Shirley Sherrod Suing Andrew Breitbart
Breitbartocalypse now.
Ousted Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod says she will sue a conservative blogger who posted an edited video of her making racially tinged remarks last week.
Sherrod made the announcement Thursday in San Diego at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention.
67 Responses to “Shirley Sherrod Suing Andrew Breitbart”
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“Don’t take the law into your own hands: you take ‘em to court.”-Doug Llewelyn
“In common law jurisdictions, slander refers to a malicious, false and defamatory spoken statement or report, while libel refers to any other form of communication such as written words or images.”
I guess the question is whether ‘false’ includes ‘deliberately deceptive’. ‘Malicious’ and ‘defamatory’ are obviously satisfied, and clearly she has standing since she lost her job.
Where do I send the check to support her lawsuit?
I don’t think she’ll win. There are far too many ways to weasel out of legal responsibility.
But discovery could be fun..
If only douchebaggery were criminalized, this would be an open & shut case.
If she doesn’t win, and she probably won’t, because of the very high standard to prove libel, expect the wingnut parade to screech the exact opposite: A Sherrod loss proves Breitbart was right and that she’s a racist.
This is obviously a conspiracy to deprive a brave conservative blogger of his right to slander people.
In the words of Oliver Babish: “Bring it on.”
But discovery could be fun..
You have no idea.
Yes, Save. Breitbart has a copy of the double super secret longer version of the video in which, after the speech, Sherrod leads the NAACP group in sacrificing white babies to Kenyan gods asking them to raise up a black leader to become president and destroy America.
And all that’s going to come out in court now!!!!
Idiots.
Yes, bring it on ferris. Bring on your teabag buddies trying to further destroy a woman who has dedicated her life to helping others. That’s awesome and it will win many votes for the GOP.
Discovery can include anything related to “pattern of prior misconduct” stuff, too. So they could subpoena the unedited and edited versions of the “ACORN” tapes, for example, and then depose everyone involved as to who, exactly, did the editing, and was Breitbart aware they were edited. I think he’s screwed, basically, regardless of whether he can win a summary judgment(because she’ll have enough to get past a dismissal motion, which means she can do discovery).
Turley weighs in, saying it would be difficult for Sherrod to win but any discovery in the process would be embarassing to Dimblart.
Good. Cast a light and watch the cockroaches scatter.
Discovery could be fun.
You have no idea.
Oh, I think I do. Looking through the lot of Breitbart’s incoming and outgoing email would be highly entertaining. Perhaps they’ll get leaked to the “Daily Caller”, edited in the most inflammatory way possible, and turned into a multi-month pointless sideshow!
Bring it on?
Jesus.
Here’s a great defense for Bretibart from one “Ted the Slacker” at Instaputz.
Possible Breitbart defense:
See, I posted a video of an uppity negro, and now she’s suing me. Therefore she is an uppity negro, I rest my case your honor.
I think the part of discovery the righties are pinning their hopes on is this:
http://weaselzippers.us/2010/07/26/devastating-video-shirley-sherrods-husband-says-we-must-stop-the-white-man-and-uncle-toms-from-stealing-our-elections/
In which Shirley Sherrod’s husband commits the terrible racist act of mentioning past attempts to suppress black turnout and disqualify black voters. The fact that he condemns both white bigots and “Uncle Toms” makes him, not un-racist as you might think, but DOUBLY racist.
Yes, guys, by all means, let’s go to discovery.
Hell, just wait until the unedited version of his deposition testimony gets leaked and hits the intertubes…if you engage in the politics of personal destruction, Andy, don’t be shocked when it boomerangs on you.
And there’s NO possibility that something embarrasing/untoward would come out if/when Brietbart gets to run discovery on Sherrod/Vilsack/Obama/USDA/NAACP and whoever else becomes party to this suit?
None at all? You sure?
PS: Marco, I think you meant to say “mongrel people“.
<i.And there’s NO possibility that something embarrasing/untoward would come out if/when Brietbart gets to run discovery on Sherrod/Vilsack/Obama/USDA/NAACP and whoever else becomes party to this suit?
A good lawyer would ask Ms. Sherrod this before taking the case.
Do you think she doesn’t have a good lawyer, SaveFarris?
