Juan Williams Insists He Isn't Liberal, Just a 'Foil'
Juan Williams hit it off with the I-man on the July 11 broadcast of Imus in the Morning. Apparently, Williams, who was fired by NPR in 2010, is the "foil" for the conservative personalities on Fox News. When Imus asked if Fox News was "right wing," Williams responded with "given what I'm up against, I think that's the way it comes across. If you're arguing politics with Krauthammer and Brit Hume or Eric Boiling or Dana Perino–everybody’s on the right so you say, hey, wait a minute there’s another way to think of this. But, in general, I don't know I would define myself as a liberal. I know most of the audience wouldn’t --But obviously, that is my job to be a foil for strong right-wing views."
However, while midway through the interview when Imus and Williams were talking about the real criticisms with Fox News, Mr. Williams reiterated that Fox News does disseminate serious content with journalistic integrity, especially in their six o'clock slot [Special Report], but then made a bizarre statement concerning how he was able to be on the network due to his conservativeleanings. This coming from a man who claims to be "foil" for "right wing views."
DON IMUS: That’s my point. That is the point I was going to make, that you sort of clumsily made, the point is that if you look at Megyn Kelly, although she can freak out once in a while but not very often. But if you look at Megyn Kelly and you like at Shep smith –oh my god—I mean Shep smith can turn into a commie sometimes. If you look at those news programs -- or Bret Baier -- those are news programs. I mean—I would say what it is. But I mean when somebody derides and disparages fox news, they really mean Hannity or they mean some of these other nuts, you know.
JUAN WILLIAMS: Well Sure
IMUS: I can't tell you how it irritates me. And I have no dog in this. I don't care.
WILLIAMS: If you want to put it that way, we're like brothers; yeah you've got a dog in it because I'm your dog on this one. I mean I'm there; I'm there every day. So I wouldn't exist. Now Let's just put the shoe on the other foot. Imagine -- imagine for a second that my job was to come in and to be a personality on, let's say, another major cable news network and they say oh you know what? He's pretty conservative, because I'd be pretty conservative over there, i don't think I'd get past the parking lot because they don't want any personalities that aren't –you know---with the program. But on Fox I exist. I'm one of the team.
On the one-hand, Williams insists he's a liberal foil, but that he's too conservative for CNN or MSNBC. That's quite an indictment from a liberal about how far Fox's competitors are.
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Comments
This is the ongoing meme of
Submitted by robert108 on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 5:49pm.
This is the ongoing meme of the left that being conservative is somehow the opposite of being liberal, and that there is some sort of continuum between the two, so that you can be anywhere along that continuum. The truth is that liberalism is based upon moral relativity, while conservatism is based upon certain principles, so that they are not, in any way, equivalent. They also keep disseminating the lie that conservatives are "right wing". Of course, that's an indirect way of painting us as fascists, when they are the ones who want govt to control the means of production.
robert108, Well said. I had
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:00pm.
robert108,
Well said. I had never thought about it as you just wrote.
Most conservatives I know don't consider themselves Republican, yes the vast majority vote Republican because in their eyes, as well as mine, it is the lesser of two evils and the one party that at some small level, still adheres, more often than the Democratic party, to the Constitution.
Liberalism is based on the French Revolution and the idiotic and atheist ideas that came out of that horrendous, in-human revolution where countless upon countless of Catholic French went through EXACTLY the same thing that European Jews went through under the hand of the Nazis. Today high schools and colleges speak about these ideas as the "Enlightment", but the last thing these ideas were were enlighten.
As someone told me once, since these revolutions happen almost at the same time. The American Revolution was a God/Christian based Revolution. The French Revolution was an atheist based revolution.
and it is so true. Liberals are the ones who love it when government is involved in every single aspect of our lifes telling us how to eat, sleep, raise our children, etc. We Conservatives understand the importance of government, but we want a small government which fears its citizens, not a government which is feared by its law abiding citizens.
Thanks. The essential
Submitted by robert108 on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:14pm.
Thanks. The essential difference, in my perception, between the French and American Revolutions lies in one word: "opportunity". It is one thing to recognize equal opportunity, as the rest is up to the individual after that, but "equality" requires totalitarian govt to impose equal outcomes, and we already have plenty of examples of how that works out.
Foil?
Submitted by Curly on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:00pm.
As in "foil hat"...yeah....libtard!
Juan for the ages ...
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:16pm.
If this excuse wasn't so absurd on its face it might actually make sense because Juan's regurgitation of liberal/Democrat talking points is so inept, he's slapped down so easily, he could well use the excuse, "Hey, I don't actually believe this crap, it's just my job to parry with all these smart conservatives and it's all the left has."
