Shirley Sherrod's USDA Job Offer: Deputy Director of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Shirley Sherrod, who was forced to resign from the Department of Agriculture after an out-of-context video of remarks she made were published on a conservative website, is still considering the formal job offer she received from the USDA, she tells CBS News Producer Daniel Steinberger.
The department has offered Sherrod a position titled Deputy Director of the office of advocacy and outreach at the USDA, she says. The offer was delivered in a draft that puts into writing what Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack offered her on the phone last week.
Sherrod said she sat down to read through the offer for the first time this morning, but has not read it in its entirety yet. She still has many questions about the offer before coming to any decision, she said, such as who is the director of the department and whether and how much money is appropriated for the work that should be accomplished in the position.
"I need to have a conversation with someone," Sherrod said, though she was not sure whether she would speak with Vilsack directly.
Sherrod said she hopes to reach a decision by next week.
Sherrod previously worked in rural development for the department when conservative web publisher Andrew Breitbart released a video clip of remarks she made at a recent NAACP conference. The edited video misleadingly gave the impression Sherrod admitted to discriminating against a white farmer. Sherrod was immediately pressed to resign without an opportunity to explain her remarks.
Vilsack took responsibility for Sherrod's firing and said he made his decision too hastily. President Obama also personally apologized to Sherrod for the whole debacle.
More on Shirley Sherrod:
Shirley Sherrod: White House Forced My Resignation
Shirley Sherrod Speaks Out
Shirley Sherrod: Obama Administration Too Sensitive to the Right
Obama Apologizes to Shirley Sherrod
