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"White farmer" Spooner: Sherrod smearers "don't know what they're talking about," Sherrod did "her level best" to help

July 20, 2010 4:51 pm ET

From the July 20 edition of CNN's Rick's List:

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    • Author by bailorgana (July 20, 2010 4:54 pm ET)
      18  
      I think fox news & andrew from big goverment are going to hell.
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      • Author by progressivevoicedaily (July 20, 2010 5:22 pm ET)
        10  
        They need to re-hire this woman and give her a raise!!!!
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        • Author by scubcap647 (July 20, 2010 5:37 pm ET)
          5  
          I think they're going to the woodshed first. Somebody's going to get called on the carpet for this one. I hope.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by mari2jj (July 20, 2010 8:05 pm ET)
          3  
          You are so right! The doctored tape that was broadcast had obvious racist statements on it. And who knew that the tape was doctored by a media deviant? Next time Breitbart does anything, we will all remember he is a bold-faced liar with no credibility. Doctoring a tape is the worst sort of lying! But I note the entire right wing cabal from our party jumped on this one and joined in discrediting this woman who happened to be a great patriot and a fine person to help blacks, whites, indeed everyone! This is Breitbart's credibility problem. And if this woman had not been fired, all would be saying disgusting things about the Ag Department, the entire administration and particularly Obama would have been painted as a reverse racist. I think she should sure Breitbart for millions. She would deserve every penny of it too. Let this be a lesson to all of us. As a Republican, I shall refuse to believe anything that Breitbart ever says again. If he perpetrates a racist lie like this, he is never to be trusted again!
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    • Author by soze169880 (July 20, 2010 4:56 pm ET)
      4  
      I thought Don Lemon said he was dead; was that just an error on his part?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mmfa.fan (July 20, 2010 4:59 pm ET)
      10  
      Breitbart has no class, and even less credibility.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bailorgana (July 20, 2010 5:16 pm ET)
        6  
        When I look at him, he looks like a bully, & he and his pal James okeefe gives me the willies.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mhughen (July 20, 2010 5:02 pm ET)
      6  
      MSNBC got scooped here big time.
      Ricks List is #1 . . . today.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by David2012 (July 20, 2010 5:03 pm ET)
      12  
      Note to Andrew Breitbart:

      An honest man would apologize to Ms. Sherrod. On the other hand, an honest man would never have posted a false and misleading video, and attached a sulfurous, over-the-top, condemnatory screed to it in the first place.

      Anybody who ever again treats Andrew Breitbart as credible is crazy, a fool or a fanatic, or any combination.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Dee (July 20, 2010 5:15 pm ET)
        5  
        The crazy thing is they're millions of "anybody" out there that still buy into his garbage, they're called Fox (and the rest of the regressive media) viewers.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Rickamabob (July 20, 2010 6:27 pm ET)
           
        David, your statement to Andrew Breitbart will fall on death ears because he is not a man. Instead he is a pathetic little man-child.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by EFHUTTON (July 21, 2010 12:28 pm ET)
           
        Now we know that he is very dishonest and can never be trusted, not that I trusted him in the first place.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (July 20, 2010 5:05 pm ET)
      7  
      Well that kinda blows the whole thing out of the water, doesn't it? But don't expect the right wing media to drop it.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (July 20, 2010 5:08 pm ET)
        8  
        I predict Rush or someone will say "How much did lefty liberal CNN pay these people to say Sharrod wasn't a racist?" And someone else will follow with "Obama's NBPP thugs went around there and told Spooner he better say the right thing or else."
        Report Abuse
        • Author by EFHUTTON (July 21, 2010 12:35 pm ET)
             
          It's coming and the sad part about it people will continue to fall for the hype.I have a name for RUSH, BECK, HANNITY, BREITBRAT, call them
          CLOSE MINDED IDIOTS.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by Invent a Scandal (July 20, 2010 5:09 pm ET)
        3  
        Exactly, it'll only inspire them to lie even more.

