Fox News Contributor Repeatedly Punched By Michigan Pro-Union Protestors Tearing Down AFP Tent

[alp227]

(ETA at around 7pm PT: I finally found the video. Watch it for yourself at the V&M section and comment.)

New video has surfaced showing Fox News contributor Steven Crowder being repeatedly punched while trying to stop Michigan pro-union protestors from tearing down a conservative tent outside the state’s capitol.

Earlier this afternoon, we reported that pro-union protestors in Michigan tore down an Americans for Prosperity tent while rallying against the state’s new right-to-work law.

Crowder was apparently on the scene to conduct man-on-the-street interviews, when things seemed to have gotten quite tense.

One protester cursed at him as he attempted to ask a question; another grabbed Crowder and punched him in the head a few times. Later on, as a tent was being torn down, Crowder was hit again.

It is unclear, however, whether the violence against Crowder resulted from something we don’t see on-camera, or what sort of exchange occurred immediately before the punching.

link with pictures and video: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-contributor-repeatedly-punched-by-michigan-pro-union-protestors-tearing-down-afp-tent/

Mediaite is a more reliable source than the right wing blogs like The Blaze, twitchy, gateway pundit, etc. that are hyping up this story. Providing in case you don't want to give traffic to the enemy. Sucks how stories like this one distract from the cause.

[Union Scribe]

1. Good. nt

[alp227]

10. Why? Did Crowder threaten anyone?

[Union Scribe]

22. Oh fuck that.

Imported right wing assholes who go into a crowd of upset people fighting for their futures to deliberately pick at them deserve what they get.

[limpyhobbler]

72. +1 exactly

The worst thing about this is that the asshole probably got exactly what he wanted. He was trying to provoke a violent reaction for a youtube video, and he got that.

[AldoLeopold]

77. Oh I grinned - but dumb move

Dumb move.

[backwoodsbob]

146. you're right

we should beat up people who disagree with us.

[JohLast]

180. nice

[NCTraveler]

155. That is the exact argument teabaggers gave....

when Pelosi walked through the crowd with the gavel after the health care debate.

[santamargarita]

183. Yes they do! I hope it hurts like hell!

[still_one]

23. Why would he prevent protesters doing something. Is he reporting or is he

Inciting to make news

[lbrtbell]

79. Inciting the crowd, of course

Inciting people is how Fux makes news.

[frylock]

104. hard to tell with all the editing that was done..

why did it appear that the union guy got up off the ground prior to raining blows on this idiot?

[PeaceNikki]

154. Yup. at :39. He's CLEARLY getting up.

#t=38s

[BanTheGOP]

2. This does not advance our passive progressive Democratic Party agenda

Please consider the fact that the camerman PROVOKED this confrontation by asking his questions. I would consider locking this thread to prevent the rethugs from beating their simian meat over this.

[alp227]

8. He deserved to be punched just over questions? What?

I can't believe some of the responses here, really. (I haven't watched the video as I'm listening to Thom Hartmann right now, please elaborate re the video.)

[Melinda]

15. YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE VIDEO?

Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


How is it that you "can't believe some of the responses here, really." if you haven't watched the video?




You're just trying to stir shit up... I am outta here, bye!

[alp227]

17. OK I didn't read enough into the article...

"It is unclear, however, whether the violence against Crowder resulted from something we don’t see on-camera, or whether some sort of instigation occurred before the punching."

Damn.

[BanTheGOP]

30. I didnt' say that at ALL

I just SAID that anyone who goes into a firestorm and puts gasoline all over himself is NOT going to come out without being burnt. And EVERYONE here seems to miss the point: It is the REPUBLICANIST ASSHOLES which CREATED this situation in the first place! I don't know if my own temper could be held in under these conditions, and I damn sure know most progressive union members don't take crap from the Reaganauts.

[JaneyVee]

44. The video is cut until the fight. Who knows what he did to get the man so angry.

[Common Sense Party]

58. Does it matter?

Short of outright violence against the protester, the protester had NO right to punch him. It doesn't matter what questions he asked or what station he works for. Violence is NOT the appropriate response.

