Shirley Sherrod: White House Forced My Resignation

Updated at 6:11 p.m. ET

The Department of Agriculture employee who resigned after a controversy erupted over recent remarks she made is now saying that the White House forced her resignation.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, however, is taking responsibility for the resignation, and the White House reportedly says it had no part in his decision.

Shirley Sherrod, the USDA's former director of rural development in Georgia, said USDA deputy undersecretary Cheryl Cook called her Monday and said the White House wanted her to resign, the Associated Press reports.

"They called me twice," Sherrod told the AP, noting that she was driving when she received the calls. "The last time they asked me to pull over the side of the road and submit my resignation on my Blackberry, and that's what I did."

Sherrod submitted her resignation after she became the focus of scrutiny from Fox News and conservative blogs over remarks she gave at an NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on March 27. A video of a portion of her remarks were posted on a conservative blog, giving the impression that Sherrod admitted to discriminating against a white farmer as an employee of the USDA.

The comments were taken out of context, however. In her remarks that day, Sherrod was recounting a story that pre-dates her tenure at the USDA by more than two decades. Sherrod says in her story that Chapter 12 bankruptcy had just been enacted; Chapter 12 was instituted for family farmers in 1986, while Sherrod was appointed to head the USDA's Rural Development office in Georgia just last July. Furthermore, the point of Sherrod's story is that race is not an issue.

Sherrod has said the video excerpt did not include the full story of her relationship with the farmer, with whom she says she became friends after helping him avoid foreclosure.

Nevertheless, Sherrod says the White House pressed for her resignation.

Earlier today, Vilsack released a statement saying he had accepted Sherrod's resignation, and added that the department has no tolerance for discrimination.

This afternoon, Vilsack released another statement saying he asked for Sherrod's resignation.

"First, for the past 18 months, we have been working to turn the page on the sordid civil rights record at USDA and this controversy could make it more difficult to move forward on correcting injustices," Vilsack said. "Second, state rural development directors make many decisions and are often called to use their discretion. The controversy surrounding her comments would create situations where her decisions, rightly or wrongly, would be called into question making it difficult for her to bring jobs to Georgia."

A White House official told CBS News that the White House did not pressure Sherrod or the Department, contrary to Sherrod's claims.

The NAACP on Monday released a statement condemning Sherrod's statements and saying the organization supported the USDA's position. The group said late Tuesday, however, that "We have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart."

Shirley Sherrod Resigns from USDA over Race Remark Furor

[REED2973]

PLEASE PLACE ME IN CONTACT WITH MRS. SHIRLEY SHERROD'S OFFICE.I'M FROM GEORGIA AND I HAVE SUCH A TROUBLING STORY OF DISCRIMINATION TO SHARE THAT IT(THE STORY) WILL MAKE THE AVERAGE VIEWER CRY THEIR EYES OUT. IF YOU(CBS) LIKED THE SHERROD STORY ,THEN YOU ARE GOING TO BE TOTALLY INFATUATED WITH MY TALE OF DISCRIMINATION WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES(EE0,EEOC,FEDERAL BOARD OF OPERATIONS,OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL,THE JUSTICE DEPT.,USPS,ADMIN LAW JUDGES,AND OTHERS. STEVE A. REED 404/952-0925 OR P.O. BOX 136 DECATUR, GA. 30031.

[e24c41]

A letter to Shirley: Didn't you know you live in the Greatest country in the World, where You don't have to have any given color or even the highest position of the land to be an IDIOT! So hopefully one day when you are sitting behind your desk in the oval office you will remember these words. El/e24c41

[denisekelley30]

As I have read more and more of these comments, I am very dismayed over how many are savaging this woman. In reading her statements and watching the video I didn't interpret her comments as the least bit racial. It seemed clear to me that she was speaking to experience not racism. When I read she was contacted while on the road being explicitly told to resign via blackberry, I was shocked that her associates did not ask for her side of the explanation before taking such drastic action. I can understand her hesitation as to whether she wants her job back. If there hadn't been such a public commotion she would never have been offered her position back, would she?

