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

[gooddirt]

I'm looking forward to buying my candy bars with Obama dollar coins--he's got a good face for that. Maybe the coin will have his whole family on the reverse--no one gets anywhere on their own.
Yes, he will be a great president.
We made America live up to her own creed. We participated and had faith, and here we are.
We've changed--we actually feel like we have a voice. I give thanks for Barack, his family, and the internet, and for the curiosity, passion, and intelligence of humankind, our inexhaustible well of hope.

[gooddirt]

I'm looking forward to buying my candybars with Obama dollar coins--he's got a good face for that. Maybe the coin will have his whole family on the reverse--no one gets anywhere on their own.
Yes, he will be a great president.
We made America live up to her own creed. We participated and had faith, and here we are.
We've changed--we actually feel like we have a voice. I give thanks for Barack, his family, and the internet, and for the curiousity, passion, and intelligence of humankind, our inexhaustible well of hope.

[Ish11]

America! Thank you America!!! ....tears.­.. All I can do is cry...

[Pees1]

From Rosa Parks to President elect Obama:

America has come full circle and we wish all of you God Speed in your recovery from the Bush created mess.

India.

[ahsaki80]

Thank you. Now the world realizes that not all of America are war mongering Bush fanatics. I'm glad our guy won this election. Our country will truly be blessed.

[Pees1]

All through the Bush years - I was firm in my belief that the average American man / woman was decent, liberal and the kind of person I would be comfortable having a beer with.

You just had your politics hijacked by the non liberal, indecent right wing.
Welcome back to the liberal, decent world America.

Don't ever doubt that you cannot recover from the damage done by Bush

Thank you for electing a President who can heal the damage and the horror of Bush.

[Krikkit]

I understand that this election holds special significance for the black community in the United States, but I want to point out that Barack Obama will be my president, too. Unlike Jessie Jackson, Obama did not run as the black president and he did not run to break down a single barrier to the highest office in the land. He ran because he saw a need that he believed he could address more effectively than anyone else likely to step forward for the job.

Obama is brilliant and a rare man well suited for the job of President. The simple fact is that Obama outshined all the competition and his skin color didn't affect that at all. For once we voted in the person best suited to the needs of the time, despite the opposition throwing mud and trying to scare the voters with charges of Socialist and Terrorist. That's the real barrier we have crossed as a nation, though there are still many who haven't yet gotten the memo.

Having said all that, I also want to point out that bigots are very much a dying breed. About time is all I have to say on the matter.

[Shannondez]

Amen!

[SouthernGuy]

In many ways he made sure this was not just a black candidacy. All the top campaign staff and advisors were white and I thought it was telling last night that Oprah and Jesse Jackson were shown in the crowd and not on stage or in a special viewing area. Maybe good ole boy, special interest cronyism will be defeated by Barack. The speech he gave last night was magnificent. I printed a copy this morning. if that did not make you more proud to be an American your soul is dead.

[FatherWolf]

President Obama means many things to many people. As a white liberal I share your view that his skin color doesn't matter to me. I am looking to him for new energy policy, repairing of our infrastructure, improving eduction, and a more intelligent and effective foreign policy.

But in running such a brilliantly successful campaign, he shone a beacon out to African Americans and Hispanics that empowerment was really possible. They've now bought into the political system with their voter registrations and their efforts to vote despite significant obstacles.

People will be looking to President Obama for leadership in whatever it is they are passionate about. But as he keeps saying, we the people must do the leading. We can't say that Pres. Obama is going to fix the roads or make minorities into real full citizens. We have to make him make it possible.

[robXdion]

Actually Jesse Jackson didn't run as a black candidate either. The time he ran in was just more racist. Why blame him for that?

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

Well said. I am a black woman born of a white woman and a black man. Color has never mattered to me, but it has mattered to others throughout my lifetime. This is a proud moment for all of us no matter our skin color because he has always run for ALL the people. We black people are particularly proud because of our history in this country that is unique to us. Understand that that is one of the reasons we are so proud.

[bogues]

As I watched President Elect Obama and his family take the stage with the Biden family, I found myself crying out loud and the voices of our past were filling my head as I wondered what would all those who lived through slavery think, I wondered what all those who lived through the civil war would think, I wondered what Martin Luther King, John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy would think. I wondered what would the countless nameless millions who both suffered and fought for a day like this would think. I suspect they would be as over come as I am. I am not a fool, I know our work has only begun but it feels so good to know that I have lived to see this step being taken in our country.

