she said like anyone else would and that's OK by me. During his campaign, anyone opposed to BO was labeled a racist and a bigot. I saw those words then more than I ever saw in my life. It's not flying anymore. She didn't resign for being black. She resigned for not being a wise speaker and tempering her remarks.

bsbfankaren,

When Obama reinstates her, do you want a bunch of "them" people around her? Do you want her to have "some of her own kind" there with her? You know, black people? If I made comments like that, people might think me racist, when she makes comments like that, getting cheers from the crowd, she is just misunderstood.

Making those comments has nothing to do with what she did 24 years ago. It shows how she feels now.

You are a racist!

No, You are Racist.

You Are an Idiot.

No You are the Idiot.

You don't listen,

No, You don't Listen

White Power

Black Power

Shut Up

No You Shut Up

Rinse repeat. Yet the country goes nowhere and every one looks dumb!!! Who needs terroists. What does history say about the FALL OF EMPIRES? It Starts Within.

It is a shame the whole clip was not seen. In editing the comments to fit the conservative or news broadcasts position, the resulting adverse action seems unfair. It is. Apparently the reason they feel it is appropriate action is that the position must be pristine as should the implementation of those programs to assist troubled farms facing foreclosure and bankruptcy. In this situation it seems the resignation was more to do with the shadow this cast on the job and agency then the content of edited speech.

The seed of doubt reaps a poor harvest.

She talks about a time when she was racist, but the way she tells the story shows racist tendancies.

It would be like some welfare worker saying

"Back when I worked at the welfare office, we had some black folk come in for benefits. I didn't like it when them kind of people came in. They were getting all uppity, so I put them in their place. I did not want to deal with them, so I sent them over to another person that was one of their own kind. But then later I realized that they were poor like everyone else and helped them. See, I am not a racist anymore because I learned my lesson."

Disclaimer:

The following comments are not directed to or meant to blame any individual, group, company or nation.

Why do we want to believe the worst in people? Is this an example of, “Didn’t I tell you?” This is very sad. Is this a reflection of our society or societies in general? We are told that a person or group is bad and we rally around the bonfire. We never ask, “Why are they telling me this?” Have we not learned from prior events, such as the Gleiwitz incident? How can we negotiate international peace, if we cannot bridge our deep chasm, racism? How does one say, “I am sorry, I was wrong?” Rather, should the question be, “Why did I so quickly believe it?”

This woman did say 'those" words in her speech. It is well-documented in the tape. Shirley is being used as a pawn by the NAACP, and now the White House as a scapegoat.

Frankly, she should be fired. This is only the 'tip' of the iceberg in racism, coming from the very people who are accusing Caucasians of it.

I do not condone racism; it is rampant, and underlying here in the US and Europe. All ethnic and minorities.

It will never disappear. Only for the first 2 years of President Obama's Administration. I thought it was over. It is like a Volcano that has erupted as in Iceland.

Back to square ZERO.

Why can't we look above someone's color and treat them as a whole person. We all are the same.

The NAACP should be condemned; and should be broken up as uncredible group. Where is the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Why haven't they spoken out for this offense. They want to keep the blacks stagnant as in the days of slavery. It's time for them to speak up against their own people's hatred. Some of them.

That goes for the New Black Panther Party, as well. We don't need more hiding behind these "clubs".

I think Imus should have his job back too because he didn't really mean it either! At least he didn't keep hard earned tax payer dollars out of their pocket when they needed it most.

While I agree that much of the NAACP's original good intentions have been lost to race hustlers I still think there are more good people then bad in it but unfortunately some of the bad ones are the leaders. As far as this goes I support reinstating her but I also think that people from all races need to sometimes step back and gain perspective before immediately denouncing something as racist. The TEA Party is a good example of where there have been accusations of racism for a year and the first TRUE racial incident occurred last week and it was dealt with swiftly and fairly. The letter was unacceptable and while I get the point it was trying to make there is too much inflammatory about it to ignore and the TEA Party Federation did exactly the right thing by kicking the Tea Party Express to the curb for refusing to condemn it or the author. Racism is best dealt with by bringing it out into the light and while I initially thought this was a racial incident the only things that are truly disappointing are the fact that whoever put this out UNDOUBTEDLY saw the whole video and failed to disclose that the speech was anti-racism not pro as well as the applause given by the audience to what at first glance are definitely racist statements!! Reverse the participants' race and we'd never hear the end of it even if it was a speech with the same intention (of pointing out how wrong being prejudiced is) given by a white person !!

You are without doubt the dumbest son of bitch ever. Did you watch the full video? You just believe anything Fox News puts out there.

Like I said, you’re just dumb.

[quote]William-1802685

The huge number of idiots writing here about a situation that they know absolutely nothing about is amazing. This woman is a victim – not a racist. She was a victim when a white racist farmer killed her father; she was a victim when a white racist legal system let him go free; she was a victim when after overcoming her own racist fears to help a poor white farmer save his farm, and trying to use her story to teach others about overcoming their racist fears to work together, she was set upon by racist minded political hacks, had her words edited and misconstrued and broadcast to the world as a racist speech.

This woman deserved a public apology by the media, the people writing here, but most of all by the President of the United States of America. He should instruct the USDA to reinstate her with a promotion and apologize for the destruction of her character and livelihood by his idiotic Secretary. The USDA, NAACP, Tea Party Organization, Fox News and the other Media outlets need to broadcast a special apology to this lady. Thank God she has enough money now (she just received $13,000,000) that she can tell them all to go kiss her behind. The rise of the idiot class in America is indeed troubling.[/quote]

I don't see any proof to your claims her father was killed by a white racist farmer.

She is a racist plain and simple. It's not just what she said, she was laughing when she said what she did. The audience was laughing too. You don't tell a story where your laughing at something you did, then later say you got to know the family and helped them out. There shouldn't have been any laughing in any part of her story.

If this was a white person, god help us. Newsvine's servers would have had a melt down. And nothing in the world would have made a difference. The white person could have said that he went on to help the black person, and it also inspired him to help other black people. It still wouldn't have been good enough.

Are any of us really aware of the damage, the real harm, we can do to another human being because of our own bias and distorted political agenda? This unecessary maligning of a person's character is all too prevalent in our society today, where it is acceptable to be overtly mean, just downright cruel. As far as our leaders go, obtain the full story on whatever it is that has been deemed politically incorrect and make a wise decision. Thanks to MSNBC for sticking with this very unpopular topic.

We're 4 months from the Nov. elections and the race pot is already brewing. I see 2 of the usual suspects, Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP. Geraldo made a very simple statement. Most whites are Republicans and most blacks are Democrats. Therein the problem lies. When either side makes a comment about the other, political becomes racial and racial become political. There's no need to blame Fox or anyone else. Decisions were made on the information seen and available-----that includes BO. I saw the same snippet everyone else did. I saw Fox saying we asked for but do not have the entire transcript, but the NAACP had it. Release it and this is no big deal, but if you want to fan some flames, make the issue bigger? Nothing like making a fool out of the Prez and all America. I'm not a BO fan. This, to me, is just another poor decision on his part.

One more quick comment, everybody should know that the government reads these blogs----all that pertains to them and maybe more. They do watch Fox and every other network. They have folks who sit there and do nothing but this. They do look at the polls and want to be aware of public sediment. There is no doubt if you're an activist, you have a lot to say, they probably know a little about you. They may have a little file on you and they have L-O-N-G memories. You do have free speech, but Uncle is watching.

Ms. Sherrod --

Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration to all of us.

While I realize that most of the world is focusing on the racial implications of your story, I have to tell you that I took something entirely different from it. It reminded me that there are actual human beings holding government positions, and some of them are decent folk. Thank you for that -- I needed it. :)

Good luck to you in this idiotic fracas.

If you have any respect for yourself and the TRUTH, you would click this link and watch the whole video, and see if your opinion changes about this whole situation. You should feel better knowing that you gave each side a fair opportunnity to be heard. And if after watching the video, you opinion still doesn't chancge, I would love to know why...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38335268#38335268

How can this be racist? it was a black women not helping a white dude as much as she would if he was black, because he was white. Why do you think more black people get more food stamps? I'm sure it has nothing to do with the color of the people that work there.