[flitter54]

Absolutely correct. Unfortunately many will not read her statements or view the video, they would rather spew forth their racist hate and throw insults. I don't blame Ms. Sherrod for being hesitant, the administration committed a huge error. If she sues, I wouldn't blame her for that either!

[lapeache]

Surely, we are all aware than many black people speak in a distinctive idiom. In addition, both Shirley and Charles come from a certain generation and a rural, southern part of the country that has its own vernacula that, being from the same era and area, I am very familiar with. To used phrases such as "his own kind, trust our own, our elections", may be antiquated and provincial and it certainly reflects the black idiom, but it is in no way racist. To suggest that the Sherrod's manner of speaking is racist is prejudiced, small-minded, self-serving and completely without merit.

[youcancallmeroy]

A lesson for the White House
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous: Is it true that Shirley Sherrod at the USDA has been caught on film making reactionary comments?
NAACP Employee: Yes Sir.
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous: Contact the White House immediately
White House: Yes Mr. Jealous, we understand, this could end up on Glenn Beck tonight. Contact Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack immediately.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: Yes Mrs. Sherrod, pull the car over now. The White House wants you to resign now, this will be on Glenn Beck tonight.
NAACP: Mr. Jealous, we have new information. I guess we should have watched the whole film.
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous: Yes, that's right, Mr. President, we seem to have jumped the gun, the whole film shows a different story. Say, you haven't watched Glenn Beck have you?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: Yes, Shirley, nobody's perfect. The NAACP seems to have panicked. Has Glenn Beck called you?

White House: Yes Mr. Vilsack, that's right, talk nice, and slow, don't get panicked. Here is what you will say. By the way, has Glenn Beck contacted you?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: that's right folks, we will be looking at the whole picture, I mean the whole film. We will get this corrected.

White House: First, contact Pravda America, I mean MSNBC and CNN and tell them not to panic, we will tell them what to say. They will say, Fox News has caused the whole mess. Secondly, Tell Vilsack to send flowers to Shirley and to only speak to Vilsack. Lastly, for God sakes, put someone full-time watching Glenn Beck.

Now, the only logical conclusion to this mess: The NAACP needs to invite Van Jones (the Communist) back for a second ?Image? award, then the spotlight will be taken off of this truly embarrassing moment for the NAACP, the White House, and the media.
Apparently, the White house is obsessed with Glenn Beck. Somebody , needs to go get a life.
Lastly, the media on the left, the media on the right, the White House, and the NAACP should all donate to a large retirement fund for Mrs. Sherrod.
Oh, by the way, White House, this retirement money should be tax-free for Mrs. Sherrod. She has been through enough, don't you think?

[tim_in_seattle]

I have been "snookered" plenty of times by plenty of people, In every case the snookering took place because I did not check facts. I've never blamed the snookerer for this, people do what they do for thier own benefit. I've always tried to learn from MY mistake and moved forward. Tom Vilsack is doing this to some extent; President Obama's spokespeople are still trying to insulate him when they can (President Truman said the buck stops at him, this president seems to desire more than anything else to be insulated). NAACP is dancing away from this as fast as they can, blaming anyone they can find to prove that it was not thier own fault that they didn't check facts on a story from a source that any fool knows is not friendly to this president.
When I first read Ms. Sherrod's comments (read not heard) from the original story, I thought it didn't sound as bad as the news cycle seemed to want to make it. She admitted to 'not helping as much as she could have' but even in the original story said that she did help the farmer. Anyone who has dealt with bureaucracy knows you shouldn't expect MUCH help. If I saw enough in the original story to make me wonder what the fuss was, why didn't the people that were making rash decisions about firing a long term government official with what seems to be an exemplary record to that point. I would have at least asked questions, the people that did not ask those questions should be fired, it is obvious that they cannot be trusted with the hard decisions. And what is the culture of the Obama administration that makes its minions act first and ask questions later when it comes to covering administration ass?

