On Wednesday’s "Your World" on FNC, host Neil Cavuto talked with talk show host Montel Williams about the election and asked if Williams was backing anyone, to which Williams responded: "You know, I'm into the election year, but I got to tell you I'm -- here I'll do something controversial, so it'll get us both fired. But I'm sick right now of the way the media is attempting to control this election rather than just report the news." [audio available here]
Williams' condemnation of media went further: "People keep being called or claim to play a race card, when it's really us in the media that are playing the race card, trying to bait people to play into the race card. I'm sick of some of what I feel is some of the most divisive politics that I've seen in the last 20 years."
Cavuto again attempted to find out if Williams was supporting any particular candidate, but instead Williams articulated his responsibility as an influential television personality not to endorse anyone:
And I -- can I say this, honestly, different than most people in my position in this world, I really assume the responsibility of being invited into people's living rooms for 17 years as a really, really serious responsibility. I have the ability to convince people to make decisions on things and I don't have a right to convince you who to vote for. So I'd rather say, 'let me educate you.' I'm not going to tell you who I'm going to vote for, I'm going to go into that booth, pull my lever, and come out and not tell a soul and be proud of what I did.Story Continues Below Ad ↓
When Cavuto pressed him, "You dodged me, you dodged me, you didn't answer a question." Williams declared that all the candidates were too "divisive" for his taste:
Well, you know what can I tell you this though, I'll tell you who I don't like, and I don't like any one of the candidates right now. And so far Hillary's been in the mix of this a lot, and so has McCain, and Obama has tried his best to sidestep it, but he does it in a different way. Anybody's who's trying to play a divisive game right now in a country that needs to be all-inclusive and try to figure out a way to get through this together, I will not get my vote, period.
Here is the full transcript:
4:46PM
NEIL CAVUTO: You into this election year? You got a horse in the race?
MONTEL WILLIAMS: You know, I'm into the election year, but I got to tell you I'm -- here I'll do something controversial, so it'll get us both fired. But I'm sick right now of the way the media is attempting to control this election rather than just report the news. In the last couple of weeks I keep seeing things pop up that's really angering me. People keep being called or claim to play a race card, when it's really us in the media that are playing the race card, trying to bait people to play into the race card. I'm sick of some of what I feel is some of the most divisive politics that I've seen in the last 20 years.
CAVUTO: Who's at fault? The media?
WILLIAMS: We are, but also some of the candidates, because they then allow this to happen and don't go back to pull things back. I'm --
CAVUTO: Do you have a candidate?
WILLIAMS: I don't. And I -- can I say this, honestly, different than most people in my position in this world, I really assume the responsibility of being invited into people's living rooms for 17 years as a really, really serious responsibility. I have the ability to convince people to make decisions on things and I don't have a right to convince you who to vote for. So I'd rather say, 'let me educate you.' I'm not going to tell you who I'm going to vote for, I'm going to go into that booth, pull my lever, and come out and not tell a soul and be proud of what I did.
CAVUTO: You just dodged me. You dodged me, you dodged me, you didn't answer a question.
WILLIAMS: Did I dodge you?
CAVUTO: You dodged me.
WILLIAMS: Well, you know what can I tell you this though, I'll tell you who I don't like, and I don't like any one of the candidates right now. And so far Hillary's been in the mix of this a lot, and so has McCain, and Obama has tried his best to sidestep it, but he does it in a different way. Anybody's who's trying to play a divisive game right now in a country that needs to be all-inclusive and try to figure out a way to get through this together, I will not get my vote, period.
CAVUTO: Wow. Alright, Montel best of luck, congratulations.
WILLIAMS: Thank you so much.
CAVUTO: Great run, my friend, great run.
WILLIAMS: Oh, thank you.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.















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Hip-Hip-Hooray...Montel is
May 14, 2008 - 18:12 ET by bigtimerHip-Hip-Hooray...Montel is right IMO...good for him.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
If Montel gets it, can the
May 14, 2008 - 18:53 ET by forest hunterIf Montel gets it, can the rest of the world be far behind?