To Bsbfankaren...

"Except the NAACP did not call you, a Tea Party member racist, but challenged you to boot those within your ranks that clearly are."

Shame on you! Challenged me to do what??? Boot out the non existent racist members in the Tea Party??? Are you just plain stupid, or clueless??? I DON'T KNOW ANY RACIST IN THE TEA PARTY! The NAACP is nothing but a racist inciting bunch of nimrods. And by calling the Tea Party racist, they call me racist, which I am not. That's the parallel jack_ss.

Every organization contains a wide variety of views, racist and bigots included. To stereo type an entire organization as racist, is a completely irresponsible use of power. These are political games, designed to lure clueless idiots like you into a slanted view.

I stand by my initial post. I have NO sympathy for this pawn, as I am merely a like pawn in a political war to definimate the character of our organization. The NAACP instigated a racial scenario which is totally foreign to my understanding of EVERYONE I know personally in the Tea Party. Race has NEVER been discussed amongst any of us, EVER. All we've ever talked about is the financial irresponsibility in Washington, and racial slander came out against us from left field. As far as I'm concerned, the NAACP needs to look itself in the mirror, and worry about it's own racial problems within its own organization, and stay out of ours.

Documents Show Media Plotting to Kill Stories on Rev. Wright

It was the moment of greatest peril for then-Sen. Barack Obama’s political career. In the heat of the presidential campaign, videos surfaced of Obama’s pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, angrily denouncing whites, the U.S. government and America itself. Obama had once bragged of his closeness to Wright. Now the black nationalist preacher’s rhetoric was threatening to torpedo Obama’s campaign.

The crisis reached a howling pitch in mid-April, 2008, at an ABC News debate moderated by Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos. Gibson asked Obama why it had taken him so long – nearly a year since Wright’s remarks became public – to dissociate himself from them. Stephanopoulos asked, “Do you think Reverend Wright loves America as much as you do?”

Watching this all at home were members of Journolist, a listserv comprised of several hundred liberal journalists, as well as like-minded professors and activists. The tough questioning from the ABC anchors left many of them outraged. “George [Stephanopoulos],” fumed Richard Kim of the Nation, is “being a disgusting little rat snake.”

Others went further. According to records obtained by The Daily Caller, at several points during the 2008 presidential campaign a group of liberal journalists took radical steps to protect their favored candidate. Employees of news organizations including Time, Politico, the Huffington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Guardian, Salon and the New Republic participated in outpourings of anger over how Obama had been treated in the media, and in some cases plotted to fix the damage.

In one instance, Spencer Ackerman of the Washington Independent urged his colleagues to deflect attention from Obama’s relationship with Wright by changing the subject. Pick one of Obama’s conservative critics, Ackerman wrote, “Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares — and call them racists.”

Michael Tomasky, a writer for the Guardian, also tried to rally his fellow members of Journolist: “Listen folks–in my opinion, we all have to do what we can to kill ABC and this idiocy in whatever venues we have. This isn’t about defending Obama. This is about how the [mainstream media] kills any chance of discourse that actually serves the people.”

“Richard Kim got this right above: ‘a horrible glimpse of general election press strategy.’ He’s dead on,” Tomasky continued. “We need to throw chairs now, try as hard as we can to get the call next time. Otherwise the questions in October will be exactly like this. This is just a disease.”

(In an interview Monday, Tomasky defended his position, calling the ABC debate an example of shoddy journalism.) Read more ...

MSNBC did leave out the fact that the government/White House, in pressuring her to resign through Miss Cook, stated that she had to leave because she would be on Glenn Beck that night. Why did MSNBC leave out Ms. Sherrod's reference to Glenn Beck? Also, Glenn Beck did not have anything about this issue on the night she was pressured to resign, but he did on the following night. He supported Ms. Sherrod - more than the NAACP and the White house was willing to do. He thought the video should be shown in its entirety before passing judgement.

Ah the rest of the story fox wouldn't tell you. Did you see the interview with the white farmer she "harmed"? They were beside themselves at 82yrs old because she was their friend! She had helped this white family save their farm and they grew to be best friends. Why don't fox or the posters here mention that??? Why didn't fox or the right wing mega media play the WHOLE tape for it's audience to "decide for themselves"?

Wow! All I can say is listening is fundamental, listening to the whole speech will open your eyes to a lesson twisted into racism.

Want a teachable moment? Look no further then right here. Just look at all the teabaggers and repubs who got snookered by Faux News and the right wing media then came on Newsvine to vilify this woman. And look at the thumbs up they got. They'll believe anything Faux News throws at em. These are Americans folks who have the right to vote. We are in deep, deep trouble.

Again, everyone starts pointing fingers. What this story really reveals is how quick we are to react to what we perceive to be the truth, rather than first gathering ALL the facts to draw our conclusions.

If the Obama Administration can't investigate this properly and get it right, can they really be trusted know what's going on in Afghanistan and get that right?

Did anyone notice the *rooms* reaction. The point of this video, IMO, is the *rooms* reaction. That speech was given at an NAACP event.

Some notes: fenderblues jr, President Obama may have been briefed about this but had little else to do with it. First off, she was not fired, secondly, she was a lower level staffer.

pnk, no video evidence has surfaced of her saying the "pullover to the side of the road and text in since you are going on Glenn Beck"... it was not on CNN that I could find and I really did look. I have a feeling the Washington Post made that one up out of whole cloth. Given how taken in this situation is, I am reserving judgement.

Andrea... you have proven to me and I am certain many others how sometimes irrational and reactionary members of the tea party can be. The NAACP never called the Tea Party a racist organization. In fact, the only people that said that were members of the Tea Party themselves. But there you are blowing a gasket. First you say that there is not a single racist in the entire organization, then you say in any organization, there are bound to be racists and bigots. Well, which is it? I can tell you it is the latter. Many of the signs held at the Tea Party rallies were well publicized and while it was a few bad apples, the NAACP was asking that they be repudiated (that is the word). It is a reasonable request to ask of an organization trying to establish credibility. So, I have corrected you... go ahead and blow another gasket...

Enough already. As so many of you take the time to think of your own personal nonsence, there is a woman here who's life has been turned upside down by some calluse, unthinking, unconciounable nonsence, specifically designed to take the attention off of certain members of the so-called Tea Party Movement.

To those who actually give a good gosh darn, Ms Sherrod is going to be on CNN this morning, and will have the opportunity to speak for herself. To those of you that are determined to find racism around every corner, why not take a moment to listen, really listen to what this woman has to say, then make your decision.

Hey, I realize I am spitting at windmills here, but one never knows. One of you, just one of you might decide to change your mind!

We need appologies from the NAACP. First they condemned a group for being racists with no proof and then they condemned Ms. Sharrod without looking at the full video. Then they blamed one of the news outlets for their failures!

It is best to always check facts when reading the news instead of jumping to conclusions as many on this board did. From some of your comments on here, I can see you didn't even read the story. Now that the full video has come out, this should be a lesson to us all.

I really do hope she gets her job back. After seeing the full video and hearing her life story, you can see that she is a remarkable woman who wants to serve the poor and help communities. I hope she does several interviews as I would love to hear more about her, her father, mother and sisters' lives. The video was very encouraging and is something we as a nation should aspire to...where we come to the point and see the truth that skink color doesn't matter. We have to help and treat one another the same.

Fox News and Breitbart should be ashamed of themselves. They have only proven the negative opinion that many people already have of them.

LOL! Now everyone is back-pedaling and saying she was talking about how she learn about racial equality...

when she clearly said in her speech how she sent the farmer to "one of his own" which is clearly a racial remark no matter WHAT the context of her speech was. If a white speaker said they referred a black man to "one of his own" no excuse would be accepted and everyone on here defending this woman knows it.

Obama supporters are too busy digging up stuff from the past to see where they are going.