[rockcutr]

Apparantly there is a fine line between
Politically Correct
and
Politically Corrupt.
Let it go people. It is none of your business what anyone thinks of you.

[Singinchristy]

I understand that the people you interview are not experts on news reporting. However, I would like to point out that if you look at the time line of events, "Fox News," to whom the man you interviewed regarding the Shirley Sherrod story referred, did not comment on anything about this story until AFTER her resignation had been tendered. She was NOT featured on Glenn Beck. Fox News is NOT the instigator in this situation and I take offense to others demonizing one news station (or not correcting a misinformed interviewee). "Main Stream Media", et al, is a victim of inadequate vetting. My goodness, we should have learned our lesson after the attacks on our country on 9/11/2001. The unfortunate events that unfolded are a result of our insatiable need to be first at something. The ultimate responsibility falls on the blogger who uploaded the video out of context. I haven't heard you report on anything about BigGovernment.com and what consequences they should realize.

[flitter54]

The little creep that viciously edited Ms. Sherrods 24 year old speach, did so with the intent of causing harm. He had to look back many years to locate such video, why? Cause he knew that attacking her might be damaging, both to her and obviously to the administration. It worked to an extent, the administration knee jerked themselves right into the 6 o'clock news! Breitbart and Fox should be sued, period. Fox news and Breitbart are joined at the hip. Their deliberate lies should be punished and any court that says differntly should be shut down instantly.

[C4C]

Recent events citing that an USDA official (Ms. Sherrod, a Black female) was a racist and causing the administration to quickly fire her (without full review of the facts) is most disturbing. This is particularly disturbing given that Ms. Sherrod was an innocent victim of a conflict reportedly engineered by Tea Party Movement advocates. The administration?s rationale to remove Ms. Sherrod goes counter to the administration?s actions appointing persons with dubious civil rights records to key federal positions. {The Coalition For Change, Inc. (C4C) recently documented federal worker concerns in a letter to President Obama on http://coalition4change.org/news.htm#LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA }.

It is key to note that no administration (even those before President Obama?s administration) has ever imposed a mandatory penalty (such as removal from federal service) against public officials actually found guilty of violating the civil rights of others. Sadly enough, C4C members recognize that it is a culture within government to at times reward - and sometimes promote - many top officials (frequently non-minorities) who violate the civil rights of others.

A key goal of C4C is to expose '"widespread" racism & reprisal in the federal sector and the need for managerial accountability. The problem is long-standing and systemic. It is a problem the present admiinistratino inherited and needs to adequately address. The injustice faced by Ms. Sherrod remains troubling. Ms. Sherrod, however, unlike many Black Federal workers who have been / and are still retaliated against, was fortunately able to garner substantial media support.

[bcoments]

Mr. Vilsack, shame on you. You should resign also. If, you do not have what it takes to stand up for your decision, then how could you be trusted to the position you hold. You saw and or listened to video and now the next day changing your mind. Her comments were clear to me and to many many others. People in audience were laughing. You feel this should be dismissed now. Again, shame on you, shame on you. Now you, are dismissing what she clearly said and meant. She admitted not helping thewhite farmer as she should, what more do you need. Oh, yes, i know her skin needs to be white.

[flitter54]

You sir are a promoter of the mistruths that caused the whole problem. She was not making racist remarks. There is not laughter in the audience. You sir, and everyone like you, are part of the problem.

[melpomnea]

As a senior citizen, southerner, and a white person, I have nothing but the highest regard for Ms. Sherod's remarks. All of us have gone through our trials by fire, to rid ourselves of racism, and discrimination on every level. The task is not easy, and most of us, who are honest, will admit that it requires moral and spiritual courage to stand watch. Our wonderful country has endured this cancer long enough. Thanks to Ms.Sherod for telling it like it is! Melpomnia

[flitter54]

Thank you!