Juan Williams Tears Up: "This Is America At Its Grandest" (VIDEO)

A visibly moved Juan Williams reacted to the news that Barack Obama was elected President of the United States shortly after the race was called on Fox News Tuesday. Williams called it "stunning," noting that African Americans were barely able to vote until just 43 years ago, and saying, "I don't care how you feel about him politically, on some level you have to say this is America at its grandest."

His full comments:

It's a stunning sight. It's incomprehensible. Even a year ago, I wouldn't have thought this was possible. That an African American man could be elected President of the United States. When I think of it from a historical point of view, and you go back and think of people, that fact that black people didn't have the right to vote in this country. There were only black men until 1870. In 1870, black men got the right to vote and of course it didn't mean much until going forward until 1965 and the Voting Rights Act. And at that point, Linden Johnson said the Democrat Party lost the South forever and there was no possibility really of full enfranchisement that said black people could somehow be the leader of the United States of America. This is truly an incredible moment of American history. I can't think of another country in the world where you could have a significant minority that was once so maligned and so oppressed finally have one of its sons rise to this level. This is ah... I don't care how you feel about him politically, on some level you have to say this is America at its grandest, the potential, the possibility, and what it says for our children. Black and white, the image of Barack Obama and those little girls in the Rose Garden in these years to come. I think it's just stunning.

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Comments

[dakotaharp]

I thought the color was haywire on my television because all the people at fox looked like boiled cabbage. Now I can take a huge break from watching them because I don`t care what the enemy is saying anymore. YES WE CAN AND YES WE DID.

[naimsmom]

It's not confusing. Because he said "I don't care how you feel about him politically, on some level you have to say this is America at its grandest, the potential, the possibility, and what it says for our children." That is the point.

[Nia1999]

The only reason they are saying nice things about Barack Obama is because after all the mean and nasty things they did and said before he won, they did not take into account that he just may win. Now, after all that, they are hoping this does not affect them from being called upon after one of many Obama White House news conferences or briefing Q & A sessions.

[Shayrae]

Juan, your ''tearing up'' means nothing after being Fox's attack dog to please your Fox family. A few days ago, you were saying that you thought that bringing up Rev. Wright against then Sen. Obama was ''fair game.'' As an Obama supporter, I now have more respect for Sen. McCain than I would or could ever have for you. His concession speech shows me that he has far more moral character than you.

[Manchurian]

Although I, too, have more respect for McCain than for Juan Williams, I'd like to think this is the real Juan speaking last night. He may be paid to do Fox's dirty work, but perhaps Obama's message finally broke through to him.

[AurigaRa]

glad you are pleased Juan
Now do yourself a favor, regain whatever credibility you ever had, and leave that POS network

[WilliamProc]

As it became obvious that Obama had the electoral vote, Fox News began to do something I just cxouldn't believe, they actually had to admit that he could become President. It was amazing; Rove complementing Obama on a winning strategy, Krystal syaing that change had finally come to America, and Juan getting misty. I half expected them to hold hand and sing "Kumbaya"!

[Stephen99]

Spare me the American Exceptionalism crap Williams! You can't think of another country where this could happen? Uhhh, how about South Africa? There was this guy named Mandela...you remember him, he was still on the U.S. terrorism list until a couple months ago. This is a truly meaningful and historic night, but let's not try to coopt it into the narrative of why the U.S.A. is better than everyone else and therefor above the rules that everyone else should have to live by.

[OrganizersWin]

You are wrong in your comments a bit. (I am no fan of Mr. William's politics, btw)

He said "I can't think of another country in the world where you could have a significant minority that was once so maligned and so oppressed finally have one of its sons rise to this level."

Your sentiments for Mr. Mandela sail without opposition in terms of my own historical appreciation, however, you would inaccurate in suggesting that "blacks" in South Africa were the "significant minority".... they were indeed the "oppressed majority". In fact we are talking about numbers completely in REVERSE. In mostly 8:1 ration, blacks outnumber whites in South Africa.

Sorry to bust your bubble of criticizing Williams, because I would so often root for such a thing, but in this case your analysis is severely lacking.

[legalclubs]

Actually, South Africa is a bad example. In that case once the majority race got to vote they voted in someone of their own race. So the whites voted in whites, then when the blacks were granted the right to vote and given their majority status, they voted in blacks. Status quo.

The amazing thing about the American election, which hasn't happened anywhere else, is that an individual of a minority race won the presidency. This really is unheard of anywhere else.

