USDA Official Pressured to Resign?: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight on 360°, the truth about Shirley Sherrod - the USDA official who resigned after a video surfaced of her speech in March leading to accusations she's racist. She denies those claims and speaks out on the program. Plus, our attempts to get answers from BP about the oil spill flow rate and more.
Want more details on what we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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Was Hayward the guy that said, "I want my life back."
If Hayward is not liking the heat, may be he should start talking and being more open to what is going on and then the heat will go down
bp should have fired him when he went to the boat races in england
What a lively conversation tonight everyone! Hope everyone has a great evening!
Sayonara Tony Hayward...
That's interesting facts about this "stick kill"...how could they "legally" be allowed to do that, if it will prevent the measuring of the amount of oil & negligence?
If the facts bear out, I think Obama should release a public statement:
We have all witnessed an injustice that happened yesterday. As your President, I am in a position to rectify this injustice and restore the honor of a good woman, Ms. Shirly Sherrod, who is also a good American.
Ms. Sherrod, I want you to know that I do not accept your resignation, and I expect you back to work after your vacation.
they hung up on CNN? wow. that is wicked unprofessional.
The oral tradition has to be understood to grasp this... seeming acceptance of a black person with power deciding not to help a white person because of race, is not the only reaction of the audience listening t the story. There is also agreement later on at points where Ms.Sherrod talks about realizing that her initial reaction was wrong and that it's not about black and white, but about poor people.
Bye bye Tony Hayward, he will probably get a big bonus to "get his life back"
Isnt it ironic, the USDA, which has numerous complaints of discrimination, against women and blacks, tells a black woman to resign.
Love AC360. The Big Interview is great. It tells the whole truth.
Good night everyone. Good show AC. Keep em honest!
you cant see a cheering crowd.you hear them.turn up the volume
The Sherrod incident is just another sad commentary on the state of American politics. The Administration, media and NAACP rushed to judgment before they knew the facts….shame on them. The U.S. is the most diverse it has been in its history. We have an African-American President, the number of interracial marriages is at an all-time high and the minority populations are growing larger every year. Unfortunately, what we take away from this is that politicians can’t be real. No wonder the American public’s confidence in our politicians is so low.
Ms. Sherrod, Thank You, for all you have done and are doing. You are remarkably poised and honest amidst being victimized by political agendas that divide this country every day. You are really an American Hero whose heartfelt truth will provide much needed lessons for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Thank you CNN and other supporters to not let this fall through the cracks. We need more Shirley Sherrod's to make this world a better place.
What will it mean for all the oil victims and BP if Hayward does "step down"? Will it at all effect their liability? What will the costs be? If he "steps down? does he get a 'going away' package/bonus?
I agree with so many that Shirley Sherrod. is owed an apology,,,(including from a certain news station and its not CNN) This story has been spinned in a very bad way.
Sherrod's dismissal should stand.
how about using some of the 400 billion still unspent from the failing stimulus to pay for the unemployment benefits instead of borrowing more.thats all the repubs wanted.but again the dems want to use politics to try to save their tails in november
Todd, did you listen to the tape? It was 24 years ago and she wasn't working for the government then.. The farmer was the first poor white person she had met. and as she said in that speech, it was then that she realized that we're all the same, and need to move beyond race.
Anderson, so many bloggers have already said it. THANK YOU for getting to the Truth of this story! We know we can depend on you for the best researched news in the business.
Terrific Panel- many truths revealed!
I hope the President's people watch your program so that Ms. Sherrod's life , truth & employment can be re-instated. Perhaps she should be hired as a good will ambassador for race relations in this country!!
Lindsay Lohan needs to be in jail, maybe it will get her straightened out
David Gergen is so well spoken. He's right about amending wrongs immediately, whatever the situation.
Personally, I work daily to choose the right words in conversation and communication in the hopes of complete understanding, yet I'm sure there's times of miscommunication. I guess it will take a lifetime of learning to get this.
One lesson is that "Mainstream" news programs have to qualify sources prior to or as they report. Too many news programs are allowing their programs to be used (and abused) by individuals, bloggers, and commentators.
After watching that interview you don't get it...you don't won't to. As far as the audience, didn’t see a cheering crowd. An honest story about true feelings (that we all have) and a beautiful outcome. Just ask the farmer.
@Mike, always glad when David Gergen is on, for me he is the (nice) voice of reason. Always
Go point that one gentleman made...how very quite Al Sharpton has been. I've not heard from him, or even his name until he mentioned it.
