Sherrod says she's reconciled with NAACP

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Shirley Sherrod, the ousted U.S. Agriculture Department official, said she has reconciled with the NAACP.

In an open letter posted on the NAACP's Web site, Sherrod also took aim at conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart for releasing the "intentionally deceptive, heavily edited" video clip in July that made it appear she had discriminated against a white farmer. The rest of the video showed the opposite was true, but the NAACP publicly condemned her and the Obama administration forced her out before either saw the full recording.

"Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Ga., for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous," Sherrod wrote. "Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal.

"I told him what I want to tell you. That's behind us and the last thing I want to see happen is for my situation to weaken support for the NAACP."

After Breitbart posted the video, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack forced Sherrod to resign as Georgia state director of rural development. Vilsack later offered her another position -- she has not accepted -- and he and President Barack Obama have apologized.