Patrick-1112710,

Dude, I hate Obama way more than you ever will in 10 lifetimes, but you're way wrong on this one. Quit being a stooge and useful idiot for Faux News. The woman did absolutely nothing wrong. Faux News still won though. They just demonstrated how out of touch the Obama Administration is and can't even properly investigate whats really going on in its own government agencies let alone know whats going on in something serious like Afghanistan.

It's really sad that we as a Nation can't get out of our own way! The media posts a "race based" article and then we get sucked into playing the game of "Who's the Bigger Bigot!" We get so caught in our emotions and ways-of-thinking, that we we cease to recognize the FACTS before us! Fact: ALL people carry some type of prejudice toward a group of people (racially, socially, culturally, etc.) We all know it's true, and anyone saying otherwise is a liar! So, now that we've established that all people are guilty, we can stop pointing the finger over who is the "bigger" or "worse" offender, because it is irrelevant! We are all GUILTY!

Fact: This woman gave a speech about an experience she had 20+ yrs ago, and the racial thoughts/feelings she carried at that time. Yes there were people in the crowd who laughed (in agreement) to her comments, which tells me this was the perfect audience to be taught such a lesson! She admits the prejudices she had and explains how her experience with helping this white family eventually caused her to re-think those prejudices, and serves a changing point in her life.

I understand Breitbart (who posted the 3min video snippet of a 45min speech) was trying to pin racial claims on the NAACP because of the accusations they made toward the Tea Party, but to involve this innocent woman to the extent of her losing her job is WRONG! She was using her past experience as base text to delivery a greater and more unifying message. You can't tell me that there aren't officals currently in public office who don't have dark spots in their past! Are they being reviewed? Are their jobs being threatened? And here we all are getting a part of a greater message, and casting this woman to to wolves! Take the comments for the context in which they were delivered before you make such radical accusations!

Why have three of my post from yesterday disappeared into some sort of Newsvine black hole? Not deleted not collasped just disappeared.

Please don't take your job back. Regardless how people are trying to spin it you are a racist and a bigot first class.

andreasjva

To Bsbfankaren

... "Except the NAACP did not call you, a Tea Party member racist, but challenged you to boot those within your ranks that clearly are." Shame on you! Challenged me to do what??? Boot out the non existent racist members in the Tea Party??? Are you just plain stupid, or clueless??? I DON'T KNOW ANY RACIST IN THE TEA PARTY! The NAACP is nothing but a racist inciting bunch of nimrods. And by calling the Tea Party racist, they call me racist, which I am not. That's the parallel jack_ss.

Again, the NAACP did not call you a racist, as I doubt they know you, nor did they call the entire Tea Party racist. I don't know how many different times I can say that, however you are free to look up what Mr. Jealous said for yourself, rather than simply going with what you have been told. I for one listened to Mr. Jealous speak for himself on two different programs and know for a fact what the man said.

As for you calling me various names, well of course that is your prerogative. I know the signs I have personally seen at Tea Party events, the monkeys members have chosen to carry around, and the signs that have shown Obama as an African witch doctor. While you may not see any of that as racist, it shows me that there are people at Tea Party rallies that are not interested in Obama's policies, but in what they see Obama as, and that troubles me and others. Those are the people that the NAACP challenged you all to get rid of. To act like those people don't exist, says to me that you simply don't give a darn!

As for the rest of your post? To say that there are people in all organizations who are "racist" but not taking the time to look at your own organization, simply makes you childish, "I know you are, but what am I". Would you allow your child to behave that way? Then why do you see it as O.K. for adults to do so? That was a rhetorical question, as I already know what your answer will be, simply based on what you have said here. Ms. Sherrod does not need you to care about her, as she has many others who do, and are going to make sure she is given her due in this case. However, you compared yourself to this woman who took responsibility for her own actions, and used that responsibility to try and help change the actions of others at an organization you consider "racist". But it is clear there is no comparison, as you will not even admit that there are people within your own organization that hold racist beliefs.

While it would be nice if you could learn something from Ms. Sherrod, I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen!

Note to getalifevirginia, the NAACP HAS apologized. They have apologized on television and have called Ms. Sherrod personally to apologize.

The question is, will Andrew Breitbart? Will Sean Hannity? Will Bill O'Reilly? Will MSNBC? All of these outlets stoked the flames of this story for their own ratings.

My, how racism is a multi-headed monster! At this point, I must say I have no opinion one way or the other on Sherrod. Both FOX and MSNBC have shown edited portions of the speech. Most of the rebuttal was in the recent interview of her. So, whether she should get her job back or not, I'll leave up to those who wish to spend the time to delve into all of the facts.

Actually, the big story here is clear AGENDA of both MSNBC and the NAACP. Notice how quick they have been to change course on this black woman? Yet, I haven't seen any changing course on their calling Limbaugh, the Tea Party participants and others racist. Why is that? Everyone who has listened to Limbaugh over the years knows he is not racist. His statements are purposely taken out of context. In fact, even worse than those of Sherrod. Any apology there? Of course not, it doesn't fit with their agenda of disparaging anyone who doesn't agree with the agenda of the left. Same with the Tea Partiers. The NAACP has no evidence, yet, they wish to condemn. As for the state run propaganda machine known as the mainstream media, it has been absolutely pathetic their portrayal of the Tea Party Movement. Anyone with half a brain can easily figure out that they are against the agenda of this administration to redo this country into a socialist state. They feign not understanding what is going on and that is pathetic. That's why their ratings are so far down, they have no credibility anymore.

Jim in Auburn

bsbfankaren, When Obama reinstates her, do you want a bunch of "them" people around her? Do you want her to have "some of her own kind" there with her? You know, black people? If I made comments like that, people might think me racist, when she makes comments like that, getting cheers from the crowd, she is just misunderstood. Making those comments has nothing to do with what she did 24 years ago. It shows how she feels now.

Jim, although it sounds really good, I didn't say anything about "them", but was specific about who should be standing around when Ms. Sherrod is reinstated, if that is what she wants, and that is not clear this morning. I will tell you again, and then you can go back to whatever post you are referring to of mine, for clarification.

Obama should call a press conference with Ms. Serrod on one side of him, and the White farmers in question on the other, and publicly apologize for what happened to her. And I would also like those at Faux News to publicly apologize for smearing a woman who clearly did not deserve it.

Jim in Auburn (Washington?). It was very nice of you to attempt to take my statements out of context, but you know I did not refer to "them", but what very clear on who should apologize to Ms. Sherrod, a lovely person that you, I and other's could learn so much from!

And in closing. Jim, sir. If you have ever seen any of my posts, and I know you have, it should be clear at times, although not always that I am a Black person, so yes I do know some Black people. Hope that helps! As for the "cheers" you hear? If you listen to her entire speech, you will hear cheers throughout, even when she makes it clear that...I am sorry I am going to have to paraphrase here..."it is not about black people, but about poor people". That was her message, whether you caught it or not. The farmers in question did, so why, oh why can't you?

As an aside, is anyone seeing what a beautiful woman Ms. Sherrod truly is?

I am a white person.

I heard the whole story from HER MOUTH (Ms. Sherrod) this morning on CNN.

Before she spoke, I watched THE PARTIAL VIDEO. I was peeved. I hit the roof.

Then I heard her story. She used this story in her speech so she could share with other black people about how SHE LEARNED TO STOP BEING A RACIST.

In fact, after listening to her, I cried because I knew that she did learn something. As she put it - "I learned it is not about race.... It is about those that have and those who do not have." There is no doubt in my mind that this was her personal watershed moment when she realized that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

I think it was very courageous of her to share her story with black people, ALL OF WHOM WERE NODDING IN AGREEMENT AT THE NOT WANTING TO HELP WHITE PEOPLE PART OF HER SPEECH. I hope those people actually learned something too.

At the end of the day, she saved this white man's farm. His farm had been put into foreclosure ILLEGALLY and his first lawyer was a waste. It was BECAUSE OF SHERROD THAT HE SAVED HIS FARM.

I am furious (again) with President Obama because his administration called her four times this week to resign.

I completely support this woman and I want her to get her job back. This is freaking ridiculous.