        That's the type of people they are.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by rikntx (July 20, 2010 5:15 pm ET)
      5  
      I wonder if Ms Sherrod has any legal recourse against Breitbart. Wonder if there is any chance in h3ll she'll get her job back.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (July 20, 2010 5:22 pm ET)
        5  
        She should be reinstated. I hope this serves as a lesson to everyone the right wing media goes after to not bend to them.
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        • Author by Onyxcat (July 20, 2010 10:17 pm ET)
          1  
          So far today, its after 10PM here, the guy who fired her, can't remember his name, has stated he will not retract his statement. The Whitehouse has GOT to get involve in this. The woman is paying for this right wing's attack against the NAACP.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by cArn (July 20, 2010 5:29 pm ET)
      3  
      Be sure to check out the coverage of this story over at Talking Points Memo. They are also doing an excellent job providing all the information they possibly can.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by internet soldier (July 20, 2010 5:31 pm ET)
      6  
      Well, Maineiacman, where did you go? Everyone knows you've read this. I'll take this as a tacit acknowlegdement that you've been had by Breitbart, again.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by cugagcmu805031 (July 20, 2010 5:38 pm ET)
      6  
      The important question is have they ever demonstrated that they know what they're talking about?

      Nope. It's all built on a system of smoke and mirrors meant to mislead the American populace.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mhughen (July 20, 2010 5:51 pm ET)
        9  
        In a calculated effort, Breitbart and others throw rhetorical bombs made of lies and deceptions against the public in order to attain goals that are political and ideological in nature; this is achieved through coercion or instilling fear.

        They are info terrorists.
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    • Author by pete592 (July 20, 2010 5:53 pm ET)
      7  
      Will Breitbart learn from this?

      [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0KG6nR9UqZg/SjuOTv-tf_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/QASMTvEJDB4/s320/snowball_title_screen.png]

      Report Abuse
    • Author by cArn (July 20, 2010 5:54 pm ET)
      3  
      At the very least, Mrs. Sherrod deserves an apology from the USDA and the WH (if they were involved). But I doubt that will happen because an apology means you were wrong, and it's clear from a statement released by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that they are sticking to their knee-jerk decision.
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      • Author by Jen7 (July 20, 2010 5:56 pm ET)
        3  
        The WH is being absolutely shameful. The damage has already been done and they still stick by what they did. Wow.
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        • Author by cArn (July 20, 2010 6:22 pm ET)
          2  
          We don't know yet if the WH was involved, so right now it's at the feet of the USDA.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Jen7 (July 20, 2010 7:00 pm ET)
            2  
            Obama is involved, he appointed Vilsack. This is at the feet of Obama. He can easily get her reinstated and apologize.
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            • Author by cArn (July 20, 2010 7:11 pm ET)
              2  
              That's bad reasoning. Obama appointed Vilsack so that HE could manage things like this on his own; that's the point of having a secretary. It's inefficient for the President to micro-manage every dept.
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              • Author by Jen7 (July 20, 2010 7:14 pm ET)
                1  
                Yes, and Vilsack didn't manage it, did he? He overreacted and now stands by his overreaction.

                Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (July 20, 2010 6:00 pm ET)
        4  
        Actually, it's not a "knee-jerk" reaction. Doesn't matter when the statement was made . . . from what I understand, they have a strict no tolerance policy at the USDA. Her statement indicated a racist intent . . . doesn't matter that she learned from it. She initially used race as a reason to deny assistance to someone.

