Obama: Vilsack "Jumped the Gun" on Sherrod

President Obama says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack "jumped the gun" when he decided to dismiss a USDA employee accused of racism by a blogger.

Edited video from a speech by Shirley Sherrod was posted on a conservative website and picked up by media outlets. The speech actually turned out be about racial harmony.

Mr. Obama told ABC News in an interview that Vilsack acted in part because the current media climate requires everyone to "scramble" when something goes up on YouTube or a blog. The administration changed course and apologized after the full speech was made available.

Mr. Obama personally apologized to Sherrod by phone today and appealed to her to return to work at the department. The USDA is offering her a different position.

More on Shirley Sherrod

Are Liberals Too Concerned with Being "Colorblind?"
Obama Expresses "Regret" in Call with Sherrod
Breitbart: Sherrod "Sees Things Through Racial Prism"
Shirley Sherrod "Very Pleased" After Phone Call with Obama
Sherrod: I'd Consider Legal Action against Breitbart

[tjkutz]

Obama obviously didn't listen to Sherrod's entire speech...All 45mins. or he would have kept his mouth shut.

[6591Hou]

The video did raise the question of how many government workers determine the amount of assistance they give to citizens based upon race.

[Biker-N-OH1]

Yes that it did. She openly admitted that she "didn't do all that she was capable of doing" for him because of being faced with helping a white couple when so many black couples have lost their farms. This whole situation is messed up.

[jwrht]

Obama please do not transfer WH mistakes on Vilsack. He was told to fire her by the WH. Scapegoating is what loosers do because they are cowards to face their own mistakes. Just ask the GOP.

[thanksgreed]

righties, please do not transfer unethical and dishonest behavior of Breitfart to ANYONE else. Scapegoating IS for cowards.

[stephand]

It's Vilsack's fault... No, the media climate is to blame... It's 8 years of Bush that caused this... Blame, blame, not my fault, blame - but I take full responsibility.

[rationall7]

Bill Clinton didn't get BinLadin Blame, Blame, not my fault Blame, Blame and not my responsibility, Blame,Blame, what happened that day of 911 but one thing for sure I'll be the one who gets him, Dead or Alive."

[DocD--2008]

It is Vilsack's fault for listening to the media and for not getting all the facts before acting. Had it been one of his employees that did this, they would be fired, he needs to be fired for his actions.

[rationall7]

Breibart said he targeted the NAACP and I believe him, I also believe the edited tape he posted on the webb was ment for manipulated and obedient viewers to picture Ms Sherrod and the NAACP in a reverse role patterned after a klan meeting ready to burn crosses.

Breibart forbids viewers to watch the full un-edited tape because he knows it is about racial harmony.

[sjack11]

I think the saddest commentary of this whole situation is that CBS news thought that Ann Coulter is worthy as a story source. Sorry guys...just lost all credibility.

[jwrht]

Great point - she is nothing.

[tsigili]

Now there's a significant understatement.

[ConstantineXIII]

Another lie told by Barack Hussein Obama. There is no way Vilsack would have acted without orders from Barack Hussein Obama. In fact, Sherrod indicates she received three calls from the White House directly asking her to resign. There is no other way around it. Barack Hussein Obama told a barefaced, audacious, outright lie here when he blames this on "Vilsack"(as if he, i.e., Obama, had nothing to do with the firing). Please!!!

[thanksgreed]

I realize you little parrots don't think and just repeat, but just for the heck, I'm reminding you that this would not have happened had not so Breit-bart been an honest man.

[thanksgreed]

You're right, Sup, the selective editing was VERY dishonest with an evil intent. DISGUSTING.

[hatshepsut2]

This incident as well as President Obama's comment serves as a warning that the press, which is not an official arm of government, has too much control over weak egos and other scared-of-losing-my-job rabbits in Wash. D.C.. The press rushes to the scandal marketplace with grist for its mill, not to the public awaiting substantiated evidence of governmental wrong-doing. The constitution does not protect the misplaced power of a scandal-mongers press. The mystery of why the members of media are allowed to destroy peoples lives to build their sleazy careers becomes clearer when one sees that those whose job it is to quash them legally are themselves afraid of the press. The media seems to define the constitution as their private sandbox in which to throw sand in others faces. No nanny watches them to say, "Naughty...naughty..."

[ConstantineXIII]

The premise of your position(essentially that Obama was somehow "forced" to fire Sherrod based on the actions of a blogger is misplaced). Since when does Obama take orders from conservative bloggers? And is Obama so weak minded that he is so easily influenced into making rash and hasty decisions by a mere posting on a conservative blogger's website? Isn't it incumbent on Obama to take the time to carefully review the facts to make sure he makes the correct decision before firing someone?
It is absolutely amazing to me that have all your anger focused on the conservative blogger when, in reality, the conservative blogger had no power to fire Sherrod and didn't in fact fire her. Obama fired her. And, had he acted competently, he could easily have restrained himself.
Yet you are aggravated at the blogger and not the slightest bit upset apparently at Obama. It is Obama you should be mad at. He's the one who did the firing.

[formrusmcsgt]

by SoCalSuperSage July 23, 2010 9:39 AM EDT
Oh they had Porky Pig do a voice over and it wasn't really her voice...
---
Your sarcasm doesn't hide the fact that you can not dispute the tape was edited.

Rather adolescent, if you ask me.

[radicalc-2009]

Did Vilsak "Act Stupidly"? Looks like a good time for another beer summitt.