This fellow thinks she does:
Sounds like you’re whistling past the graveyard, SF, nothing wrong with that
If Breitbart found something on discovery it would constitute the most effort he’d put into research since he first started blogging.
P.S. He said Americans are mixed-up, “of a mixed origin.” This is not shocking to anybody who has spent any time in America. Besides racial lines, you have religious lines, you have regional and cultural lines. You have sports franchise lines.
Your inability to use a word correctly does not make Obama wrong.
And really, it’s only conservatives who view our diversity as an unsightly weakness, rather than the strength it is.
I’m betting that someone is making a bid for domain rights to BigVictim.com right about now.
If they sold tickets to the discovery, they could fill the Superdome.
Maybe they will let bloggers submit potential questions.
Mission Accomplished, she Brought It On.
$100 that Fox will throw him under the bus.
From turley’s summation of allowable defenses:
From your quote:
Ballgame.
Do you think she doesn’t have a good lawyer?
Obviously not, if she’s out there making public declarations such as this. Any lawyer worth his salt would say “Shut your yap and let the legal briefs do the talking.” Which, BTW, is exactly what Brietbart appears to be doing so far.
Hey SF, I heard there’s a bunch of stuff gonna come out in discovery about your mom and the 89 Oakland A’s. I have nothing to back this up, but it’s not immediately verifiable, so i guess WE’LL SEEEEEEE!!!
That’s how that particular rhetorical trick works, right?
If Sherrod loses, think of the bumper-crop of incriminating videos of Breitbart and a donkey.
Ballgame.
Uh, SaveFarris, did you read this part of Turleys’ commentary as well?:
Kinda knocks your ‘argument’ into a bucket, doesn’t it?
“Breitbart didn’t realize that it had been severely edited to distort Sherrod’s message of racial conciliation into the opposite of its intended meaning.”
So Breitbart is just stupid, not malicious. OK.
Yes, Breitbart honestly thought her speech was 30 seconds long. (snicker)
I don’t think she’s gonna win it if she does sue. Not sayin’ that Breitbart’s an angel, just that she’d have a hard time winning.
PS: Marco, I think you meant to say “mongrel people“. SF
ZOMG!!!!!! WHAT A RACIST!!!!
@james, i kind of agree, but for my money, whatever it costs to pursue a 6 month lawsuit and drag breitbart out from the litter box that piece of shit lives in is worth it, don’t you think?
Awesome news. I eagerly await Breitbart’s butt-boys around here to wince with pain as discovery unfolds.
I eagerly await Breitbart’s butt-boys around here to wince with pain as discovery unfolds.
That would require that they have both an awareness of reality (to understand what is happening) and a sense of shame.
Not holding my breath.
Sean and Jaim, you guys said the exact same thing about Breitbart and the discovery process when James O’Keefe was arrested for going in to the Mary Landrieu’s office to check on the phone system.
How’d that discovery process work out for ya?
Pretty good.
“O’Keefe pled guilty on May 26 and was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $1,500 fine.[14] Basel, Dai, and Flanagan received lesser sentences of two years probation, 75 hours of community service, and a $1,500 fine.[14][64]”
Big Fake Pimpin’.
Dennis: Sean and Jaim, you guys said the exact same thing about Breitbart…>
I never said anything of the sort. Go ahead, search the Willis archives for any thread where I opined on that.
Now, will this be just another example of you denying reality is what is it because it isn’t what you want? Or will you actually acknowledge your mistake?
How’d that discovery process work out for ya?
It helped reveal the true facts of the case, as discovery is supposed to.
In my favor or not, I have no issue with the results of a properly conducted discovery process.
Comes with recognizing reality.
Idiot Jaim Galt on O’Keefe’s arrest:
Ha ha ha.
Death penalty.
What a dope.
“But hey, I’m going to a party!”
Yoi.
I never said anything of the sort. Go ahead, search the Willis archives for any thread where I opined on that.
You guys here, Sean. The group of guys that all think the same loving liberal thoughts. The group pretty much as a whole. Not necessarily you specifically, Mr. Self-Absorbed Whiner.
Wow, Dennis. So fucking stupid.
And you still think you have something of value to offer here? Really?
Jesus, what a sad cowardly bitch.
Rough days on E-trade, I imagine.
Or is it Ameri-trade?