The concept of America as better than everyone else is difficult, as if you applied such thinking to an individual level it seem they had an overinflated ego. But in this particular case the U.S. has done something that is without equal elsewhere. The U.S., and its citizens, do deserve special credit for this as an example for all others.

P.S. It's OK to take pride in your countries accomplishments. Be proud. Today is a great day.

[billyboil]

exactly!
a wonderful moment, but america had (and has) a lot of catching-up to do if it is to be the equal of many other countries.
the 1st thing it can do is cease and desist with the "greatest country' crap - you ain't there yet, seppos!

[FirstShirt]

Yeah, when I think of equity and civil rights I immediately think of South Africa. And don't forget that icon of morality, Winnie Mandela.

[Misante]

Nobody in the media has disappointed me more than Tara Wall. Not just because she is black and never gave President Obama any credit but because she was so NASTY with her opinion of him. I really don't care if she doesn't like him or support him but she needs to check herself in terms of her nasty attitude.

[Shayrae]

I agree. I have e-mailed Tara Wall too many times to count. Juan Williams too. Now they all want to suck up to our new president. No interviews, no way, Fox or Washington Times. Go away and tutor Miss Alaska whom you both so admire.

[Mdazes]

Confusing to me. Williams has been so anti Obama during this election.

[bobbysgurl]

Juan Williams appears anti-black most of the time, so I was not bowled over by his tears. He backed the wrong horse when he backed the right-wing nut.

[Mancini]

Yup. Granted Juan probably has to follow the FOX script to a certain degree, but talk about eating crow on national television. I woner if Hannity will implode today.

[legalclubs]

You clearly never watch the Sunday show he is on or read his articles. Juan Williams is a liberal Democratic (he and Bill Kristol are constantly going at it taking opposite sides). It is true that during the primaries Juan was a Hillary Clinton supporter as he believed she had more experience, the name recognition, and the Clinton machine to back her. In other words, he thought Clinton had a better chance to win (as did many of dems and many blacks - remember the black vote was evenly split 50/50 between Clinton and Obama in the early primaries). However, once Hillary lost he clearly and unambigiously moved to the Obama camp. He never supported McCain.

[Shayrae]

You betcha. Anyone seen Sarah this morning?

[wisdom101]

You are right, Juan Williams is a JA and I don't really care for his compliments of Obama. He was a rogue critic of Obama and now that Obama has done it he wants to get teary eyed.


Give me a break . And yes Juan, now that Obama is in the house , we are going to put you in the field.....

[fn0rd]

I flipped over to Fox for a few minutes last night, I've never heard of williams before, but he was quite eloquent.

What a day.

Think about this: American flags are being WAVED all over the world today. Not burned.

It's not out of sympathy or solidarity, as it was after 9/11. It's because, once again, the world knows that we are, the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

[HC4BO]

Juan Williams cried when Obama gave his Convention Speech ...

Juan Williams cried when Obama won POTUS ...

I am pretty sure Juan Williams voted for Our Next President ...

Yes He Did ...

[AurigaRa]

doesn t really count as long as he panders for F***ed Up News

[KoolBreez]

Call it schadenfreude, but I watched Fox 'News' for a few minutes last night for the first time in several years and the last.

[ProfessorDuh]

Wow. Here's a Republican post on the Fox News forum:
My fellow Republicans. Let’s leave this land of stupidity and self delusion. We have been betrayed by Bush and his policies that made it impossible for a man of substance and heroism like McCain to win. And we have lied to ourselves by believing that supporting W’s ignorance was being patriotic. Just as bad, we patronized news outlets that told us what we wanted to hear, rather than what was true. Just read the “news” stories on this outlet vs every other source of news in the country. Seems there isn’t a liberal media agenda, just an entertainment media agenda (right here). We were the Party where only excellence was tolerated and promoted. We’ve got to get back there and we have to leave baggage like Fox News behind. See you in another place. For now, I have to participate in supporting a country, a new President, my Senator (McCain) and building a new Party.
---
Sane people in the GOP? Where have they been hiding?

[isis]

I remember being a little girl and taking a tour of the White House with my family. Afterwards another little girl and I played tag briefly. We went to get drinks and she ran to this cruddy little drinking ountain. I saw that it said "colored" on it. Right in front of the White House we were being segregated. I'll never forget the shock of it nor the joy I feel today.

[mesuki]

I never like Juan Williams,he's an Uncle Tom on Faux News.They put him there to add a little color to their program so that they don't seem so racist.