CNN had a very interesting booking this afternoon during White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs’ briefing: the woman who is dominating the news cycle at the moment, fired USDA staffer Shirley Sherrod.
CNN even put Sherrod and Gibbs in a double box as she sat mostly stone-faced, while the White House press corps pressed Gibbs about the circumstances around her firing Monday.
Sherrod flashed a smile when ABC News White House correspondent Jake Tapper said to Gibbs, “She’s watching this briefing, Shirley Sherrod, on CNN right now. Is there anything you want to say to her? (laughter) I’m being quite serious. She’s watching you…”
Gibbs jumped in, “The secretary [of Agriculture Tom Vilsack] is trying to reach her. I hope that the secretary reaches her soon and they have an opportunity to talk. The secretary will apologize for the actions that have taken place over the past 24 to 36 hours and on behalf of the administration, I offer our apologies.”