[frylock]

105. well then it does matter, doesn't it?

why does the union guy enter the frame from the bottom? was he knocked down? we don't know because all we're seeing is this dickhead's heavily edited version.

[Common Sense Party]

122. What do you think the Fox asswipe might have done to provoke the union guy?

[Melinda]

3. That video is heavily EDITED and does NOT show the provocation by AFP and Crowder

Bullshit propaganda by FAUX Snooze and Americans For Prosperity.

*Edited to add there are clearly agent provocateurs in play as well.

**Edited yet again to add: Criminal? REALLY? You take this obviously edited video at face value, do ya? Incredible.

[Melinda]

12. No, you did. You outright state that Union Members are criminal. Here is your direct quote:

"As much as I despise unfunny right wing "comedians" like Crowder, this kind of conduct he encountered is beyond unacceptable...it's criminal".

Tell me, alp... is the editing not apparent to you?

[Enrique]

66. yes Mediate did "challenge the video"

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 08:52 PM - Edit history (1)

It is unclear, however, whether the violence against Crowder resulted from something we don’t see on-camera, or what sort of exchange occurred immediately before the punching.

[Enrique]

51. yep, why the edit?

and WTF is Crowder doing getting in their faces like that. This stinks big time. We'll see if Crowder presses charges and what the eyewitnesses will say about it.

[frylock]

106. why does the union guy enter the frame from the bottom?

was he knocked to the ground prior to swinging on Crowder?

[upaloopa]

4. I guess the revolution won't be televised.

There's going to be more from where that came

[woo me with science]

21. +1

Predictable as hell.

[grasswire]

5. FOX news "contributor"?

What is a "contributor"??

A freeper?

A self-appointed fan?

What?

[stevenleser]

62. Not a host, but not an unpaid guest either

Someone who Is an employee of Fox News but isn't a host.

[Jamaal510]

148. A contributor is a non-host who appears on a cable news show

to give their opinions.
Ex. Richard Wolfe from MSNBC.

[notadmblnd]

6. I'll tell you, I'm really having trouble having any sympathy for him.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. I hope it hurt

Crowder is an asshole.

[Arkana]

20. This.

If they can take perverse pleasure in seeing working people and union members get hurt, then I sure as hell will when one of their sniveling, snotnosed, overprivileged asshole "reporters" gets his ass handed to him.

I'm not a politician or a Democratic Party figure, so I can let my lizard brain run wild.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

11. ...

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Several points

For once reporter partially generated that. Once he was told to "get the fuck off my face," that is when you back away. Period. That means you get the hell out and not become part of the story.

Second, this helps nobody

Third...there are hard editing points here, so we really do not have the full story.

Fourth, I know AFP are scum, I know people are pissed...this helps nobody.

[zappaman]

52. Bullshit

You, once again, have no clue what you are talking about.

"For once reporter partially generated that. Once he was told to "get the fuck off my face," that is when you back away. Period. That means you get the hell out and not become part of the story."

REAL reporters, something you would not know about, will do just about anything to get a story. Good ones are threatened ALL the time, but they don't back down. The ones who win pulitzers are the ones who DON'T back away when threatened.
People who pretend to be reporters, on the other hand, should back away. Period.

We don't know if this guy was a reporter or not, but you spreading your usual misinformation under the guise of "knowing it all" is nauseating.

[Hugabear]

84. Anyone working with FOX is not a real reporter

This asshole was looking to stir up trouble, and he got it.

[zappaman]

86. Most likely. n/t

[Marr]

131. He was looking to provoke, mock, and get a passive response.

He wanted to make them look stupid and weak. I've yet to meet a conservative who wasn't an abject coward, physically-- and I doubt the man would've gone within ten miles of that protest if he thought there was the slightest chance that he might actually get what he was asking for.

[sendero]

87. "Story"..

.... there was no "story". NOTHING on Fox News is a "story", it is 100% propaganda 100% of the time.

[zappaman]

88. You don't think today's actions were a "story"?

Not worth covering?

[sendero]

90. Only if you think..

.... a "reporter" walking into a biker bar and picking a fight is a "story". Had this asshat NOT BEEN THERE nothing would have happened.

Seriously, I'm looking forward to the day when these fucktards are afraid to go anywhere near the 99%.