Don't you think that those who perpetrated the story and the news network (FOX NOISE) should be fined or perhaps prosecuted for their slandering of a good woman???? This cost her her job and will follow her for the rest of her life.

Well done MSNBC........(one of our favourites along with CNN)

You of the NAACP should do your homework before flapping your jaws, then you would not have to appologize for your mistakes.

bsbfankaren

I do not agree this was connected to the Tea Party. Please support this fact when posting something like this.

I do agree that SHIRLEY SHERROD is a wonderful person and HER HATERS on this vine ARE WRONG.

You need to learn how to discern the TRUTH from the media because the media is a waste anymore. Reporters used to report news. Now they speak in soundbites.

witchrunner

My, how racism is a multi-headed monster! At this point, I must say I have no opinion one way or the other on Sherrod. Both FOX and MSNBC have shown edited portions of the speech. Most of the rebuttal was in the recent interview of her. So, whether she should get her job back or not, I'll leave up to those who wish to spend the time to delve into all of the facts.

The "edited" version that MSNBC played, was the portion that people did not get to hear on Faux News. The tape had to be edited because the full speach is 45 minutes in length. However, and this should make you so very happy, the entire speach is available for viewing online. Unedited. Warts and all.

If you like, I could post a link, then you don't have to depend on what any news organization says, and you can form your own opinion.

As a matter of fact, I am nothing if not helpful.  Here you are:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/07/the-full-unedited-shirley-sherrod-speech/60135/

The wonderful thing about posts is that you can't run from them. Shame to all of you who threw stones before seeking any real truth. As Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story makes amny look bad, including everyone who concluded this was a case of racism. Shame on you.

Karen in Los Angeles

bsbfankaren I do not agree this was connected to the Tea Party. Please support this fact when posting something like this.

Karen, I don't think I specifically stated that this was "connected to the Tea Party". If I did, I shouldn't have, as I have no proof. The only connection I personally see is that since Jealous, the President of the NAACP last week called on the leaders of the Tea Party movement to call out those in their organization that are racist, it sure looks to me that someone made the decision to go over NAACP tapes and find some sort of smoking gun that would make it appear that the NAACP is a racist organization, therefore calling the kettle black so to speak, even if the tape they chose to use was more than 20 years old. That is supposition on my part, and I freely admit to it.

However, what is clear is that Faux News made the decision to run with this story on much of their programming, beginning with "O'Reilly Factor", it would seem, and have as yet to come forward now and say that were wrong about Ms. Sherrod, as the NAACP has done. That is not supposition on my part, but is as crystal clear to anyone who truly wants to see.

And lastly, I am going to ask you to follow your own advice. The head of the USDA and Ms. Sherrod both clearly stated that they did not hear from the White House, in making this decision or when the decision was made to ask Ms. Sherrod to resign. Rather, someone, who she does not specifically mention, told her that the White House knew about what occured. However, there is no proof that they called for her ouster, only that the President was "briefed" after the fact.

Although I think Obama should publically aplogize to Ms. Sherrod, there is no proof that he or his staff personally asked her to resign.

And you have just shown yourself to be just as gullible and ignorant as the NAACP, Fox"News", the Obama adminstration, and news media in general to have believed this story without getting all of the facts. Breibart needs to be sued and imprisoned.

Hey NAVYNUKE,!
If you wern't in such a hurry to believe Fox "News", you wouldn't look like such a fool today.

While I still think her comments were racist, and a caucasian would have been crucified without a doubt and without a second look if they said the same thing as she did, I have to agree with her ONLY, and I mean ONLY, on the point that I wouldn't want to go back to work there either, if they did offer the job back.

But unlike me, SHE won't EVER have to work again. USDA is a GOVERNMENT run institution. She's going to get a HUGE settlement over this, by playing that race card again. Even though SHE was the one who discriminated against whites, she is now the victim.

She spoke those words to a group at an NAACP meeting! I don't care how long ago it was...blacks still teach hate in their homes, in their schools, in their churches and in their meetings, today!
How can you keep overlooking this? Or worse...how can you keep JUSTIFYING this nasty, hateful, venomous discrimination against Caucasians?! Closing your eyes didn't make it go away. Unless you're deaf AND blind, you should already know this B.S. continues day after day after day.

I personally hope the final dicision is that they WON'T take her back.
I was and still am, first handedly a victim of this ongoing bigotry by blacks. When I was at my lowest of lows, I crawled down to the Food Stamp office and asked for help. "They", the black social workers, also "did enough" for me. I got $10 a month in food stamps. I got to buy a bag of rice, while my black counterparts got to fill their carts FULL of groceries with theirs.

You don't think reverse discrimination exists? You just got it thrown right in your face, and you still don't believe it.
Come on down to where I live. You won't be able to ignore it here.

Its funny how certain individuals(fox news, baby boomers, ignorant uneducated or over) quickly try to compare one comment or act to over a hundred years on injustice, prejudiced, slavery, and racism...Remember were still overcoming and for her to admit that she was wrong considering she grew up during the heat of the struggle is a giant plus.

And, certain comments made here are just ignorant...I just hope their kids aren't being raised with the same beliefs...

This is a perfect example of the measures Fox news will take to spew their biased stance against people of color, specifically African-Americans, and more specifically, President Barack Obama. Ms. Sherrod should sue Fox News for libel. If more people would sue Fox for such irresponsible news reporting, perhaps they would get the message to report facts and not "Faux" news. What is really scary is the millions of people who believe O'Reilly and Beck "hook, line and sinker".

Don't hold your breath waiting for Fox Faux News to correct their mis-reporting or apologize for deliberately conspiring to use a doctored tape to support their own anti-NAACP/ African-American/anti-President Obama agenda. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of deceitful reporting Fox News engages in.

She was forced "resign" ? - She should have stood on her alleged principals. Since she gave the speech she knew what was in it. She shood have stood her ground and let them fire her, instead of resigning. She knew by resigning she would retain all her pension and benefits, as oppose to doing the right thing and fighting for what she believed in.
How quick that people point the finger and accuse others of racism before they know all the facts. Indeed this woman had racism in her heart at some point, while apparently learning many years ago that this was wrong. That is bad enough without having this happen to her.
Imagine having something you say taken out of context. It happens all the time and many here have no problem with that if it happens to many of certain political affiliation. The one thing I am sure of is that there are certain people that no matter what comes out of their mouths, its either a lie or untrue. No one is perfect, no one is understood by everyone. But certainly everyone should have the chance to explain their actions. Even this woman deserves that chance. I am upset with the source of this providing only the certain soundbites to make this woman sound as racist as she does, only to find out that she was actually telling about a situation where she realized that what she did was wrong. For everyone like her, there is probably 2 that actually feel that way about people of opposite race. Never give a sucker an even break. But that heartless attitude crosses all race boundaries.

You know, lets assume for just one second that she is telling the truth here and her comments were taken out of context. If that was the case then she is too dumb to be in her position with the USDA to begin with. If this were a "lesson" as she claimed, then why not say she was in a position to help a White Farmer and "COULD" have not given him her full help, but instead she ignored race and helped him like she would a Farmer of Color?

I believe that she got caught being what she is or at least was at the time, a racist in a position of power.

She says now that even if she is offered her job back she might not take it, because she is not sure how she would be treated. Can anyone say "hostile working environment" law suit against the USDA?" Can anyone see the potential that the NAACP lawyers have gotten to this lady and told her she has a good chance at a racial/sexual discrimination law suit against her boss because he is both male and White?

The Obama Adminstration taking a second look at this is nothing more than them doing damage control. You can almost hear the dollar signs in her words "if offered my job back I'm not sure I would take it because I don't know how I would be treated."

Her actions in the end will tell if she is a true racist or not. If she takes her job back with full reinstatement of wages and seniority and benefits, then she's not after the money she could get because she is both Black and a Woman. If she pushes for the law suit(s) then she has revealed, for all the world to see, her true intentions and possibly here feelings on racism.

Please everyone who thinks that this incredible woman made racist remarks watch the entire video. This was a set up by biggoverment.com. Fox news then ran with the story without preforming the most simple act of journalistic responsibility by checking the whole story. This proves what a joke they are. Please view the entire vedio and see for yourselves instead of continuing to believe the lies of fox news.