        Now, does this have anything to do with Breitbart's complete character assassination of her and the pile on today by Fox, et al? Nope.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by cArn (July 20, 2010 6:42 pm ET)
          5  
          Wait, I don't understand. Sherrod worked at the Federation of Southern Cooperative/Land Assistance Fund at the time that she discriminated against the white farmer; she didn't work for the USDA. Furthermore it was over two decades ago, and since then it assumed that she doesn't do that anymore. Yes, work history should be taken into consideration, but damn...that zero tolerance policy is unreasonable in such a circumstance.
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          • Author by Onyxcat (July 20, 2010 10:23 pm ET)
               
            I thought this was a speech she gave a few months ago. The story that Breibart plays is a learning tale she told about a white farm back in the 80s who needed help. It taught her that a person who needs help, can be white, and that help should be given to a person no matter their color of their skin.
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        • Author by slowtyper (July 21, 2010 1:19 am ET)
          2  
          She initially used race as a reason to deny assistance to someone.


          No.. she did not..spend a couple of minutes and get the facts straight..watch the full video AND watch what the Spooners say about the whole thing..she saved these folks farm 24 years ago..

          Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (July 20, 2010 6:00 pm ET)
      7  
      This should embarrass the hell out of FOX, Britefart, MSNBC, and anyone else who treated it as fact without checking.

      Of course, we know Britefart and FOX are habitual liars, so they won't be phased. In fact, they'll probably just double down.

      Maybe MSNBC will at least acknowledge the error. We'll see.
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      • Author by Onyxcat (July 20, 2010 10:25 pm ET)
        1  
        They did acknowlege their error. Both the Countdown and Rachael Maddow programs have shown what happened and how they were snookered. The Fix news sprews lies. You know the saying, a lie travels around the world in seconds while the truth has leaded feet and takes ages to be seen.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (July 20, 2010 6:01 pm ET)
      6  
      Yea...and when is that apology from FOX coming down? Yea, right...scumbags.
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    • Author by MaineiacMan (July 20, 2010 6:11 pm ET)
      1 14
      Smearers? She got condemned by the NAACP and was forced to resign by the Govt. Who exactly is doing the smearing here?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by New Frontier (July 20, 2010 6:16 pm ET)
        6  
        You. It's why you come here, troll.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (July 20, 2010 6:17 pm ET)
        5  
        The usual suspects, it would appear.
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        • Author by doughpro1604643 (July 20, 2010 6:26 pm ET)
            12
          Yes, the dissenters too stubborn to admit that this brick wall will never come down.
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      • Author by bintx (July 20, 2010 6:33 pm ET)
        3  
        The NAACP has apologized for being snookered by the liars on Fox and Breitbart. The Government had no choice but to ask for her resignation . . . in the part of the tape which was shown, she ADMITTED that she had, in the past, made decisions based upon race. The USDA has a strict no tolerance policy with regard to racism. If they had known about this incident prior to her employment, she wouldn't have gotten the job in the first place.

        Nice try, MM, but you fail, as usual.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by doughpro1604643 (July 20, 2010 6:24 pm ET)
        14
      So now she is blaming Fox and the tea party groups for her getting fired. Early on she was blaming the WH and the NAACP.

      Which is it, and why is Fox being excoriated for reporting the story?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (July 20, 2010 6:35 pm ET)
        6  
        Because they created a "sensational" story where none existed in the first place and caused harm to a nice woman.

        You are such a twit. Did you read the book I linked you to, doughie? You're not a conservative, nothing on FOX has ANYTHING to do with conservatism . . . you are a blind follower. You will believe EVERYTHING you hear on Fox because you have to . . . to do otherwise would cause great damage to your psyche.

        Have a good one . . .
        Report Abuse
      • Author by worrierking (July 20, 2010 6:40 pm ET)
        3  
        Fox didn't report the story. They reported the edited version of the story. Fox doesn't report news. They influence opinion. Nothing more.
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        • Author by Onyxcat (July 20, 2010 10:31 pm ET)
             
          And it shows that all news media should check the provance of all stories. With 24/7 cable channels you would expect them to check their sources, but apparently they don't.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by internet soldier (July 20, 2010 6:41 pm ET)
        5  
        Dear wingnutz,

