Sherrod provides a chance for wise counsel...

A few comments about media comments and political events...

The recent editing of the Shirley Sherrod video, out of context, by the reckless conservative blogger, the firing of her at USDA, the apology and job offer to her from USDA, and the call to her from President Obama was a distracting moment of political drama. It would have been even more disappointing and disturbing, however, if Sherrod hadn't fought back, also using the media, to make her case and shed some light.

Some media people have said, in essence, that the Obama Administration probably wishes to get beyond that story and put Shirley Sherrod in the past for political expediency.

Wow, that's the wrong attitude to have. I hope President Obama is wise enough to realize the opportunities that sometimes fall awkwardly into his grasp. The greater presidents have to be the ones who care more about issues and life in America than political expediency and media news cycles.

President Obama needs to seek counsel about real-world matters from people like Sherrod. He shouldn't run from her. Instead, he should see that she has greater gifts to give to him than just going away. She has an amazing personal narrative. She is older and from the South. She is also articulate, concerned, and looks to me like a pretty nice person. Obama should embrace the real-world people he meets along the journey of his presidency and seek their advice and counsel often, networking with them, as it will do him and the nation far better service than the political hacks around him who, of late, have managed him badly.

Also, I hadn't heard much about the biased history of the USDA until the Sherrod story happened. That means that the media, particularly always the TV media, need to do a better job in covering issues rather than following scandal-driven or entertainment-driven headlines. We need to see more about how the USDA improves its conduct and those kinds of issue stories, and far, far, far less coverage of actress Lindsay Lohan, Kate plus eight, and Mel Gibson. Intregity in media is often about quality.

Two other comments:

In the story about Alvin Greene, the candidate in South Carolina, I have heard from news reports that Greene had to pay $10,000 in order to file to run for the U.S. Senate. Well, why is that so? That sounds like a poll tax to me, to keep poor people from getting on a ballot. So what if there are more names on a ballot. That's democracy. I think someone should challenge that kind of fee in court. (And frankly, I'd like to see incumbent Senator Jim DeMint in South Carolina lose to anyone.)

It was interesting to see, from a segment on the Rachel Maddow Show, that in 1947, one year before President Harry Truman integrated the military, a survey of officers and enlisted men showed only 7 percent supported the idea of integration. Nonetheless, Truman stepped up courageously to the issue and did the right thing, in ordering integration of the military despite its unpopularity. Obama should find a lesson from Truman's actions as well concerning the modern issue of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that punishes gay soldiers for speech any time, rather than solely for inappropriate behavior during military duty. It never should be difficult to do the right thing. But even if it is, America deserves the greater good, and presidential legacies are made by vision, courage, and leadership.