[FatherWolf]

And there have been many brave people yesterday and in the past few weeks who stood in line for hours, many in the rain, to vote for a new world. They weren't being attacked by firehoses or police clubs, but the old system was trying one last time to keep them out. It didn't work.

The brave voters yesterday midwifed the birth of a new era.

[Wiserone]

Spare me, Juan. All of sudden you remember you are black?? Your commentary through this whole election was just so ugly. Yeah, hang you head real low. Too late. You are what you are: a toady for Murdock and Fix News. Maybe someday you can redeam yourself but I doubt it.

[neesy08]

I agree. he and all of Fox news will be back peddling now.

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

Redemption may take awhile. What he should also feel is shame.

[Pere]

I disagree. "Mission accomplished" was grand.

This is America at it's best.

[rockyb26]

surprise, surprise. he has a soul

[Mackmal1]

I remember seeing this and Brit Hume and everyone else was like "OMG, Juan's black????"­HAHAHAHAHA

[FaceYourFears]

LOL...I knew he was secreting rooting for PRESIDENT O bama and would vote for him!

[JarreauII]

"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 this is the point when, as he was saying THESE words, that Juan Williams remembered that 'he too' was/is a 'black' man. Reality comes at any moment! Hope he remembers "going forward."

Yaaaaaaaaaah President Obama!!!
God IS real and does answer prayers!!!

[TakeTheCanolis]

Hey Juan. It's the Democratic Party -- not "Democrat Party." Get it right.

[greatbear451]

I think all Fox "News" commentators have it in their contracts that they have to say "democrat party".

[Waitingon4th]

What a lot of people don't understand, is it isn't and never was about race. It is about ideals. We must unite, and turn this country around.
Peace

[bmickey31]

your right, but no one can unite this country into socialistic ideals

[shengirl]

any thoughts besides last week's GOP soundbite?

[Pere]

You've failed. Try being nice, or go away.

[corkonian]

Learn to spell.

[NJ13]

Give us an example of what you mean by "socialistic" ideas? What is the definition of socialist?

I find it peculiar that people keep talking about "Socialism" and yet they don't complain about Social Security (that's a socialist program), Medicare and Medicaid (again socialist programs) and you can even throw public education in there as socialistic.

From a hard Libertarian point of view you should pay for your own education (K-12) and your own retirement. Funny how I don't hear the Republican Party taking a stand on disassembling Social Security and public education. These are SOCIALIST programs!!!!!!!

Educate yourself on what you are saying.

[UpstateNY]

You don't have to do this anymore bmickey. Everyone who has any brains knows that the name calling was only politics-as-usual for the McCain group. Senator McCain never thought that Barack was a socialist

McCain voted for the socializing Wall Street. In Alaska Sarah Palin is very proud that she can send huge checks to every person (tax-paying or not) that she gets from the Oil companies. As she explained the people owned the natural resources.

The big guys want to keep the profits and have us share in the losses. Does that really sound right to you? Does it sound right that people die because they can't afford medications; that people who work very hard don't have health insurance when that is a right in almost every other industrialized modern nation in the world.

I'm feeling great today! It's really not a time for name-calling. We showed the world what can be done and I'm proud - every American should be proud (wheter or not your voted for Barack). The tent is big - come on uder it. We'll need everyone working together to make America great!

[w&cheneysuck]

AWESOME! No more talking points for Fox....

[urfree2speak]

I see, so he actually went "girly man" on fox cable...ov­er Obama...he like the rest of the HATERS over there will be right back to the ole' saltie mine......­.....soon. After the "shock and awe" fades.....

[serindipity803]

Yes, I am shocked Juan "came out" - he was such a hater of Obama, I couldn't stand to listen to him during the entire campaign, so I didn't. I hope- now - that everyone who hated so vehemently in this race tries a different higher road. We have so much to do to heal as a nation, surely they cannot just keep chewing on the same lies. Let us hope we can join hands and try each day to live better and kinder toward and with one another.

[bmickey31]

Juan is not a hater, he looked at the obama race with logicaly, he was not a push over and adopt into the frenzy, that so many obama supportors did. He looked at Obama objectivley, and made his points when he saw problems. All in all he was in support of Obama, but why is it wrong for someone to disagree with the candidate of their choice, or to point out their mistakes. Too many voters hate anything bad to be said about their candidate because they do not want to look at the faults of thier chosen one. Next couple of years will be interesting in change