Dano-1908264

Bsbfankaren, The thing that I find hilarious about these posts is that you and every other liberal scream that Fox News is a faux news show...

I refer to them as Faux News because when Bill O'Reilly was called out about the half truths and at times out right lies that he and other notable figures on that particular network love to propogate, he himself referred to the network at "entertainment" not news. Therefore, I "scream" nothing more than what one of the main personalities as the network himself said. Fox News is not about "news" but is about "entertainment"! Then again, I don't "scream" anything, but rather say or print the words over, and over again.

Hope that helps!

Hey Conway...where is that rock you live under?

Bruce Hess,

I would also point out to people that the statements that were made, happened 24 years ago, 1986 if I am not mistaken. The country was a differnt place than it is today. Ms. Sherrod did not work for a USDA at the time, but did work a non-profit, and was speaking from her personal experience, an experience in the deep south that is different from anything I ever had to experience growing up in the Southwest.

Too many people believe that if they didn't experience something, that it never happened. I applaud Ms. Sherrod for speaking up and out about her experiences and how she has grown from them, and am angered by all the people who refuse to actually see and hear all that this woman said.

To Jen...

"First you say that there is not a single racist in the entire organization, then you say in any organization, there are bound to be racists and bigots."

This is the entire problem with the political BS you try to push on me. I NEVER SAID THERE WASN'T A SINGLE RACIST IN THE TEA PARTY. I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW ANY RACIST WITHIN THE TEA PARTY I KNOW. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, JOIN A WITCH HUNT AND GO LOOKING FOR ANYTHING RESEMBLING RACISM WITHIN THE TEA PARTY??? Once again, people twist words, and try to find any morsal of bad, within the good, because they're threatened by the status quo. You, and others like you, distort the purpose, which is repsonsible and ethical government.

Once again, I have absolutely NO sympathy for the situation. The Tea Party IS called racist, and if you don't believe that, then you're just plain stupid. We are also called Teabaggers, which is a reference to homosexuals. We are trying to be discredited by the politics and the liberal media, and they'll say and do anything to destroy a very good grass roots movement. Even some sick and twisted liberal teacher in Washington state tried to get people to infultrate rallies, and wear nazi uniforms, and carry racists hate signs. So excuse me if I have absolutely no pitty for a situation we live everyday, when we're simply trying to get government to act responsibly. This poor woman got sliced and diced by politics, and I find it VERY amusing that the White House was quicker to cut bait without investigation, than it was to act in the gulf. Politics is all about how you look, not what you do.

To bsbfankaren...

"Again, the NAACP did not call you a racist,"

BULLS_IT! Just an accusation of racism within our organization labels ALL TEA PARTY members as racist. It's nothing but dirty politics, aimed at destroying the momemtum we have going right now. If you for a second don't think this political statement by the NAACP isn't politically motivated, you're just plain ignorant. I'm tired of the games in Washington, and people like you who play right into the BS.

I'm not racist, and I don't spend even a fraction of a second thinking racially. You on the other, think the message the NAACP said was somehow heartfelt, and useful. I'll tell you what I think. The NAACP has far more racial problems then the Tea Party could ever have. The NAACP is nothing but a hot bed of racialy motivated plays against all americans. They had no right to declare anything racial about the Tea Party, EVER.

walkervc and other libs bashing FOX: If you actually decided to pay attention to what goes on there, you wouldn't be so quick to hurl insults their way. They've already been discussing the issue in depth. Check this out:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597324,00.html

But, that'd be too much of an effort I'm sure. And there is more on the site too. As for your lib media and NAACP where are the apologies for their gross lies about Limbaugh, the Tea Partiers and others? MSNBC doesn't have it in them to recognize when they are wrong, which is most of the time.

Yes MSNBC did report about her being racist, but now what are they doing? They are using the boo-hoo technique to try to get her rehired because she said that she did what she could to help ALL people. The problem is that her own words shows she is racist. I do believe that this is part of the plan to get blacks and white angry enough to riot in the streets and cause an emergency. Hopefully their is enough people to see what is happening and just wait and take your anger out at the ballot box.

ConwayTwitter

While I still think her comments were racist, and a caucasian would have been crucified without a doubt and without a second look if they said the same thing as she did...

Really? Do you honestly believe that you would have been "crucified" for her statements? Do you also believe that the folks at Faux News would not have come to your defence and played your entire statement, or whould they have jumped on the bandwagon and stuffed you under the bus as well?

There have been various statements from White political figures that have come to light in recent months, most recently those of now deceased Senator Byrd, and the only people crucifying anyone, where on the far right. You see, Black people already knew Senator Byrd's story, both the good and the bad, yet folks like Glenn Beck decided to bring up Senator Byrd passed KKK membership as if it were news today. There was no big public out cry, and in fact there were many black people who stepped forward to say how much they admired Senator Byrd. However, I know none of that matters at this point, now does it? The only thing that matters is that you believe you would be crucified, and you will run with it.

As a black person I know that I have to choose my battles, to listen to where someone is coming from before forming an opinion about them and their statements. I was also raised this way, even though my parents both grew up during the time of Jim Crow laws, and my Mother's family has an experience very similar to Ms. Sherrod's. I wish, I truly wish more people on the extreme right could think this way as well, but again, I know that is not going to happen any time soon!

andreasjva,

So I suppose I can say the same thing. Since you are calling the NAACP and Ms. Sherrod racist, that means that you are calling me a racist, since I used ot be considered "colored", and because Ms. Sherrod is a Black woman. Do you not see just how ludicrous that is? Of course not. You have a position on this topic, and you are going to stick to it, no matter what the evidence to the contrary is.

Therefore I say, have at it! I am not going to feed into your lunacy any longer, as you seem to be doing fine feeding it all on your own!

donna426

Yes MSNBC did report about her being racist, but now what are they doing?

I am on the West coast, and didn't see what was reported prior to 5pm PT. However, although MSNBC may have reported about Ms. Sherrod being racist prior to that time, on Keith Olbermann's show and Rach Maddow's show, they not only reported about the story, where it began, how it was blown out of proportion, but then allowed two leaders of the NAACP, President Ben Jealous and President Emeritus Julian Bond, to publically say they had been "snookered" and were wrong to call out Ms. Sherrod, and to publically apologize to her.

So, although I don't know what they are doing "now" as I am currently watching CNN, I know what MSNBC did last night during prime time, even if you don't!

When will Fox News be held accountable for its entertainment at our expense? That woman or others could have been hurt and all Fox News is... entertainment? Her boss made a statement that he acted on his own in firing her. It was not a decision from the Obama administration.

The evil puppetmasters are at it again. When will America realize that Fox News does not care who it victimizes? It only seeks ratings and polarization of American citizens with race and fear the tool.

If its illegal to shout fire in a crowded public arena then this type of incitement based journalism should be illegal. Fox News has cried wolf too many times in their effort to get ratings on a by any means necessary agenda. At a minimum, Fox News should be heavily fined and investigated.

At the end of the day, she saved this white man's farm. His farm had been put into foreclosure ILLEGALLY and his first lawyer was a waste. It was BECAUSE OF SHERROD THAT HE SAVED HIS FARM.

I am furious (again) with President Obama because his administration called her four times this week to resign.

I completely support this woman and I want her to get her job back. This is freaking ridiculous.

Wow Karen in LA. Normally you and I disagree quite vehemently, but in this case you are SPOT ON!!

This was a total hitjob by Andrew Breitbart (yet again) and Fox News. It's an absolute disgrace that Fox has the power to slander and libel a woman with lies and THEY END UP WINNING IN THE END!

At this point, anything Andrew Breitbart says should be considered a lie. Even if he posts "proof" on his retarded little website, there is a 100% chance it's edited, clipped, and taken out of context. Breitbart is scum.

phew! thank god she's black so she can get another chance and the whole thing is being reconsidered. if she were white she'd be hung out to dry no matter what other information came to light.

To bsbfankaren...