[Lightbulb_on]

102. If that girl hadn't gone into the bar...

... dressed like that she wouldn't have gotten raped. She deserved what she got, right?

Same shitty faulty logic...

[sendero]

152. Not remotely...

... but I wouldn't expect you to understand the difference.

[Lefty48197]

137. That's an excellent point

There were about 20,000 of us pissed off Michiganian at the Capitol today. For the tea baggers to set up a tent and come taught us was stupid as hell on their part.

[sabrina 1]

145. Where was the real reporter in the video? Looked more like an agent provocateur, which

is pretty much what all of Fox is.

There was no 'real' reporter there. There is so much editing of the video it looks more like one of O'Keefe's jobs. And we know how all of them turned out once the unedited versions were uncovered.

[99Forever]

16. I'd lay odds that the asshole provoked it...

... or set it up. That kind of edited piece of crap "video" is SOP for assholes like him. Why don't you take your phony drivel over to freeperville where it belongs.

[brettdale]

151. He did provoke it

Never have I seen a reporter ask a question so aggressively, he was standing over the guy screaming at him.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. The notion of agent provocateur crosses my mind, but

really--who knows?

There are such things as union assholes too. If that's the story here, they may be assured that they are doing their cause no good.

Whoever was doing this, saner heads should have stepped in to stop the roughhousing & deprive Fux of the footage.

[lob1]

40. I think if the union caused the fight, the video would've shown that.

Since that part of the video starts with a protestor hitting the Faux propagandist without showing the provocation, I suspect the protestor was provoked. Just my 2 cents.

[backscatter712]

92. Who says the "protestor" wasn't actually a provocateur himself?

That's how Radio FOXwanda operates.

[leftstreet]

19. Ya fly your anti-labor colors at a pro-labor rally...

...ya take your chances

Why the FUCK does AFP have a 'conservative tent' there to begin with?

[WilliamPitt]

24. If you're going to a fox hunt,

don't dress as a fox.

[Lefty48197]

138. LOL n/t

.

[Nye Bevan]

160. If you're a woman out by herself in public, don't wear a short skirt (nt)

[WilliamPitt]

161. If you're orange football the number twelve skyscraper shoe, don't albicore that jetski in darkness

[Brickbat]

25. You caught me late in the day.

I'm all out of give-a-fuck.

[Starry Messenger]

34. +++

[OneGrassRoot]

61. ...

omg, I wasn't expecting that.

[Scootaloo]

26. No sympathy

If you pick a fight, you don't get to cry when you lose.

[Whovian]

27. He baited the lion and got bit.

He got what he was hoping for and what was deserved. It could have been a lot worse.

[AngryAmish]

28. It was because Crowder is a racist

[woo me with science]

29. So, are pepper spray assaults now the default response

by the government to Americans who choose to protest in this country?

Any comment on those?

[WhoIsNumberNone]

31. This is what happens when people have had enough, and GoebbelsCo sends one of their toadies out.

People aren't just going to sit there and take it while the Republiscum pass "Fuck The Working Class" legislation forever. Especially when they're doing it on their way out after losing an election.

[former-republican]

32. Violence is never the answer

This is a hot button issue in the state but a person attacking someone over words isn't right.

We have the moral high ground on this and also the support of the majority of the country.

[sakabatou]

50. +1

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

60. Fuck that,

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 08:52 PM - Edit history (1)

anyone who attacks a person's right to make a living deserves to get their ass kicked.

Your post optimizes the problem with the Democratic party. We never sufficiently fight back, we never get angry! I'm sick and tired of current-republicans trying to deprive liberals, and the working class of their right to express righteous anger.

[byeya]

63. Sam Gompers, when president of the AFL, was wrong to unilaterally give up the threat of violence

and get nothing in return.
Management thugs were further emboldened and the labor movement did not benefit.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

70. True.

The only thing many of these thugs understand is violence. When the people they wish to oppress respond by "turning the other cheek", it only serves to embolden, and enable them to further press their luck. No middle ground with these people....

[byeya]

80. Yes, I like that "no middle ground" phrase; it's exactly right. These thugs are employed to be thugs

to intimidate and terrorize workers and their families. The thugs and those who hire them should not be free from the threat of violence which they - the thugs and owners - so freely dispense.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

89. Exactly,

these people should be forced to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder. Actions like this should not afford them the right to live in peace and security.

