*CNN is reporting that President Obama spoke to Shirley Sherrod on the phone moments ago.
The network says its news crew was with the ousted Agriculture Department official when the call came shortly after 12:30 p.m. EST, but Sherrod asked that cameras not film the conversation, according to anchor Ali Velshi.
Obama’s personal outreach comes several hours after Sherrod appeared on all three network morning news shows, as well as CNN and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” to discuss the fallout from an edited videotape that led to her forced resignation – and then to two public apologies Wednesday from the Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the White House, via Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
When asked this morning if she feels the president should also apologize, Sherrod said she would rather have a conversation with Obama about race, and about the needs of rural America.
“I’d like to talk to him a little bit about the experience of people like me, people at the grass roots level, people who live out there in rural America, people who live in the south,” she told “Today’s” Meredith Vieira. “I know he does not have that kind of experience. Let me help him a little bit with how we think, how we live, and the things that are happening.”
In the meantime, the office released a statement saying the president reached Sherrod by phone at 12:35 p.m. During the seven minute conversation, Obama apologized for the events of the last several days, and emphasized that Vilsack was sincere in his apology and his efforts to rid the USDA of discrimination.
Obama also expressed that this “misfortune” presents a unique opportunity for Sherrod to work even moreso on behalf of those in need.
The White House daily press briefing will take place at 1:30 p.m. today, where Gibbs is sure to provide further details about the phone call.
What, no beer summit for her and Vilsack at the White House?
This is such a shame. A black person so wronged have to go public to get an apology from Obama.
I really hope Shirley brought up the topic of his handlers lying for him and making her look like a liar, saying he had nothing to do with it, even though they told her on the phone that the WH wanted her to resign so bad, that she had to do it on the side of the road in time for the Glenn Beck show.
Uhm! Doing that to your own kind while letting a cracka cop walk away with your self esteem firmly tucked in his back pocket.
Then again, Beck and the racist blogger are white, and we know who come first when it comes to pleasing in Obama’s universe.
Who comes first to pleasing in Obama’s universe? Michelle, Malia and Sasha.