I’m hearing from a few readers that there are reasons for public scrutiny of Shirley Sherrod that go beyond her speech to the NAACP.

If there really is provable wrongdoing on her part in these matters, then by all means, hold her accountable. But don’t witness her firing, triggered by a false charge, and then say that even if that charge was false, the existence of other yet unproven allegations mean that the firing was justified.

It reminds me a bit too much of the crime-prevention strategies of Frank Drebin:

Commissioner Anabell Brumford: Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to introduce a most special American. Tonight, he is being honored for his 1000th drug-dealer killed.

Lt. Frank Drebin: [to applause] Thank you. But, in all honesty, the last three I backed over with my car. Luckily, they turned out to be drug-dealers.