I equate what the MSM is
May 14, 2008 - 18:28 ET by ConservativeRexI equate what the MSM is doing to a coup. They will be the ones who re-write the history books about a BHO presidency. They are the ones who benefit the most in a BHO presidency.
The American people are getting railroaded into this and the "objective media" should be ashamed of themselves, but I think shame is an emotion the media gave up on decades ago. McCain needs to fight back against these heathens, but I do not think he will. It will be the American people who will suffer from McCain's timidness.
CR... McCain has never
May 14, 2008 - 18:38 ET by bigtimerCR...
McCain has never been timid in his life in the Senate...problem is he is more a dem than a repub. plus he thinks the msm still might really really love his respectful campaign and all that jazz....as he sticks it to us conservatives and the base of his party...but he's the maverick doncha' know.
Just my two cents....
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
It ain't just John McCain ...
May 14, 2008 - 22:33 ET by BodiniWe have to add folks like Lindsay Graham, my esteemed Senator form the great state of SC, who also repeatedly betrayed the base! The republican party (intentionally lower case) has duped me for the last time. Anybody but McCain and Graham and the rest of the libs in 2008. As for me and my house, we're voting for any Independent ... or Libertarian ... regardless! Workhorse Henry Brown for congressman again ... you've got to be kidding! What has he ever done ... but take payola from special interests?
Bodini... I could not
May 14, 2008 - 22:50 ET by bigtimerBodini...
I could not agree more...I have watched him be bullied by McCain and Warner and of course you always have a handful of other RINO's who follow like Collins and Snowe ect...following, Little Lindsay has been a disappointment...what a follower... he came up with a great amendment..McCain stepped in and destroyed it...it had to do with the enemy in Gitmo getting rights in our courts....oh yeah...habeas corpus.
He did what they said...hat a butt boy...JAG officer or not.
I cannot stand him...hope he is defeated too.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Hey Conservative Rex
May 14, 2008 - 21:27 ET by geoff.galeRemember reading Orwell's 1984? What the msm is doing now is NEWSPEAK plain and simple. They re-write history to fit their narrative. They employ the Big Lie Often Enough (BLOE) strategy to support their aims. They attempt to smear talk radio and conservative blogs as needing the very restraint that their actions call for.
It's all right there in 1984, for anyone who cares to read it.
The only "cure" is for the people to revolt against it. Enough people need to get angry about being lied to all the time and be prepared to do something about it, in order to cause them to fear for their continued revenues. Hell, their viewership share is dropping quarter by quarter, anyway. If we could organise a massive grass roots campaign, we could make them irrelevant and redundant in a week - advertisers will pull their money like greased lightning if they think their continued association with something is going to hurt sales.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
"Williams declared that all
May 14, 2008 - 18:30 ET by Chris Norman"Williams declared that all the candidates were too "divisive" for his taste"
It sounds like Montel has grown more thoughtful over the years - maybe being spokesman for those evil pharmaceutical companies has something to do with it.
Still, the only group where McCain has caused division is within the Republican Party - and I'm not too sure he cares about us...
I had kinda the same
May 14, 2008 - 20:55 ET by celatorI had kinda the same thought. I wonder if meeting real Americans in all those cities, in all sorts of circumstances caused him to reflect a little more deeply than the average "entertainer".
I'm glad to hear a tv
May 14, 2008 - 18:41 ET by mjgI'm glad to hear a tv personality who is really honest. I like Montel.
Thanks for telling it like
May 14, 2008 - 18:47 ET by wiwfThanks for telling it like it is, Montel!
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Refreshing to hear this on
May 14, 2008 - 18:58 ET by taterRefreshing to hear this on the tv...I liked how he said his statement is controversial though, not really, anyone with a brain realizes what the media is trying to do. It is just the first time I've heard someone say it on tbv.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
I've been desperately
May 14, 2008 - 19:10 ET by balboaI've been desperately wondering when the former host of crazy talk show faction was going to weigh in with their thoughts on the media. I anxiously await to hear next from Jenny Jones, Morton Downey Jr., and Vicki Lawrence.