[former-republican]

73. I'm not a stranger to violence but now I would rather fight with a ballet box and a court of law

Maybe it's my old age kicking in but I don't agree with attacking and physically assaulting someone over words.

I feel we as a human race should be better than that.
I don't like the thought of only the strong should survive.

This did nothing to further the cause that we both agree on.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

75. Play with fire get burned.

Most of the time turning the other cheek and striving to be "better than that" gets you relegated to serfdom.

Better to be pissed off than pissed on.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

147. FINALLY, someone that sees the big picture as clear as day!

[alp227]

94. Wow I can't believe how much cluelessness over a simple moral issue is going on here.

Someone not on our side gets punched, and everyone tries to either rationalize it or claim it's his fault. But if an MSNBC producer got punched I bet every post here would be screaming bloody murder. As for fighting back there are other outlets, like our forum, radio shows like Thom Hartmann, TV like Democracy Now or Rachel Maddow, etc. rather than punching fox boobs stooges.

I am astonished when I see online discussions...even here...with no clues about basic morality.

[TheKentuckian]

111. Basic morality-you actively seek to destroy someone's ability to earn a living, pilfer their

retirement, renege on contracts where sacrifices were made that will never be recouped, destroy our wages, throw us out of their homes, send our jobs overseas, poisoned our water to the extent we shutter our small businesses, completely fuck up primary education, make college unaffordable, commandeered the food supply,and have left them and their children holding the bag for war profiteering and tax cuts for wealthy fucks and you have a hell of a lot more coming than a knuckle sandwich.

I feel where you are coming from but I think you perhaps drastically under-rate the damage done to real people and maybe totally discount the hits keep coming and many probably sense the haymaker hasn't landed yet.

People pushed to such extremes aren't to be fucked with and when they snap back, it isn't anything to shake your head at or even dare pretend to be surprised by it.

TV shows and blogs aren't much fighting back against pretty much an existential threat. You don't take bread out of a person's mouth, piss on their head, and rob their mattress and expect them yell "that's right!" with Rachel and all will be better.

We are heading to the bad old times between workers and the ownership class and we'll have to be the ones bringing it to them or there won't be anything but shit sandwiches and souls owned lock, stock, and barrel by the company store.

The only benefit of the shows is to start brains working and the websites at their best add a sense of community but all that has to translate to stopping the fuckers by any means necessary, of course in a escalating fashion providing opportunity for leaves to turn but I really doubt they are going to give and to be honest I don't think they really did before either. They took a half a loaf to keep their hides and have worked relentlessly everyday to get the other half back and any crumbs that might have shook loose along the way and whatever else we got.

It shouldn't be like that, I hope it doesn't go down like that but let's be realistic. Give isn't in the vocabulary and their are no hearts and minds to win save the intractable few. Do they look like they are even on the edge of an epiphany to you? The screws are turning, you can't wish, blog, or build awareness out of that alone.

[Common Sense Party]

123. It's pathetic, really.

When THEY do it, they're "fascists" and "jackbooted thugs".

When one of our guys is involved it's: "he had it coming" or "you play with the bull you get the horns."

[Lefty48197]

139. There's a LOT more too this story

The tea bag guy was on Hannity today and he admitted that he put his hands on people. He even stopped just short of admitting that he pushed somebody to the ground. The video they played on the Hannity show clearly showed the union guy lying face down on the ground before he lept to his feet and immediately punched tea bag boy on the chin. It sure sounds like the tea bagger pushed the union guy down to the ground and the response was a punch. OK, so suddenly it's two kids fighting on the playground, but the guy was NOT punched because he was innocently asking questions.

[hay rick]

158. Taking food off your family's table isn't "violence"...

but slapping somebody upside the head when they try it...now that's the problem.

[AlexSatan]

169. So let me get this straight

Any DoD contractors who lose their job 1 Jan due to sequestration should go and physically attack members of Congress, or anyone who supports going over the "cliff"?

Is that really what you are saying?

[jberryhill]

68. +1

I find it disappointing that many are asking what he did to "deserve" it.