Juan is not a foil, he's a shill and doing the best he can with what he has to work with.
His greatest asset is most of us genuinely like Juan, (he was once a sincere and fairly objective moderate/liberal) and are disappointed he makes his living being a partisan hack.
We tried to like Juan when he was unfairly fired by NPR.
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 2:00am.
Unfortunately, whatever sympathy he garnered from that episode he has since worn off with his wrong headed views and non stop mouth. If he doesn't really believe the stuff he is saying then he should get another job.
Juan - give it up And Beckel too
Submitted by alvin on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:30pm.
Juan- you can't get more than one sentence in before they interrupt and talk over you. You're the guy on the beach that gets sand kicked in your face. Fox viewers must like that, of course, so you're filling a role. Everybody needs a job..
Even, alvin, if it involves ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 6:43pm.
gathering up acorns of liberal misinformation and bringing them to these threads.
MD
I actually kind of like Juan, but Beckel?
Submitted by James3 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 12:43am.
Bob Beckel is the most annoying lib I can think of. He is the posterboy liberal democrat. Smarmy, sneering, racist, condescending, insulting, etc. Nevermind the facts Bob, just hurl insults with that drunken stupor look on your fat face. Fox should sh*tcan him.
What about Colmes? In his own way he is just as bad as...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:54am.
Beckel. The one who would like a permanent gig as the residence Liberal on Fox News is Marc Lamont Hill. Advice to Fox News: Don't even think about it!
Williams is another O'Reilly
Submitted by Chris Norman on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 7:49pm.
I notice that some here say that they personally like Williams but not his politics. I've read that here before from others. I just don't get it. One thing I find most annoying about Williams is his superior, condescending attitude towards his fellow panelists - that in his mind, his is the only opinion that's worth considering and everyone else there is a blind moron. This is pretty bad form for a panel discussion and I'm surprised that none of his fellow panelists have yet to call him on it. That, along with his dramatic exasperation with those he disagrees makes him a jackass. Sorry, I dislike Williams' politics and his personality. They are both insufferable.
On liking Juan
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 12:59am.
Your point is well taken but the essence of the comments about liking Juan Williams is that he ONCE was a fairly sensible, rational, and objective liberal. However, since Obama was elected he jumped the shark and has defended Obama and the Democrats and has evolved into a shill for the liberal agenda and a political hack.
I still like my liberal friends but am disappointed at their goose-stepping adherence to ideology and failed policies and their ever disintegrating intellectual honesty.
The same applies to Williams.
I agree with Norman's comment. To me there are three...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:39am.
insufferable Liberals on Fox News. Beckel, Colmes and Williams. I can put up with Powers...sometimes. P.S. There is one guy, whenever he is on, I fast forward his entire segment. His name: Marc Lamont Hill!
Could Have Fooled Me
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 7:50pm.
On the other hand, if what he says is true, Juan does a pretty good job of it, too good of a job in fact. There are times when he spouts Leftist talking points ad nauseum to the point when I either mute him or change over to another channel. Hope your reading this Juan, and Fox.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Whoaun Whoilliams...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:04pm.
...was clowned by Gov. Sununu tonight on Hannity. He's no foil...fool is more like it...
Horse hockey!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:18pm.
And the I (for "idiot")- man is a mush-mouthed moron.
He certainly acts like he
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 11:56pm.
He certainly acts like he wears tin foil.
I have gotten to the point that I can't stand listening...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:49am.
to him. I don't mind that he never has a loss of words it is just that he is always wrong and always predictable. I usually hit the mute button when his lips are moving. Now that he says he's just a "foil", it sort of explains why he takes the wrong side even when you suspect even he knows he is on the wrong side.
And he's wrong with such
Submitted by celator on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 9:04am.
And he's wrong with such confidence that it's clownish. I enjoy watching Brit Hume get on Juan's case and smack him with logic and common sense as needed.
Ok, Juan...
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 8:40am.
But a foil is a reference to the 16th century Italian style sword that is still common in fencing today. A sword was and is a tool used for self-protection and for attack.
So you just refered to yourself as a tool.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Here comes the chopper to chop off you head.
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 12:26pm.
Ahh, Juan, you need to thrust and parry if you intend to wield a foil, and not just slice as you always seem to do. All you do is slice, slice into any argument with your liberal opinions, leaving no room for debate and discussion. That's not acting as a foil. It's acting as a guillotine, chopping your opponent at neck as to preclude any discussion whatsoever. You, like most other liberal journalists, act more as an executioner than an honorable swordsman.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.