Shirley Sherrod emphatically believes that the White House was involved in her termination simply because Cheryl Cook told her this fact. Thus, the critical matter comes down to "she said" . . . "she said."
Either way, Cheryl Cook intentionally lied to Shirley Sherrod about White House involvement in order to force her resignation. If so, then Shirley Sherrod was actually coerced into resigning under false pretense by Cheryl Cook. Or the Deputy Under Secretary knew that the White House was actually involved, and both Secretary Vilsack and the White House are lying.
Which brings me back to my original question, just who is Cheryl Cook? Is she the type of person who would lie to USDA employees about White House involvement in negative personnel actions? Or is she someone Secretary Vilsack would fall on the sword to protect?
Another question raised by this incident was why the rush to judgment? Was it really an irrational fear of an adverse media cycle at the White House, or are there other latent civil rights problems at USDA?
I offer this explanation. The rush to judgment and Secretary Vilsack's initial refusal to reconsider, is emblematic of a larger unreported problem at USDA, which is the disparate treatment of cases alleging "reverse discrimination" versus traditional "minority discrimination".
It has been my experience that USDA forces minority EEO claimants through long arduous and faulty administrative processes. But USDA managers treat cases alleging reverse discrimination differently. They are much more willing to settle, negotiate in good faith, and quickly resolve these cases.
The resolution of cases alleging reverse discrimination appears to be quick and efficient. For example, the immediate termination of Shirley Sherrod without an actual complaint, hearing or discussion; while traditional cases of discrimination linger on for years. . . if not decades at USDA.
I believe that Shirley Sherrod case was handled so clumsily and ineptly because the Secretary/Administration thought they had a Black Women admitting to discriminating against White Farmers caught on tape a Sister Soldier moment.
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