The White House should give Mrs. Sherrod her job back. Her speech seemed positive to me. I'm ashamed, what does this teach our children.
Why do we expect the USDA to be fair when it comes to people of color. Man, I wish someone would look closely into the USDA leadership. They maybe hurting the US in other ways.
@ christine mann You are right. Tom Vilsack came straight from Monsanto. He was only too happy to get rid of someone who was working sincerely to stand up for small farmers against agribusiness. Excellent point!
@Kevin I bet you Obama will call her himself. I also bet you will have something to complain about if that happens too.
Good evening everyone. I think the context shld've been researched before the clip was aired last night. I have to say I took as an instance of prejudice but I was totally wrong about that. I did wonder about the context last night and what happened to the farmer.
As for Ms Sherrod being asked to resign from the dept of agriculture, that seems like a mistake as her actions in helping Mr. Spooner when we get more the story, show that she went all out to help Mr Spooner and was effective at doing so. Helping someone save their farm is significant accomplishment.
Who released the edited version of this video?
We should all gather to give this person the same amount of attention that Mrs. Sherrod is currently getting.
David gergen is point on with his persoective on this issue
The NAACP threw her under the bus, as did the Administration without so much as asking her. Now the NAACP is blaming Fox who did not even report this until 8PM in the evening which was long after she was harassed and force fired. They need to learn a lesson and stop the race card game they have been playing.they also need to learn that people are innocent until proven guilty. Give this women her job back , apologize and give her a raise.
That is the sad part, she is a victim of the
poisonous atmosphere in the media.
David Gergen is Correct again! A great advice here...
Always a pleasure when David is on...provides great non-partisan insight.
One more thing, I certainly have better feelings towards Ms. Sherrod than I did prior to hearing from her. She seems like she's trying to be honest and is not an angry person. She still has things to answer too from this, but not as ugly at it first seemed. She doesn't need to be in the position of choosing who gets money though.
This whole thing boggles my mind!!! She needs to be reinstated and an apology. No one checked the facts before rushing to judgement. Every one was too busy trying to prove that she was a racist and totally missed the point of her story. Thank you Anderson for contacting Ms Sherrod and allowing her to tell her side of the story. At least someone thought enough of her to ask her what really happened.
yea but there is no just cause to prove that....you can't fire people because of what can happen if they did nothing wrong....he is wrong what if it was the guy in charge being railroaded whould he feel the same...give her her just do.....give her a hearing on that part of the government will be stained for ever and this will go down as not only stupid....but very crazy...if people start getting fired over a messed with video tape on the internet...no one is safe.....big brother is watching the net....be afraid people be very afraid
It's so aggravating that people in positions of responsibility jumped at this pack of lies about Ms. Sherrod without doing any investigation at all... because any amount of investigation would have shown it for the lie that it was.
Reinstate Shirley Sherrod
"Now, that is a beautiful sight; the well is not leaking, tonight!"
Everyone needs to apologize for this horrific mistake! I also hope she sues the pants off of Brightbart for slander and gross negligence. I hope she get's his house an all his future paychecks so he will need the unemployment that the Republican's didn't want to give to those who need it!
Why are they bringing this up after all these years.? Look at the woman's work record and make a determination then. There were positives to the people she helped. I don't think she should resign unless she is ready. Positions are too hard to come by , you should not be forced to resign. If necessary, she deservers a fair hearing and they need to appologize to her so she can pick up where she left off. We all make mistakes and it was poor judgment on her part. She's not the first, and surely won't be the last.
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hello all.
wow what a day someone just made a unknown women, the black sarah palin.
only with a true story that get's better by the hour.
Had someone that wasn't a minority told that story would they have been asked to resign?
thats the problem.we depend on them too much.take some personal responsibility and quit asking for handouts
With everything thats happening in our country,,,it hurts to see a situation like this.
Re The Big Interview: Like your Qs, AC 🙂
It is a travesty that Mrs. Sherrod was fired from her job. I am a black person and we as black people could have many reasons to dislike or even hate white people for the many injustices and discrimination that we have endured in this country. However, most of us black people try not to let that bother us or hinder us from progressing in this country. Many white Americans do not understand this or understand what it is to be black in America. How many white Americans have been racially profiled? How many white Americans have been "guilty tell proven innocent?" instead of "innocent tell proven guilty". I have experienced all of this in my 60 years. I could go on and on but I and many other black people in this country try not to be bitter about what has happened to us.