Well, first of all, Morton
May 14, 2008 - 19:14 ET by Chris NormanWell, first of all, Morton Downey Jr. is dead, so you'll just have to wait to get his opinion. Second, I think Montel William's opinion is as valed as, say, Joy Behar's and Rosie O'D's
1. That's what would make
May 14, 2008 - 19:15 ET by balboa1. That's what would make his opinion even zanier!
2. You are correct, sir.
You're too quick - you
May 14, 2008 - 19:19 ET by Chris NormanWell, if you call him up at a seance, you better make sure it's located in a smoking section. You're too quick - you didn't give me a chance to correct my typo on "valid".
I loved watching MD
May 14, 2008 - 19:33 ET by balboaI loved watching MD Jr.
"Zip it, ya' puke!"
Did you know Rush Limbaugh
May 14, 2008 - 19:48 ET by Chris NormanDid you know Rush Limbaugh replaced Downey at KFBK news radio in Sacramento? I was listening the day Downey got himself canned by telling the infamous "Supplies! Supplies!" joke. I remember at the time thinking "See ya, Mort. You're outta here"...
this is not fair
May 15, 2008 - 00:02 ET by candanceLike it or not, Montel is an established voice in the media and has the right to be critical.
"Established voice"? So are
May 15, 2008 - 10:13 ET by balboa"Established voice"? So are all the people I mentioned.
My mom and I
May 14, 2008 - 22:20 ET by BobAnthonySaw this interview on Cavuto today. She said THANK YOU when Montel said:
"it's really us in the media that are playing the race card, trying to bait people to play into the race card."
I said, "there you go." You know, for someone who I would think as liberal, Montel seems to get it. Guess his time in the Navy (or Coast Guard) has paid off. That and a good attitude despite living with MS.
Personal story, I had an aunt affected by MS. She's been dead I assume for many years. In her honor, I did some paid volunteer work for my local MS chapter, giving promo stuff to area businesses about the MS walk. This was six years ago.
BA... I have always
May 14, 2008 - 22:30 ET by bigtimerBA...
I have always considered Montel and his shows far better than most...although I quit watching them all years ago he was always a gentleman in my opinion...I also consider him more of a libertarian that anything.
I happen to agree with him too about quite a few things.
Sorry about your aunt...I have a good friend that is and has been afflicated with MS for years....my heart goes out to your loss.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
question about race in this...race
May 14, 2008 - 23:14 ET by balboaAfter WV, isn't it clear that race still plays a part in this election?
boa...well yeah...the race
May 15, 2008 - 00:03 ET by bigtimerboa...well yeah...the race is on....
Fun isn't it?
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Bal, you are right.
May 15, 2008 - 00:08 ET by R D HelmAnd if Broom Hilda's coven would stop bringing it up at every turn, just perhaps we could get on with it. :-)
Hey RD... I don't get
May 15, 2008 - 00:16 ET by bigtimerHey RD...
I don't get what you mean about Hill's team bringing it up all the time...heck it is the msm that is...and only the msm is...unless I am missing something...fill me in.
Please.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
bt,
May 15, 2008 - 16:50 ET by R D HelmI was referring to Broom Hitler's statement the other day that white people are going to vote for me, or whatever it was she said along that line.
Her campaign has pretty much gone through a whole deck of race cards when it comes to Obama.
clunk
May 14, 2008 - 23:59 ET by candanceThat sound you heard was my jaw hitting the floor from shock. I agree with Montel Williams about the election...it's like the Twilight Zone.
Undercover "Obamiac"
May 15, 2008 - 00:31 ET by RMR- "Obama has tried his best to sidestep it, but he does it in a different way" - Yep! He is voting Obama.
I caught that too...
May 15, 2008 - 02:20 ET by AJSHOPEI was surprised to see everyone praising Montel for his "straight" talk. He pretty much bashed McCain and Hillary and just barely slapped Obama on the hand by saying that he does things "in a different way" which is what Obama wants everyone to think. Obama is different, he's for change!!!
Annapolis grad LCDR Williams
May 15, 2008 - 09:05 ET by SickofLibsAnnapolis grad LCDR Williams For President