[Skip Intro]

78. +1 nt

[backscatter712]

96. Well, someone's deeply, deeply concerned... n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

97. This is a comforting fiction.

Tell it to the Molly Maguires.

[backscatter712]

108. +1: Sometimes, violence is necessary.

Non-violent direct action is a political tactic, that only works when the circumstances are right.

We need to be using all the tools in the toolbox.

Sometimes, non-violent action is useful to discredit our opponents.

Sometimes, the conventional political process is best for getting our agenda through.

Sometimes, jumping into the elections, throwing the bastards out and replacing them with our people works.

And sometimes, the only way to bring enough pressure on the system to force some productive action is to throw the rules out the window, start breaking shit, and break some of the faces of the sons-of-bitches that have been fucking us and most deserve it.

Non-violent civil disobedience doesn't work in today's political arena. The media ignores it, the politicians ignore it, the right-wing crackpots and billionaire psychopaths just laugh at the spectacle and cheer when protesters get punished with heavy prison time.

The longer I see the middle-class and the poor getting fucked, the closer I get to concluding it's time to start breaking shit and breaking faces.

Hey, violence is a political tactic, and sometimes, that tactic works. The GOP has learned that a loooooong time ago. Perhaps we need to stop fighting with one hand tied behind our backs.

And yes, violence certainly results in pushback, always violent. But sometimes, it's the only thing that will get a frozen political process moving when nothing else will bring relief to those who are getting shafted.

We probably would have never seen the Wagner Act without Blair Mountain.

[Bonobo]

144. Economic war on people is no less violent.

Take a way a person's money, their ability to care for their loved ones and they will become violent.

Violence in the defense of oneself is justified.

Fox news has taken a stance in the war already raging.

[deutsey]

159. As much as I don't like it, violence is sometimes the answer

As a martial artist, the style I practice teaches me that using karate on anyone should always a last resort, but it is an option when necessary.

That's my take on violence in general.

[surrealAmerican]

33. What were the AFP people and Crowder there for anyway?

It looks to me like they were trying to have it both ways: be "journalists" and counter-protesters. Did they have permission for that tent?

[leftstreet]

37. AFP: Scab-herding fucks

Looks like they can't bring it after all

Can't even keep their wee tent erect

[oldhippie]

35. A racist Faux news instigator goes into a crowd of ....

... workers passionately demonstrating their positions, and he complains he got punched a few times?

I'm sure the sucker did something to provoke it. They just won't show it.

[trumad]

39. Perfect post.

[Union Scribe]

41. +1, and did you see his "injuries"?

He had some 1/8 inch scratch on his scalp that looked like it was from this finger nail.

[alp227]

95. Hmm, backwards B anyone?

Check out the #1 google result of backwards B. AWESOME, Google!

[liberalmuse]

36. It's Fox News. They're full of shit.

And have been known to stoop to provoking protesters to get a story. I don't trust a goddamned word they say.

[Javaman]

38. If anyone knows anything about the history of unions, protesting and the

things that go on during such situations; this is mild.

[RZM]

42. I don't see how this can be construed as anything but a victory for Fox and the right

Crowder got his propaganda victory, which quite possibly was the intention all along.

The point was probably to provoke some sort of physical altercation that they could use to push the 'union thug' narrative. Any anybody cheering this on is playing right into their hands.

[Cali_Democrat]

49. So they're playing chess and people cheering this are playing right into their hands?

Oh noez!!

Faux Newz is irrelevant and only matters within the right wing bubble. That was evident on election day.

Nobody outside the bubble gives a shit.

[backscatter712]

114. Oh who gives a fuck what the FOX-watchers think.

Anyone who still takes FOX News seriously as a news source is way gone in right-wing-bubble land, sealed off in epistemic closure. They're never going to be on our side, so they're irrelevant to PR.

[RZM]

118. People do

You know, the same people that gave Obama over 50 percent of the vote. I'm not saying you have to compromise with the middle all the time. On some issues, you definitely shouldn't. But this? What was gained by this? We've exchanged a tiny bruise for a propaganda victory. Doesn't seem like much of a trade to me.

[Gman]

43. Don't fuck with the union

And you won't get hurt.

