Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Racist Remarks by USDA Official and Midterm Elections

On July 19, 2010, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, Sean Hannity of Fox News interviewed Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, regarding the controversy over racist remarks made by USDA official Shirley Sherrod at an NAACP banquet. The discussion also touched on the midterm elections and the debate over extending unemployment insurance.

Key Takeaways:

• The controversy began when a video surfaced of Shirley Sherrod making racist comments about helping white farmers, which led to her resignation as the Georgia state director at the Department of Agriculture.
• Secretary Tom Vilsack did the right thing by firing Sherrod immediately after the video was released.
• The NAACP was criticized for allegedly double-standardizing its stance on racism, as they had previously accused the Tea Party of being a racist movement.
• Newt Gingrich suggested that the NAACP should apologize for hosting a meeting where racist comments were made, as they had demanded accountability from the Tea Party.
• Gingrich also proposed that local Tea Party groups should reach out to local NAACP chapters to organize joint town hall meetings on job creation.

Statistics:

• Since the stimulus plan was passed, more than 3 million Americans have lost their jobs.
• The $3 trillion budget is under scrutiny, with the GOP leader in the House advocating for extending unemployment insurance in a fiscally responsible way by cutting spending elsewhere.
• 130.9 million Americans were employed in May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Sources:

• "Hannity" interview with Newt Gingrich, Fox News, July 19, 2010.
• Statement by President Barack Obama on extending unemployment insurance, July 19, 2010.
• Breitbart.com article exposing Shirley Sherrod's racist comments.
• NAACP press release on Tea Party lawlessness (no date or publication information available).
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment statistics for May 2010.