        Do you really believe that the fact the NAACP caved into Breitbart's smears and fired Sherrod absolves Breitbart of culpability or makes his edited video any less deceptive? If someone wrote a scurrilous falsehood about you in say, the local newspaper, which resulted in you being fired, does that now mean that the person who wrote it is vindicated?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by doggeddem (July 20, 2010 11:17 pm ET)
        1  
        FAUX News is being called out for the lying sacks of weasel dung that that network is. Brietbart broadcast a video that he frigging knew was a distortion of the woman's context. They did not report the story, the DISTORTED the story as they always do. So FAUX News can go stick its head up your butt, since you are so stupidly in love with them.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by cbcbcb (July 20, 2010 6:43 pm ET)
      1 1
      I am a registered Republican and when I heard the sound bites I had absolutely no problem with what she said. It is completely understandable, particularly from a black woman raised in the rural south. Plenty of southern blacks have simply tried to make an honest living on their farms, only to have it taken away by nefarious means. I am very proud of our black farmers and I believe there can be plenty learned from them by the unfortunate amount of poor blacks who seemingly have no motivation and no self worth. It was obvious that she was using here experience simply as an example as to why racism is bad. I am tired of seeing the rural black farmers being run over again and again, like the Gula people on the islands off Georgia.
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      • Author by Old_Benjamin (July 20, 2010 7:09 pm ET)
        2  
        I am very proud of our black farmers and I believe there can be plenty learned from them by the unfortunate amount of poor blacks who seemingly have no motivation and no self worth.


        Oh my, paternalistic much?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by cbcbcb (July 20, 2010 7:20 pm ET)
          4  
          Are you kidding me? I can't be proud of people and I can't learn from people who were enslaved for hundreds of years and remained in the very place after they were granted their freedom, only to endure only slightly better conditions for another 100 years? They are some of the hardest working people, only to get kicked to the side of the road again and again. I think it is despicable what has been done to them. About a month ago there was a very good article in the NY Times on this.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by CatsRBigLuv (July 20, 2010 7:42 pm ET)
      4  
      THE UPSIDE OF ALL THIS IS THAT, BY HIS OWN HAND, ANDREW BREITBART IS EXPOSING HIMSELF FOR AS THE MALADJUSTED AND MALICIOUS LIAR THAT HE TRULY IS.

      MEMO TO ANDREW BREITBART---

      You might want to vet your evidence before flapping your mouth over absurd and unsubstantiated garbage-talk. You are just embarrassing yourself at this point.

      In a single day, you have maligned a good woman, got her fired, and have been called out for your shameless mangling of her words and story (shades of GMA with james OKeefe!)

      You have demonstrated yourself as completely unreliable, even to your fans... you did it to yourself, and you can blame no one else.

      Even Spooner is calling you and your half-baked line of bs out for what you are.

      The more you keep taking hostages to feed your sick, pointless and utterly psychotic media crusade, the more you reveal the unconscionable depths to which you will sink simply to foment hatred in society.



      Report Abuse
      • Author by CatsRBigLuv (July 20, 2010 7:49 pm ET)
           
        On second thought, there is no upside to a habitual liar like Breitbart perpetually coughing out logs and logs of bs in order to mesmerize a society into catching his anger. Its just psychotic.

        But after this fiasco, even his own constituency has to realize that he is unreliable, and not to be trusted. He is, in fact, a liability to them.

        Maybe Doctor Soundbyte[/i][/b] might be a good nik-name for him, since all he does is doctor soundbytes.
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    • Author by clearstate (July 20, 2010 7:44 pm ET)
      2  
      Even seasquak is quiet about this. He can't defend it either.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by marleyhansen (July 20, 2010 9:40 pm ET)
         
      Once again, the rightwing proves to be false witnessing. Jesus is watching you shameless hypocrites.

      and for the record, I am a white woman, Danish and in my 50's... we are not all hoodwinked by FNC.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by doggeddem (July 20, 2010 11:14 pm ET)
         
      Brietbart should go cheney himself. He should be fired, sued and locked up for being a waste of skin.
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