Shirley Sherrod White House & Obama Apology

Shirley Sherrod White House & Obama Apology – The Obama administration apologized to Shirley Sherrod, after she received a call from a superior asking her to resign. Sherrod had worked for the USDA, and was asked to step down from her position earlier in the week after comments she made 24 years ago were taken out of context by rightwing blogger Matt Drudge,.
“On behalf of our administration, I offer an apology,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. He went on to say that a disservice was done, and that the White House owed Sherrod an apology.

Gibbs said that he had been able to get a hold of Sherrod via telephone call, and had offered her the position back. Sherrod had made a number of comments about a white farmer who was facing foreclosure that she had initially refused to help, but said that the experience of helping him helped her to learn that the issue was not a black and white issue. She did end up helping the farmer, and eventually became good friends with him and his family. When Sherrod was asked to step down, the wife of the farmer Eloise Spooner came to her aid, saying that she had been nothing but helpful to the family.

“This is a good woman,” Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “She’s been put through hell. She was put through hell and I could have done and should have done a better job.”
It is nice to hear that Sherrod was given her job back after authorities learned of the mistake. This should serve as a lesson to always look at the full context of what is said before acting brashly.

Category: US News