Juan Williams Chokes Up Discussing Obama Speech, Benediction (VIDEO)

Fox News political contributor Juan Williams choked up while discussing Barack Obama's inauguration speech and the benediction delivered by civil rights activist Reverend Joseph Lowery.

Williams said Lowery's benediction, which opened with lines from "Lift Every Voice and Sing," known as the black national anthem, left him "so emotional."

"The thought, that that guy, Joe Lowery," Williams said fighting back tears, "Oh my God, he is the real deal. There are other people who might say that they were there with Dr. King, and suffered the indignities, but Joe Lowery really did. For Joe Lowery, today, to see that son, that black boy, become President of the United States. I can't tell you. And sometimes in your life you just think, 'What a country! How could it be?' I never thought that would happen. But there it was, and I just thank god that Joe Lowery was able in that moment to talk about the power of silent tears, of where our fathers had cried."

Watch:

Williams also teared up on air on Election Night, saying, "This is America at its grandest."

Comments

[bebrave]

07:46 PM on 02/04/2009

Nippyfan: Let me just say as an AA (middle aged) female that was HiLARIOUS... I got you...but, bottom line Juan has to feed his family too Steppin Fetchit and the like... Eyes on The Prize, never forget... (And.. I always thought he secretly voted for Obama anyway). Peace!

[labman]

03:41 PM on 01/22/2009

Williams is filled with emotion about the presidents speech and the benediction on inauguration day , and will follow the script on Sunday morning by throwing the president under the bus. Juan needs to take a long hard look at how much his integrity is worth to him.

[CabaretArtist]

02:31 PM on 01/22/2009

poor Juan; he doesn't know whether to wind his butt or scratch his watch

[nippyfan]

02:22 PM on 01/22/2009

House negroes have feelings too.

[FanofPaine]

02:28 PM on 01/22/2009

so wrong. I may disagree with Juan on most everything, but this wasn't necessary.

[nippyfan]

06:42 PM on 01/22/2009

Yes, as a comedy writer I tend to offend more than pretend.
But I really don't care for the ways of Juan Williams. I believe him to be conflicted and the not so great, opportunistic, Juan is winning.

Comedy is tragic and subjective. Some people laugh, some cry. And if nobody laughs, well then...I cry. :-)

He was crying because he tried to align himself with people who didn't want Obama to win and he picked the wrong team. Many black people believed it would never , ever happen. Especially older ones, like my Great-grandfather who worked on the railroads in world war 2 as a porter escorting soldiers wives across the country, but couldn't drink from the same water fountain. He is 99 years old and alive and well. And he still can't believe it.

[cherylmo]

02:20 PM on 01/22/2009

Juan Williams is a liberal journalist who tries to maintain a degree of objectivity and because he does this, he gets criticized because he was critical at times of Obama. This is one reason I became an independent and left the Democrats. Just because I was a woman, I was expected to be pro-Abortion rights, and was told that I was not really a liberal. When are you all going to learn that a robot can take one ideology and work within that framework, but a thinking liberal will deliberate about each issue and take a stand?

[PDXTransplant]

01:52 PM on 01/22/2009

I wonder if he was flogged by InSannity after that touching statement? Where was old Juan the past two years? The truth shall set you free Mr. Williams.

[NoSillyName]

12:08 PM on 01/22/2009

Anyone who wasn't/isn't moved by BHO's words and delivery has no soul.

[Wanjiru]

12:08 PM on 01/22/2009

..Juan Williams???...

....awwww please, shut up and go sit down somewhere!

.

[scared4ALL]

09:48 AM on 01/22/2009

Juan Williams is a traitor to all black people. Too little too late. He stays part of the fox spin until he apologizes for being on the wrong side and is truly remorseful for all his deceit.

[MarieFara]

12:34 AM on 01/22/2009

The Bushes are American royalty???? Are you kidding me???

[PDXTransplant]

01:53 PM on 01/22/2009

What they meant was a RoyalPainInTheAss

[SnapShots]

11:55 PM on 01/21/2009

There's something strange about Fox. It's creepy in a Stepford kind of way.

[nippyfan]

06:44 PM on 01/22/2009

shhhhh, they are watching us right now.

[mocha59]

11:39 PM on 01/21/2009

As usual, he missed the point. As usual, he denied the obvious. As usual, he was offensive.

At least he got something out of it, I guess. Disappointing, as usual.

[PollyTics]

10:48 PM on 01/21/2009

He's simply a phony...one big fake who likes to pander to whatever group will be to his benefit. (I shouldn't have watched that clip, I'm really fuming now and this after such a lovely day). I think I need some mashed potatoes and roast chicken...

[PollyTics]

10:45 PM on 01/21/2009

I'm glad Juan Williams felt moved about what yesterday meant, but I almost want to ask him what he ever did to help bring this situation into fruition.

For an African American man to be moved at this event, which he seemingly fought so hard "against", seems hypocritical at best.

Perhaps I have just become far too hardened as to the partisanship that has existed for years in America, but this segment (of TV) made me really angry at Williams more than tearful about yesterday. I want to say "How dare he pull this now"!

...and this comes from someone who was teary eyed and joyful all day yesterday.

[InfosolutionWiz]

02:08 AM on 01/22/2009

SO TRUE! Well Said!

[Twentylaws]

03:28 AM on 01/22/2009

Juan Williams is dealing with his inner demons. Remember this conservative wrote a book titled "Stupid Black men"! He has been very critical of Blacks over the years in a tone of" I'm not one of them" kind of retort! This division amongst the races in America has affected people in different ways.

[RomeoinFl]

10:33 PM on 01/21/2009

That was nice