Once again, you're being an idiot. "So I suppose I can say the same thing. Since you are calling the NAACP and Ms. Sherrod racist,"

I NEVER CALLED THE NAACP RACIST! I NEVER CALLED MS SHERROD RACIST. All i said was that the NAACP has bigger racial problems with the oprganization than the Tea Party. And I added that the NAACP used race to play Americans against each other. And I definitely didn't say anything racial about Sherrod. All I said was I had no sympathy for the situation, and then said she was sliced and diced by politics. Are you having a reading comprehension problem?

Conway Twitter

Maybe you should go to your Congressman for help, and if that person will not help you, go to the local TV station (many local TV stations will do a segment on problems incurred by the public). This does not sound right, what is happening to you.

No Public Figure who apologizes "means" it. If they meant it when they said it;, it would have not slipped off their tongues in the first place.

Sincere Apology coming from the NAACP? Never. Back to business as usual.

This seems to be a case of NOT looking before you leap. Everyone, including the media, the White House, the NAACP and the public all jumped on it. This is what happens when you take part of a speech (or conversation) and draw a conclusion. That, plus the fact that this was about an experience that took place BEFORE, not during her present job, shows just how willing we are to jump on anyone for anything that we consider politically incorrect. My question is, why? Had ANYONE done any digging BEFORE they "condemned" this woman, this could all have been avoided! Ok, now comes the big question.... did we LEARN from this??

Karen in Los Angeles,

After you asked I did a little research, and I will admit this was a little research, but this transcript appears to show that there is a connection here between the Tea Party and this video being posted.

I didn't read the entire transcript, but I did read some of Andrew Breitbart's words:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597324,00.html

People need to start suing Fox and these right-wing liars for slander. Maybe some of this stuff would stop. How anyone can listen to their junk and be so fooled is beyond me!

Linda, that would be like suing the folks here for all the name calling they insist on participating in. There is way to fine of a line between slandering someone out right, and simply reporting what someone else said, or someone else's research, and it is that line that Faux News walks expertly.

What people can do is what we are doing here, fight back against the outright lies, partial lies, and all out inuendo. There will always be those that will stick to their beliefs, but there is always the chance someone's mind will be changed.

You were too fast to pat MSNBC on the back.

What a mess.

Another scandal, another coverup, another thing for the WH and NAACP to spin.

What is it about this story that it makes it any different than any other example of the media's "FACT" and not "TRUTH" approach to reporting. It's not uncommon with the media.

There is prejudice within every demographic in this country, the only difference with some minorities is that they are referred to in a BS compound term...ie African-American. If there is any semblance of racism it's not based on hate so much as frustration over the way some groups are referenced with these exculsive terms.

What we see today, with reports like this, is based on our immature and chicken$hit society's thirst for controversy...

We are all Americans....Period...

ctdad, are you also against those that refer to themselves as Irish-American? Italian-American? German-American? Greek-American's? Or is it just African-American that gets at your craw?

I worked the Census this year, and people refer to themselves with all sorts of "compound" terms. I have and always say that I refer to myself as an American first, and a Black person second, but that is just my way. I don't tell anyone what to call themselves, and would wonder why it bothers you so?

To Jim in Auburn

Sir, I think you need to go back to school (if you are not already taking remedial classes), and if or when you do graduate, get a copy of the full video in question and view it carefully and in its entirety several times. Once you have completed this task, come back here and write an intelligent apology to Shirley Sherrod. This message also applies to all the writers here and anywhere who just seems not to be able to distinguish between a person trying to use their own experiences to teach and promote cooperation between the races. This woman had every right to be angry and to be hateful after what she and her family went through at the hands of white racist; however, when put to the test she came through with flying colors and became a champion for love over hate. She is a hero to me and I support her 100%. Please Mr. President, do the right thing and restore this woman’s job, character and dignity.

They are rethinking in giving her her job back. Get real. She is a racist, and I would like to know what happened to the man she "did not help" to see if her racist behavior cost him and his family their land and income.

She should be in prison for committing a racist crime against the family that needed help.

As we can all see, we are all susceptible to media and political gaming of the citizens of this country. While my heart goes out to Sherrod personally, my compassion for the situation is nearly 0. The reason I say this was watching the political posturing following the initial break of the story. Our government, our politicians, did what they always do first. They looked out for their own best interest over the citizens of this country. Sherrod was thrown under the bus quicker than any response the government has given any crisis situation in recent memory. Politicians are more concerned with image, than running this country. Image is what gets you elected most of the time, not substance. It's our fault.

Being a member of a Tea Party, I've watched as our loosely bound leaderless organization was attacked. It's an easy attack, because we are the American people at the grass roots level in politics. There isn't a single person anyone can attack directly, so the media, and politicians who don't agree with our position on specific demands, degrade our status. In doing so, they repel political rivals because the false media claims can damage their image. It's an easy game to play, because like the Sherrod scandal so elogantly showed, destroying reputations only takes an association without evidence. The play on the Tea Party has been simple, associate "Tea Party" with seedy and derogatory elements in society. It's only a matter of saying, "Teabagger", or "Nazi", or "Racist", or "Bigot", in the same sentence. If the public hears it enough, they form an association without proof. The public does the rest, and the conspiracy theorists pile in for the cleanup job. Once the association has been made, it becomes almost impossible to change. In-fighting soon follows, along with more bad press, and a division occurs. A division in unity is exactly what the politicians want, and is their goal in exacting their underhanded tactics.

I can assure you all, no racists exist in the Tea Party that I know in Virginia.

Here's what drew me to the Tea Party. I challenge anyone who's formed a negative opinon of the Tea Party to read their mission statement. If you really find the message racially offensive, or biggoted, or supremist, than god help us all. (I'm a conservative leaning agnostic independent, by the way)

Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement and Core Values

Mission Statement

The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

Core Values

• Fiscal Responsibility
• Constitutionally Limited Government
• Free Markets

Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honors and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labor. A constitutionally limited government, designed to protect the blessings of liberty, must be fiscally responsible or it must subject its citizenry to high levels of taxation that unjustly restrict the liberty our Constitution was designed to protect. Such runaway deficit spending as we now see in Washington D.C. compels us to take action as the increasing national debt is a grave threat to our national sovereignty and the personal and economic liberty of future generations.

Constitutionally Limited Government: We, the members of The Tea Party Patriots, are inspired by our founding documents and regard the Constitution of the United States to be the supreme law of the land. We believe that it is possible to know the original intent of the government our founders set forth, and stand in support of that intent. Like the founders, we support states' rights for those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.

Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty. The founders believed that personal and economic freedom were indivisible, as do we. Our current government's interference distorts the free market and inhibits the pursuit of individual and economic liberty. Therefore, we support a return to the free market principles on which this nation was founded and oppose government intervention into the operations of private business.

Our Philosophy

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. as an organization believes in the Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government, and Free Markets. Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill Of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers. We recognize and support the strength of grassroots organization powered by activism and civic responsibility at a local level. We hold that the United States is a republic conceived by its architects as a nation whose people were granted "unalienable rights" by our Creator. Chiefly among these are the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Tea Party Patriots stand with our founders, as heirs to the republic, to claim our rights and duties which preserve their legacy and our own. We hold, as did the founders, that there exists an inherent benefit to our country when private property and prosperity are secured by natural law and the rights of the individual.

Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement and Core Values

Mission Statement

The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

Core Values

• Fiscal Responsibility
• Constitutionally Limited Government
• Free Markets

Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honors and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labor. A constitutionally limited government, designed to protect the blessings of liberty, must be fiscally responsible or it must subject its citizenry to high levels of taxation that unjustly restrict the liberty our Constitution was designed to protect. Such runaway deficit spending as we now see in Washington D.C. compels us to take action as the increasing national debt is a grave threat to our national sovereignty and the personal and economic liberty of future generations.

Constitutionally Limited Government: We, the members of The Tea Party Patriots, are inspired by our founding documents and regard the Constitution of the United States to be the supreme law of the land. We believe that it is possible to know the original intent of the government our founders set forth, and stand in support of that intent. Like the founders, we support states' rights for those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.

Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty. The founders believed that personal and economic freedom were indivisible, as do we. Our current government's interference distorts the free market and inhibits the pursuit of individual and economic liberty. Therefore, we support a return to the free market principles on which this nation was founded and oppose government intervention into the operations of private business.

Our Philosophy

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. as an organization believes in the Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government, and Free Markets. Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill Of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers. We recognize and support the strength of grassroots organization powered by activism and civic responsibility at a local level. We hold that the United States is a republic conceived by its architects as a nation whose people were granted "unalienable rights" by our Creator. Chiefly among these are the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Tea Party Patriots stand with our founders, as heirs to the republic, to claim our rights and duties which preserve their legacy and our own. We hold, as did the founders, that there exists an inherent benefit to our country when private property and prosperity are secured by natural law and the rights of the individual.

I am amazed at some of these comments. First the NAACP never said the Tea Party was racist they stated that the blatant racist comments from some of their members should be called out. This is why they responded so quickly to the doctored video.

Second no one seems to talk about how Glen Beck/Fox News (not to mention others that followed them) ran without verifying the source & accuracy of the video. This was definitely slanderous and race baiting.

To those of you who continue to form an opinion based on little or no facts: 1. Turn up the speakers on your computer. 2. Now, find one of the many links now offering the ENTIRE video. 3. Watch and LISTEN.

I also believe it is time for the FCC to take a close look at the practices of Fox 'News". When a supposed news program can manipulate the news to such an extent as to cost innocent people their lively hood, not to mention their reputations, it's time to call it what it is and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Fox "News" is notorious for misquoting or simply disregarding the facts. They should not be able to use the word "News" at all. It is a total misnomer and deceiving.

This woman not only deserves her job back, she deserves a HUGE public apology, beginning with Fox and continuing with the USDA and the current Administration.

bsbfankaren, I was not twisting and using your words when saying things like "them" and "one of her kind". I was using her words. When people say things like that, I find them racist. So if you are telling a story and you use phrases like that, I find it racist. Does not matter what the story is about or what you learned in the end, when you use terms like that to tell the story, it tells me that you have not learned enough from your story, and should not be in a position of power in the government.

William-1802685, I saw the whole video, watched it on youtube. Sure she had a point that she learned a lesson. But when she uses terms like "them" or "one of his own kind" to me that is racist. If I saw a white government official telling a story and saying that they sent a black person to see one of their own kind, I would find that offensive and racist.

I try to be as color neutral as I can. I get on my mother everytime she talks about going to the store or where ever and talking about something and saying something like "a black lady in line". I push her and ask here why it matters that the lady was black? Why not just "a lady in line".

CPCU... Quote"First the NAACP never said the Tea Party was racist they stated that the blatant racist comments from some of their members should be called out."

Haven't you learned anything from Sherrod? It doesn't take a direct accusation to be convicted of racism, only an association. The NAACP made a formal organized association between racism, and the Tea Party. That's like saying America should call out racists, or the NAACP should call out all racists, or the democrats should call out all racists within their respective organizations. It insinuates the Tea Party is Racist tolerant, which it is not, and never has been. You buy it though, like all the other sheople forming an opinion without facts. It is so subtle, that you actually defend a useless statement like the NAACP made AGAINST the Tea Party. It's like me telling you to root all the racism out in your family, and making that declaration on public broadcast. It's pointless, but politically motivated. People would instantly associate your family with racism, even though you were never called a racist directly.

Dear Bob, Chunky...what rock did you just crawl out from under? Have you read ANY of the updated stories? Listened to ANY of the commentators who are talking about how the tape was edited? She DID help those farmers, and the wife of the farmer (who I believe has since passed away), has been all over the place talking about all that she did to help them. I can't even say that you only watch Faux news, because I think even THEY are starting to say that he tape was taken completely out of context. Unbelievable!

It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Well, I find two major things wrong with this story and situation. First, everyone knows the NAACP is so anti white it is ridiculous. A perfect example, is the Obama administration. NAACP called a black Missouri senator "not black enough" for having the audacity to challenge President Obama's policies and administration. Anyone disapproving of President Obama's Administration is automatically labeled as "a Racist" by the NAACP and Obama Supporters.

In their opinion, it is impossible to dislike or disagree with President Obama due to his policy, out of control national spending, or disrespect of the Constitution; therefore, any disapproval of the man "MUST BE BECAUSE HE IS BLACK." (A) How convenient everyone forgets Obama has a WHITE mother and grandparents. (B) This old "Racist" diatribe is wearing thin from those who can't properly defend President Obama's obvious political shortcomings; and bad policy decisions.

Which is why I find this situation both hilarious and sad. Ms. Sherrod was relating an epiphany she faced regarding "Reverse White Discrimination"; the object of the story was the realization that racial profiling isn't just against "blacks". It's also "blacks" discrimination against "whites". I saw this as a huge step forward by Ms. Sherrod in eliminating this issue. Not to mention the subjects of this story were 23 years ago.

However, we now have the NAACP and Obama Administration, decrying this public servant as a "Racist", due to her honesty; and demanding her resignation. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH, NAACP AND PRESIDENT OBAMA.

You can't cry wolf, when your the wolf yourself!

thought you meant Fox News was racist. as it clearly proved it was.. that is Faux news fake journalism

She was forced "resign" ? - She should have stood on her alleged principals.

Peed off Peon,

The woman was in the midst of something like a 4 hour drive back to her office. While she was trying to get back her superiors (Cheryl Cook an Obama assassin) kept calling her repeatly demanding that she resign. She kept telling them she was still many hours out from the office. Finally, they called her and told her that "the White House demands that she pull over and submit her resignation on her Blackberry." She then complied. This happened while the woman was driving on the interstate no less. That is outrageous! That woman could have had an accident and been killed with all the distraction of them harassing her to resign while she was driving over a long distance. They didn't care though. That is who and what you have for President.

It appears that this administration considers a person guilty until proven innocent. The exact opposite of what it should have been.

As we continue to beat the same points into the ground, CNN just announced that they are going to play Ms Sherrod's statements in their entirety.

With that said, and this is to no one in particular, you all had to know this was going to happen sooner or later. There is a network with one set agenda, that they push to the nth degree. There has been charge after charge they they tell half truths and participate in what can be call outright fabrications, under the guise of "journalism". With this in mind, it had to be clear to someone that eventually someone was going to get hurt in all this, either literally or figuratively. This time it happened to be a woman who's life's work was called into question. Who will be next? What is it going to take before people start demanding the nonsence stop?

When the NAACP called to the leadership of the Tea Party movement to bounce those that are racist, they were calling out any particular members and subjecting them to abuse, yet that is what was done in this case. A long standing member of the NAACP, Shirley Sherrod was personally targeted for ridicule. Someone had to know that she was likely to lose her livihood, yet apparently, no one seemed to care. All this to try and prove that the NAACP is as racist as they say some members of the Tea Party are? Did something get proven here? Yes! That even the NAACP can be hoodwinked into believing something that was not true about one of their own members!

I hope the folks at Faux News are very pleased with themselves, and I am still waiting for our POTUS to do the right thing and give this woman back her dignity. Something I am sure Faux News would never bother to do! And congratulations to CNN for staying on top of this story, and allowing Ms. Sherrod time to give her side of the story!

t is sad when someone is injured because of the medias rush to judgement. I have no idea if Fox set this whole thing up or not, but it does clarify the nature of the beast. The beast being the naacps wanton disregard for the truth before branding someone a racist. This kind of reminds us of the sharpton tawana brawley episode so many years ago. It is sad that the naacp caused so much damage to one of their own but they do this same sort of filth to white people to. So...anyone wanna stand behind the naacp on this one. Also...how does it feel. I am sure this is a good and decent woman that was smeared by the naacp and obama long before they even decided to try to find out what the facts were. I can guarantee you this...if it had been a white woman the naacp would not care what the truth was...how does it feel?

