A Reporter Reflects on His Own Reaction to the Election

I was watching a British correspondent early,early, Wednesday morning. He was reporting from London. He commented about the facial expressions of people in the street after finding out the results of the election. The pleasant smiles and the self-reflection in their eyes. One "chap" told me, "There really is an America, I was'nt really sure until now".

It is wonderful that a man with a different skin color then us white people. However, why do they keep calling Obama an african- american. His father was black and his mother was white. He is as much an African american as he is white man.

Why would he not be emotional? This was an historic moment and after all of the discrimination and bigotry that African Americans have had to deal with he has every right to be emotional about Obama's election. As some else pointed out on here Walter Cronkite the journalist's journalist was emotional while reporting Kennedy's assasination so why is there a double standard for an African American reporter?

TobyHill: You're right... You can't go back to 'those days'. The election of Obama is the only lift that we needed to make. It took forty years - many doubted it would happen in their life time. But we did it. It didn't mean that much to you because you never shared the struggle.

Yes, I am proud again to be an American. For the last eight year i was in shame and i am not the only one.

I still cant understand why people are crying. We all know why he got elected. Even a host on the View said this is first time she had voted. Hold you tears for now because you will be crying and complaining after 4 years.

Well said Frank, I wonder the same thing. Obama is Bi Racial and calling him anything other then that is only perpetuating racial barriers. MSM is putting him in a category that he himself does not. Call him what he is.. A Bi Racial President Elect for a VERY diverse, multi racial country.

I couldnt be more proud!

Sometimes it is good to read comments that are uplifting to the spirits rather than all megatives. We are in a very dismall situation and then some of us still have the courage to add more insults to our injured situation. Thanks to all that showed their good human natured and helped us put a celebratory emotions.

This will not solve our economic or other problems, but our positive attitudes and an effort to help each other will help us to overcome an additional trouble.

We are a great nation with great people living in it. We have to live the way we want to. Look forward for a bright tomorrow.

I am Indian and I am not ashamed to admit I had tears in my eyes at the Obama's Speech.

America is a great nation, with a very controversial past and 80 million guns, while still leading world on both just and injust wars and support of both tyrannies and democracies. The history of blacks in this deeply racial history needs to be temepered now with an acceptance of the past and a move to the future. The blacks I see now are more happier - a mental state if happiness is in place, even if financial and social rise up the scale is a long way away. I am proud of my America now.

Look, I think it was OK for Steve to have that reaction, and while I loved the coverage that ABC provided for the election, it was obvious that Steve was having that reaction before they came to him with the live feed. Ultimately, that was a producers decision to have that on the air, and it seemed a little manipulative. No fault of Steve, because his reaction was natural, but it looked as it producers jumped from reporter to reporter until they got that reaction.

Thats just my opinion, I don't have a problem with it necessarily.

There's nothing wrong with a reporter being human and being caught up in the moment. This was an especially meaningful night for 10 of millions of people in our country, and a historic night for everyone. I was watching the coverage from Fox (because I like to keep an open mind and get both sides of the news) and their commentator, Juan Williams, had the same reaction. It was clear that it was an emotional moment for him, regardless of what channel he was on.

I saw nothing wrong with the reporter being emotional and sharing a small part of himself with the world. Would it have been considered wrong if Charlie Gibson (who is excellent at his job)had said the same thing? or shown the same emotions? hmmm. Anyway I like reporters who are real and have feelings thats just being a human being. I agree with those that say if we want cold, emotionless news just put on a teleprompter.

Thanks Megan, I am crying again!!

I am glad to see emotion from a reporter. I would wonder if he didn't show any emotion since it's a victory for his own race. Have we totally lost the show of emotion in this world so bad that ones job is to say a reporter has to be void of his or her humanity too? Well one things true especially if God said it in the Bible; "The love of many have waxed cold". Please ABC, we are the viewers of your channel and without the viewers there would'nt be an ABC so if we want to see the human side of your reporters then yes you should not complain or repremand the reporter who shows this side.

Outstanding! Thank you, Steve - your piece here DOES go to the heart of the matter. As a white man in America, no, I can't pretend to know how the feeling may have been to have Obama elected. Frankly, I didn't vote for Obama; my feeling was, he lacks experience. OK, fair enough - but now that it's done, that he's been elected? God bless you, Mr. President-elect, I'll support you; as you said the other night - 'I'll be your President, too'. And I AM starting to understand the feelings of black Americans dealing with this. The fact that Obama was elected provides a fundamental shift in how we Americans can relate to each other, for the better. WhoEVER you voted for, you've GOT to know THAT'S a good thing for America!

Steve, I am sorry that you are having to go through so much scrutiny about showing your natural emotions on television! It was very heart warming to see so many Americans of all nationalities celebrating "CHANGE"! Under the leadership of President Obama, I feel that eventually there will be more world peace and everyone (even those who cringe at the thought of having a BLACK MAN as the leader of this Country, which is what he is, because that is what he has to mark on any applciations that ask RACE) is going to prosper from his leadership in the U.S.A! I personally am more excited to see Michelle Obama an INTELLIGENT, STRONG BLACK WOMEN representing this country as our FIRST LADY!!! Something that is rarely displayed amongst the wealthy Black Men in America (because they get caught up)! Congratulations America you stoop up, spoke and was heard loudly! Welcome President Obama and the First Family! My prayers are with you!!

steve i aint mad at you for your reaction! not only was i crying my husband was crying and so were my kids! this was a very emotional moment for everyone well for those of us that hasve emotions! for those of you who want to keep harping on the fact that he his half black and half white get over it the man is a human being! it dont matter what he half of! what matters is he is the PRESIDENT of these united states and he has the next four and (hopefully eight)to make it better and to those of you who have complaints about him find someplace else to live until his term is over so we wont have to hear your whining! this is the peoples president! this is the one that won he is the best man for the job cause if he wasn't then he wouldnt be the one waiting to move his family to 1600 penns. ave so people please cant we move beyond the race thing and look at our new president as just a man who has a big job on his hands to clean up the mess that was made over the last eight years?
people please!thank you and best of luck to you president obama and may god keep and protect you and your family-amen

I did not react quite as strongly as most of the posters here because--and this strikes me as very interesting--I never doubted that this country could elect an African American president. It just doesn't shock me at all or even mildly surprise me. I have always thought that a competent, inclusive African American candidate could be elected. Whether that says that I am naive or what, I don't know but at this point, I appear to have been proven right!

So while I can understand someone with an upbringing different than mine questioning whether the US could elect an African American president, I think that the greatest thing that will come from his election is that that sort of cynicism has been defeated.

The Cronkite reference is out-of-place here. Kennedy had just been assassinated--completely unexpected.

In Obama's case there was a 50% chance that he would be elected. Professional journalists need to keep their personal feeling and emotions under control and report objectively.

If one can't, get out of the business!

Professional journalists need to keep their personal feeling and emotions under control and report objectively.

If one can't, get out of the business!