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When Newt Gingrich turned Juan Williams into the perfect foil during the January 19 Republican candidate debate in Myrtle Beach, SC, ironic symbolism certainly abounded. Aside from the fact that Newt vaulted himself into the lead by beating up on an African-American journalist on MLK Day in the Cradle of the Confederacy, there was the additional fact that Williams is a Fox News panelist who briefly became a conservative celebrity after NPR fired him for on-air remarks deemed insensitive to Muslims. The debate audience didn’t know or care, presumably viewing Williams as just another “race-card” player who needed to be slapped down for suggesting anyone railing against the work ethic of food stamp recipients might be appealing to atavistic motives.
Interestingly enough, Williams hasn’t agreed to shut up and go away. At The Hill today, he reiterates his concern about the racially coded language being used by all of the GOP presidential candidates:
The language of GOP racial politics is heavy on euphemisms that allow the speaker to deny any responsibility for the racial content of his message. The code words in this game are “entitlement society” — as used by Mitt Romney — and “poor work ethic” and “food stamp president” — as used by Newt Gingrich. References to a lack of respect for the “Founding Fathers” and the “Constitution” also make certain ears perk up by demonizing anyone supposedly threatening core “old-fashioned American values.”
Makes you wonder how much longer Williams can stay at Fox.
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CJ on January 30, 2012 3:34 PM:
Here's a quote about the Southern Strategy from Lee Atwater that's worth remembering--
You start out in 1954 by saying, "Nigger, nigger, nigger." By 1968 you can't say "nigger"—that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states' rights and all that stuff. You're getting so abstract now [that] you're talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you're talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites.
And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that if it is getting that abstract, and that coded, that we are doing away with the racial problem one way or the other. You follow me—because obviously sitting around saying, "We want to cut this," is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than "Nigger, nigger".
Repack Rider on January 30, 2012 3:35 PM:
He'll stay at FOX until hey find another "House...er, servant."
LAC on January 30, 2012 3:36 PM:
Williams woke up to the reality that all his tapdancing at Faux News might be for naught? Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
T2 on January 30, 2012 3:37 PM:
screw him.
Greytdog on January 30, 2012 3:38 PM:
Juan Williams will stay wherever they pay him. It's not about journalism, or business ethics, or even personal integrity. It's all about the money.
chi res on January 30, 2012 3:40 PM:
With T2. He made his bed...
K in VA on January 30, 2012 3:42 PM:
Juan Williams at Fox is a textbook explanation of the phrase, "The exception proves the rule."
Does he truly not understand his role there?
Gov't Mule on January 30, 2012 3:50 PM:
Can't say that I feel sorry for Williams. For years, he sat conspicuously silent about the race-baiting on Fox such as the terrorist fist bump comment from four years ago. Only when the barbs were hurled at Williams himself, did he object. I don't condone what happened to him but IMO, Williams' passive acquiescence allowed this practice to continue unabated. Perhaps he should have heeded the words of Martin Niemoller.
Sgt. Gym Bunny on January 30, 2012 3:52 PM:
You mean that Fox News hasn't extended its offer to Herman Cain yet????? You know there's a one-negro quota at Fox. They wouldn't want their viewers thinking that the darkies are taking over Fox News!!!!!
c u n d gulag on January 30, 2012 4:01 PM:
Poor Juan,
He could have been on Wingnut Welfare for life.
But, some semblance of dignity remained, and he questioned his treatment.
If you want to stay the 'house Nigra,' you don't question how your Massa's treat you.
You hope for the best.
Expect the worse.
And hope for something in the middle.
Mr. Williams forgot the 2nd point.
Mrbarky on January 30, 2012 4:01 PM:
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I love the comments from all the mouth-breathers that nobody can ever mention racism ever or else they are the real racist. Juan is a complete tool. Hope he chokes on all the money Rupert is paying him.
sick-n-effn-tired. on January 30, 2012 4:01 PM:
He would have been gone in a flash if his comments had been directed at anyone else other than Newt. Faux Nooze hates Newt almost as much as Mitt.
These last comments I believe will number his days as house Negro.
hells littlest angel on January 30, 2012 4:02 PM:
Allen West will be looking for work come November. Don't think Williams can compete with that.
Ron Byers on January 30, 2012 4:14 PM:
What is Juan going to do after he is fired? He has burnt all his bridges. Will he, can he, have a future as a talking head?
hells littlest angel on January 30, 2012 4:31 PM:
Ron Byers: NewsMax is typically the destination for washed-up Foxers.
jim filyaw on January 30, 2012 5:24 PM:
i don't care how good they are at kissing boots or various parts of the white anatomy, guys like clarence thomas, thomas sowell, herman cain, and juan williams are still n*ggers to 90% of the g.o.p.
SecularAnimist on January 30, 2012 5:44 PM:
Ed Kilgore wrote: "... he reiterates his concern about the racially coded language being used by all of the GOP presidential candidates..."
Oh, really?
And where was Juan Williams' "concern" in January 2009, when he sat on Bill O'Reilly's show and called Michelle Obama "Stokely Carmichael in a designer dress" and said "her instinct is to start with this 'blame America', you know, 'I'm the victim' ...".
Perhaps his "concern" is that the "racially coded language being used by all of the GOP presidential candidates" is too subtle?
j on January 30, 2012 6:11 PM:
Poor Juan, what took him so long.
R on January 30, 2012 7:07 PM:
Thank you, Secular Animist. Remember this? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/10/21/ST2010102102028.html
Jamie on January 30, 2012 8:14 PM:
It seems Juan may have run out of friends
MJ on January 30, 2012 8:54 PM:
@Jamie "It seems Juan may have run out of friends"
Maybe Juan can apply to be Stephen Colbert's new black friend since it looks like the Cain has docked at the Newt station.
bluestatedon on January 31, 2012 12:32 AM:
I don't have any more sympathy for Williams than I do the hen who chooses to go to the party at the fox den. You dance with what eats you.
Another Steve on January 31, 2012 2:35 PM:
"What is Juan going to do after he is fired? He has burnt all his bridges. Will he, can he, have a future as a talking head?"
Well, when Fox fires him he'll be a complete has-been held in open contempt by everyone he ever worked for. So, naturally, there'll be a seat waiting for him at CNN who will consider him a smart, savvy, insightful power play guy.