Hard to keep up with sad cowardly failed bitches like Dennis.
Dennis: Sean and Jaim, you guys said the exact same thing about Breitbart and the discovery process when James O’Keefe was arrested
SDM: I never said anything of the sort. Go ahead, search the Willis archives …
will this be just another example of you denying reality is what is it because it isn’t what you want? Or will you actually acknowledge your mistake?
Dennis: You guys here, Sean. The group of guys that all think the same loving liberal thoughts. The group pretty much as a whole. Not necessarily you specifically,
Who had “another example of Dennis denying reality”? Step up to the window and collect your winnings.
Oh, please, Dennis. You could have just left the “Sean and Jaim” part off and started with “You guys said the exact same thing”. But that isn’t what you did. You specifically addressed it to Jaim and I.
And when called on it, you could have manned up and just said “OK, I misspoke. Should have left your names off.” But you instead take your usual “Oh, I didn’t mean what I actually said as what I actually said” and “Instead of answering you I’m going to call you names” routes.
Liar and Coward.
Can’t answer now Sean. I’m at a party!
Is that why you’re still trying to avoid admitting that you acknowledged that Breitbart’s use of a videotape that had been edited in order to create a false impression is legally actionable? It must be a great party.
Can’t answer now Sean. I’m at a party!
If you’re wondering why you got kicked out, it’s because your invitation wasn’t “lost in the mail”.
It was a good party.
We video-taped ourselves saying how much we hate white people. FOLLOW BREITBART FOR UPDATES.
Who had “another example of Dennis denying reality”? Step up to the window and collect your winnings.
You’re such a little weenie, Sean. You and douchebag “I’m going to a party! Jaim both had just previously mentioned discovery, so I addressed you both specifically. The ‘you guys’ in the statement ‘you guys said the exact same thing’ was generic. End of story.
That is, it would be the end of story if not for you having argued exactly the opposite against me a few weeks ago when mambo made a claim against me where it certainly did read like he was accusing me of something I didn’t do:
You want it both ways, Sean. Like fafaroo, you will argue just for argument’s sake, regardless of having taken the opposite stance on an identical argument just a short while ago.
Denise the Dense must have a pathetic and uninteresting life to have the time and energy to fulminate against Jaim, Marco, farafoo(did I spell the last name right, Denise?) and of course, the OCD Avenger.
Just entertainment while I drink my morning joe, DA. Kinda early there in P-ville for you to be up and at ‘em and obsessing over me, isn’t it?
It’s abbreviated P’ville, Denise the Dense, and I’m usually up at this time to give my wife her coffee before she goes out the door at 7:30 AM PST(or PDT).
As for obsession, I realize you could teach me a lot in that area, but when I see that it gets you no results other than mockery around here……………………………..
Now I’ll compliment you for that, DA. You could set the coffeemaker the night before for her just as easily and you could just sleep longer, but you get up to see her off. Well done.
Dennis: Can’t answer now Sean. I’m at a party
Nice to see you’re so obsessed with me you’re compelled to reply from a party.
(Whatta maroon!)
Sean, see Jaim’s exclamation, “I’m going to a party!”
Mr. Late and Clueless.
Maroon.
Dennis: You and … Jaim both had just previously mentioned discovery, so I addressed you both specifically.
Waitamimmit. Didn’t you just say that you WEREN’T addressing us specifically??
Does the whiplash hurt much, Dennis?
You want it both ways, Sean. … regardless of having taken the opposite stance on an identical argument just a short while ago.
That thing over there last week? It ain’t “identical” to this thing over here.
Your claiming reality is something it just simply ain’t, however? That’s pretty identical to what you do whenever it’s shown that you’re a liar and coward.
Just entertainment while I drink my morning joe, DA.
Let’s see. Nothing better to do at a party than post here. Nothing better to do at breakfast than post here.
Dennis, why are you so obsessed with us? I mean, posting at odd moments like that. Must be obsession, right? you’re not going to argue the opposite of what you argued last week, are you?
Let’s see. Nothing better to do at a party than post here. Nothing better to do at breakfast than post here.
Sean, again, you are late to the meeting and completely clueless. I didn’t go to a party. It was Jaim who declared “I’m going to a party!” With an exclamation point, no less.
Wake up and smell the coffee, my clueless friend.