Jim in Auburn

bsbfankaren, I was not twisting and using your words when saying things like "them" and "one of her kind". I was using her words. When people say things like that, I find them racist. So if you are telling a story and you use phrases like that, I find it racist. Does not matter what the story is about or what you learned in the end, when you use terms like that to tell the story, it tells me that you have not learned enough from your story, and should not be in a position of power in the government.

Jim, I no longer care to change your mind. If you want to believe that Ms. Sherrod is "racist" then go right on ahead and believe it. I have posted into my fingers have turned blue, so to speak. There are a few folks on here who have surprised me and posted that they undersand what Ms. Sherrod was trying to say, I just wish those folks had posted more.

Regardless. I hope you will take the time to watch and listed to Ms. Sherrod's entire speach. If not, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and whether or not I disagree with you, I have the utmost respect for that right!

bsbfankaren you have completely missed Jim's point - I suspect because you realize how racist some of the comments Ms. Sharrod made actually were, but that would make your soapbox argument less effective. What Jim was saying, and which I completely agree with, is that Ms. Sherrod's comments of referring to the white farmer as "them" and taking the farmer to one of "their kind" to the cheers of the NAACP crowd is shockingly racist. The racism she is displaying is her divisive terminology of insisting on referring to whites as "them" and that even now 24 years later she still disusses her relationships with people of other colors in terms of Us vs. Them.

So, I challange you to answer this: If I said I was a white woman and worked for a financial aid group and a black man came in asking for assistance, and I described him to you as being uppity and superior to me in that ghetto pride black kinda way and all I could think of was all of the better white people who could use the financial assistance instead of him, so I took him to a black accountant instead of a white one because I figured I would just let his own kind take care of his problem. But then I later thought that maybe I should help him afterall because even though he was just a black man and didn't really deserve any help from me because I was a white woman, that I would be magnanimous and not think about his race and would only think about his financial position.

Does that sound just a wee bit racist to you? I know that in Sherrod's mind she was trying to make a teaching moment out of it but that's like saying "You shouldn't be racist against (n-word). You should treat (n-word), (derrogative hispanic word)s, (derrogative asian word) and (derrogative anti-sematic word) the same as white people." Your purported point may not be racist, but the means in which you expressed it certainly is!

bsbfankaren...

"All this to try and prove that the NAACP is as racist as they say some members of the Tea Party are?"

It's probably more to show how easily EVERYONE can be fooled by the media. The burden of proof is just that, a burden, but certainly not an obstacle for political character defamation.

"When the NAACP called to the leadership of the Tea Party movement to bounce those that are racist, they were calling out any particular members and subjecting them to abuse"

The ploy there was simple. The Tea Party does not have leadership. Who were they pointing to? No where. Association is the goal, because that's all it takes to destroy a person, or a group. We are holding politicians accountable, and we are making a difference in election results. That has political weight, and politicians don't like the political variable which they can't account for. They have no control over the Tea Party, so they go for the divide, and try to isolate it as a radical group of biggots and race mongers. We aren't, never have been, and never will be. Although the Tea Party is not democrat, or republican, or any specific party, it does tend to go against the policies of liberal democrats. That's the core problem for the democrats, which is why democrats, and democratic organizations (like the NAACP) try to discredit it as a whole. If it earns the credibility by the american people that it really deserves, politicians will lose elections. That scares them. Make no mistake about it though, we are not affiliated with a particular party, and ANY politician that proves corrupt, will be called to the table. We are simply working class American citizens excersizing our right and obligations in the political process.

coleslaw1

bsbfankaren you have completely missed Jim's point - I suspect because you realize how racist some of the comments Ms. Sharrod made actually were...

Excuse me? Who the heck fire are you to tell me that I missed someones point? I agreed to disagree with Jim, something you seemed to have missed in your desire to somehow convince me on something that you never will. Shirley Sherrod's remarks in their entirety were not racist in nature. However, you like Jim, are not going to agree with me, and that is your prerogative.

I am sitting here watching the speech portion by portion, and looking at how this all unfolded, and I am still left to wonder when, when people are going to realize that a woman's livelihood was thrown under the bus, in an attempt to prove that the NAACP is somehow racist, all because the President of the organization asked the powers that be in the Tea Party movement to call out those in their organization that are racist! What ever happened to behaving like adults? Everyone in their right mind has seen the reports of people at Tea Party rallies with signs that are clearly bigoted and racist. Rather than admitting to and challenging those people, Faux News and Andrew Brietbart made the decision to try and hurt one woman, in order to uncover something larger?

Why can't the folks in charge stand up and admit that they screwed up here, and let us all move on? Instead Shirley Sherrod is being vaulted to sainthood! Hope you all are happy!

Andrew Brietbart. Remember the name. Google the name. This guy needs to explain his actions fully, and needs to be called out by his buddies at Faux News, before this day is out!

"God helped me to see, it's not just about Black people, it's about poor people". "I have come to realize, we have to work together...we have to work to overcome the difference that we have."

This is one truly beautiful woman, and I think as the days go by, we are going to find out just how beautiful!

babfankaren, you must be a politician because that was quite the dodge and redirect. You very obviously didn't respond to my original question and completely ignored the point of both my post and Jim's post. As we say in litigation, "If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither the facts or the law are on your side, pound on the podium so you distract them!" Your podium is about to collapse from your pounding. The NAACP's reaction is pathetic and pandering. The USDA's reaction and the manner of firing of Sherrod is disgusting and cowardly. The Obama administration's flip flopping around on their position is downright moronic. Briebart's clip editing was misguided and inappropriate because Sharrod did not deserve this. While I still believe she is strongly racist, her comments and tone were certainly not enough to warrant this kind of witch hunt. But how on earth can you blame the Tea Party or conservatives for this. THEY did not call her "shameful" and fire her - the NAACP and the Obama Democratic administration did! It is so pathetic how people like you will whirlwind spin the bad actions of the very groups you support and somehow blame others for it.

Oh, and good luck actually finding anything to support your spurious claim that any of the people who were carrying those alleged racist signs you claim were being held by Tea Partiers were actually being held by Tea Partiers - as opposed to people such a you who would show up at a Tea Party rally with fake signs then have your friends take pictures of you and post them on the web to support your manufactured controversy. The funny part is people like you actually believe that after you manufacture a fake controversy that it somehow becomes a real one. Enjoy the green sky in your world.

coleslaw, I am not sure what point you are trying to make here, that you think I am some how going to agree with? Don't you think you have something better to do with your words?

As for the signs you say I can't prove? Fine, I can't. I know what I saw, but I don't know if they were held by Tea Partiers or people that just felt the need to be at a Tea Party rally, on that particular day, holding those particular signs. Huh! Sort of like you trying to prove that I missed something in a statement that didn't even come from you. I also never that the Tea Party fired Ms. Sherrod, but I do know, based on research on the web, taht Andrew Brietbart is a Tea Party operative. So while the Tea Party did not fire her, one of the people that sympathizes with the movement, was in fact instramental in what is happening to her now

So I suppose you and I both are making rather "spurious" statements here!

Actually babfankaren, I am willing to listen to your side and would be open to hearing about improper racist signs at Tea Party rallies so that we can stop them and make a change. But I can't seem to find any actually racist signs other than the one held by some idiot in Houston in Feb 2009 (18 mos ago) where he and his sign were promptly kicked out and booed. So in an effort to further a productive discussion of this issue, please post a couple of examples of these racist signs and where they were displayed by actual Tea Partiers. Oh, and the ones like "Don't tax me bro" and "Monkey see, monkey spend" are NOT racist - the first is a pop culture reference about a statement originally made by a half stoned white college student and the other is a colloquial saying that is more than 300 years old and likely originated out of a folk tale about doing something without thinking of its consequences.

And coleslaw. While I think you are looking for an argument and having a fun time duing it, I am not all that interested in playing. Please find someone else to respond to.

However, since you don't see "Monkey see, monkey spend" as at all racist, even though you and I both know that that particular animal is often associated with Black people, I am going to have to do some research for you, when I get the chance. Rachel Maddow's blog had the name of the book that had the signs in it, so I will have to look it up, and get back to you.

coleslaw, with the understanding that it is obviously a matter of opinion what is or is not racist, here are some I found: