RSSShirley Sherrod, The White House, And The NAACP
July 22, 2010
The Crunchy Conservative - See all 35 of my articles
Shirley Sherrod made comments at an NAACP event that were “taken out of context”. She was fired, sorry, asked to resign,wait…fired, from her position at the USDA by the Secretary of Ag (and Iowa’s (my) former Governor) Tom Vilsack. Now, she’s been given a “unique” rehire opportunity back at the USDA. Really? So are we making up jobs now? Is she the “assistant to the regional manager”? Fans of The Office can feel free to chuckle.
The White House claims it didn’t know all of the facts when it acted, requesting that she be canned. Come on, now. We’re supposed to believe that? This coming from the same White House that waited how many days to make a statement regarding the oil rig explosion and spill? So we can wait to comment on something we can see, but have a knee jerk reaction to something else? Not buying it, Gibbs.
What amuses me is the media reaction to all of this. First of all, the story comes out and they all jump on it. Then, when it’s discovered that the entire video was not released, the Tea Party and Fox News is to blame. Rachel Maddow (not quite sure why I even watch her as she always makes my blood pressure go up) claimed that Fox News was to blame for “poor reporting”. Um, sure. That’s why they cream you in the ratings week after week after week. Because they are poor reporters. Rachel also made comments about the “fake ACORN scandal” that Fox News reported on. Hey, Rachel, it’s not fake. Now who is the poor reporter here?
It has been reported that Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl Cook called Sherrod on Monday and asked her to resign for FEAR that Glenn Beck might go after her. FEAR of Glenn Beck. Wow. Those “poor reporters” sure have zero influence.
And I’m sure that all of this media hullabaloo has nothing to do with the fact that the NAACP recently passed a resolution urging the Tea Party to disassociate themselves with racism. I don’t consider myself a member of the Tea Party, but I think I know their intent well enough to know the Party is not based on race.
The President, Ben Jealous, of the NAACP criticized Sherrod for her comments and has since apologized for that. But here’s the kicker. HE WAS AT THE EVENT. HE WAS THERE WHEN HER COMMENTS WERE RECORDED. So wouldn’t he know if they were taken out of context? I understand how it is at events. Some speakers you listen to and sometimes you’re busy visiting with others etc. But if you’re going to publicly criticize someone for comments made at your event, I would be sure to “go to the tape” and re-watch the entire speech BEFORE going to the media.
I apologize if this rant doesn’t make sense as I gave birth to a healthy white male two weeks ago. I intend on raising him in my “crunchy conservative” manner. So I guess that makes me part of the problem, doesn’t it Rachel?
Jul 22, 2010 @ 09:03:00
Nice to see an article from you Crunchy! Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy. =)
This situation has been one heck of a mess from the start. There are two things that no one has touched on I would like to point out.
First, when Sherrod was telling her story and made those comments about not helping the white farmer, did anyone notice the cheering from the crowd? It sounds like racism from the group to me (not Sherrod but the group). Isn’t that exactly what the NAACP says that they stand against?
I also didn’t appreciate it when Sherrod said that she realized that her job isn’t black vs white, it’s about the haves vs the have nots. Doesn’t that still sound divisive? In my opinion it is NOT about haves vs have nots. It’s about helping people in need—notice the difference? You could have a farm that produces millions of dollars in revenues each year (Haves) but have millions in debt piled up in necessary equipment making them bankrupt. Are they ineligible for help?
Squeaky…
Jul 22, 2010 @ 20:20:26
Congrats on the baby boy!
One gripe jumps to mind. I’m not going to argue which stations have good reporting and which don’t but since when do RATINGS determine whether a station has good reporting or not? Unfortunately, much in American appeals to the lowest common denominator. That doesn’t qualify it as “good,” especially with respect to journalism and reporting. I’d be surprised, anyway, if Glen Beck would even call himself a reporter. I don’t mean that as a slight, either. I’d think he’d call himself an entertainer, etc. Fox went through that several months ago, when explaining which of their shows were news shows, and which were opinion shows, when certain biases and inaccuracies came to light.
The problem with both MSNBC and Fox is that too many people on the left and the right view many of their shows as news, and, worse yet, use those shows as the sole basis, or a main foundation, for their opinions and world views. I see a direct correlation in my friends on both sides of the political spectrum with the amount of time they spend watching those channels, and their polarity on the political spectrum.
Jul 22, 2010 @ 20:22:06
And, hey, Kosmo – I see the Soapboxers is now live! Congratulations!
Jul 23, 2010 @ 09:47:07
I watched the Rachel rant as well, and also do not know why. I thought it was funny her complaining about Fox getting the story (right or wrong). If she was such a good reporter (or anyone at MSMBC was anything other than an opinion spouter) she should have gotten the full tape and had the report that put the Fox report down.
Did Sherrod deserve to get fired? I have no idea. What I know is that she was appoint to the position last year, the fuller tape has her repeat that she conciously chose not to do her job (assist all farmere in her region to understand and utilize the USDA rules). Her follow in interviews seem to paint her as one of those people who think that the president is “not black enough” and that she is not concerned about loosing hre job, but is concerned about not be able to help “level the feild”.
I have to agree with Squeeky, wondering about her interpretation of what her job was. I also agree with Even that we as Americans are so quick to judge based on opinion. We are far to much into instant gratification.
Congraduation on the Baby! May you and your family prosper.
Hooray for the Soap Boxer! This new chapter should be even more fun.
Jul 28, 2010 @ 12:00:54
Congrats on baby boy! You just brought to life another one who will be to blame for all the wrongs in America… ha-ha!
Before rehiring Sherrod I would check her record on who kept a farm and who lost it when she was in charge based on racial identity.