And it was you who declared you were at a party. Sort of like how you admitted that Breitbart posted the videotape in an attempt to create the impression that the NAACP was racist, actually…
Gee, Dennis. The only only mentions of being at party on this thread were by you. OK, the first time was in quotes, so I suppose you were repeating what someone else said. But it wasn’t what anyone said in this thread. And not being obsessed like you about everything anyone posts here, I don’t keep careful track of everything anyone posts anywhere so don’t get the reference.
In any event, the last time was just you, as non sequitor as usual, directly telling me (specifically, again) that you’re at a party.
I guess I should know better by now than to take what you write to actually mean what you wrote. I know how taking your literal comments literally bothers you.
A lawsuit might open up Sherrod’s life to some unwanted scrutiny:
“What most of Mrs. Sherrod’s supporters are not aware of is the elitist and anti-black-labor role that she and fellow managers of New Communities Inc. (NCI) played. These individuals under-paid, mistreated and fired black laborers–many of them less than 16 years of age–in the same fields of southwest Georgia where their ancestors suffered under chattel slavery.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/wilkins08022010.html
I’m sure that is so much worse than how Breitbart did so much to destroy an organisation that was dedicated to ensuring that minorities could vote and afford a place to live.
OK, william. Several points on the article you link to.
If you actually read further down the article you link to:
So the main objection is that Sherrod wasn’t repentant enough. “Oh sure. She apologized for her attitude toward white farmers, but didn’t publicly flay herself enough over her attitude toward black farmers. We’re shocked, shocked!”
Oh, please.
And this about a position she held over 30 years ago. Not to argue that mere passage of time should make things irrelevant, but this is really digging into the distant past in an effort to find something, ANYthing to complain about. With the recent attempt to misrepresent her as a racist so completely backfired this is part of a desperate effort to find SOMEthing to point to a cry “Ah ha! See, we were right after all. She ISN’T a perfect person. Told ya!”
Note also the reference to the Sherrods being awarded $300,000 following a discrimination lawsuit, suggesting they got theirs while NCI and it’s workers got nothing. Conveniently left out is the $12,489,162 (yes, nearly 12 and a half million) that NCI did receive. A lawsuit won because Governor Maddox blocked funding for NCI and the USDA refused to allow them to restructure their loans, a typical business activity NCI was not allowed to do.
So, were conditions for workers bad? Quite possibly so. Was it the result of Sherrod playing Simon Legree so she could walk off with $300k? Of course not.
But don’t let the existence of all the actual facts stop you from promoting a distorted one-sided view. After all, gotta preserve that narrative!
A lawsuit might open up Sherrod’s life to some unwanted scrutiny:
Yeah, it might show that she was involved in a cooperative that tried to help people, failed to do so as well as it wanted, yet persevered despite the state and federal governments working against it and ultimately won a judgment showing that.
Yeah, that kind of scrutiny she doesn’t need.
“Kinda early there in P-ville for you to be up and at ‘em and obsessing over me, isn’t it?”
Not for me, Dennis. I think about you constantly. There’s no time of day too early or late to think about Dennis — Dennis in the shower, Dennis mowing the lawn, Dennis purchasing dental tape, Dennis googling for torrents of Remington Steele episodes.
You’ve got us all figured out, D! It’s not that you’re so blindingly shit-blisteringly stupid that we can’t seem to look away — it’s that we’re obsessed with you. And not like, ‘you’. I mean, You: the platonic D — the one that we know exists and of which mundane D is just a shadow. See, because you’re like a guy in a Cave! A Cave full of awesome, who’s so right about all things that I FOR ONE CANNOT STOP IMAGINING YOU SWIMMING IN HOT FUDGE.
Yeah, Dennis. It’s because of our collective obsession with You — not because of the ass-hattery that you keep typing — just because of You.
Also, I know you are, but what am I. Just to head off whatever you’re already typing.
Also, I know you’re not typing anything, just to head that off. I have no idea what I’m talking about.
“No, you really don’t, hnice.” There. That one’s out of the way.
Also, “Yes, you’ve got it all figured out.” Cross that off the list.
In closing, “More proof that you’re obsessed,” “Very grown up, hnice!,” and “This is the face of the New Left?”
Did I leave any out? I heart Dennis! More of Him, NOW!!!!