[warrprayer]

45. this isn't a game

and this was nothing. AFP assholes are lucky they made it out of there.

[Gman]

83. If I was the union local president

I'd get before the cameras and tell 'em these nuts came looking for trouble and they found it. And it'll happen again every time they come looking for trouble. Don't fuck with the union.

[Bobbie Jo]

170. This.

Guess I'm too old school on this one.

[Gman]

184. This IS old school

which is what we need to get back to.

[Bobbie Jo]

185. That's what I meant.

My post was unclear, my apologies.

I agree with you.

[frylock]

46. he's lucky to have not had his face caved in..

dumbshits like this want to poke the bear and then piss and moan when bitten. moreover, I don't believe a fucking word this douch sez. show the unedited tape and convince me this wasn't staged.

[socialist_n_TN]

47. They keep pushing and pushing........

A couple of punches will be nothing compared to what's coming.

[Aerows]

48. If you go looking for a fight

You are highly likely to find one. Looks like Crowder found one, and he wasn't on the winning end of it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

53. I just wish....

....it was that asswipe Snyder.

[lob1]

54. The Young Turks are covering this right now on Current TV.

[Enrique]

55. watch this Crowder video before you judge the puncher

[warrprayer]

57. this explains everyrthing

where can I send my 10 dollars to the puncher?

[99Forever]

67. Well there goes 60 seconds I'll never get back.

But I do get your point.

[backscatter712]

93. Why does this piece of shit have any teeth left? n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

99. Because "violence is never the answer" dude.

[Coyotl]

110. That's 10 seconds lost

don't watch more

[hughee99]

116. I didn't see anything in here to justify getting punched.

Leno does this shit all the time, but he makes the people on the streets of LA look dumb instead of people at UC-Berkeley.

[backscatter712]

132. FAKES "News" cut that part out of the video.

The video suddenly cut from arguing to brawling with the events in between missing.

I'll bet my left nut that it was Crowder that threw the first punch or shove.

[hughee99]

140. There seems to be a number of people here who think that

just being there was enough for him to get his ass kicked. I'm not willing to be all or even part of my genitals on what happened, although I wouldn't be shocked if you were right.

[Erose999]

176. I stopped listening to that video when he pulled out the Glenn Beck book. They should have kicked

him in the balls. Twice.

[EnviroBat]

178. I got 42 seconds in to this.

The urge to punch the shit out of this asshole is almost overwhelming.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

56. Must have been Geraldo Rivera's understudy.

Tough job.

[kelliekat44]

59. We should not become like those we despise. Sorry this happened...but sh__ happens. nt

[warrprayer]

69. welcome!!!

... to D.U.!!!

[Cal Carpenter]

64. (VIDEO) A different angle on the tent coming down

Didn't see or even hear about the fight, but I happened to see it come down from the other side.

[arcane1]

65. Looks like he got punched by one single individual

Not sure how that qualifies as "protestorS"

[Prometheus Bound]

103. I noticed that too. Must be inflation.

[frostfern]

71. Republicans are professional trolls...

fucking sociopaths...

[Hugabear]

74. Looks like he got exactly what he was asking for

No sympathy here.

Fuck all anti-union scum.

[RetroLounge]

76. How about every fox news contributor gets punched

I'd pay to see those videos.

Fuck him. Punch him again.

RL

[Hugabear]

85. +1

Bravo

[lpbk2713]

81. Fuck with the bull, you get the horn.

Faux "news" speaks for the assholes who want to take food out of the mouths of the families of the angry protestors. This isn't high school debate club here folks. The reaction is understandable IMO.

[Downtown Hound]

82. What's really violence?

Hawking an illegal war resulting in the death and torture of countless thousands, taking away people's right to make a decent living, fighting against people getting health care, stealing an election, or punching a representative of all that in anger?

I'm going with the first four. And if you really look at history, rarely has there ever been any kind of real change without violence.

[underpants]

91. Damn it's a shame when 55 year old men kick your ass

and I am 45. Big tough boy stepped into something he wasn't ready for. They didn't look like "wimpy liberals" when he was face to face with them now did they?


Blair Mountain

A combination of gas and explosive bombs left over from the fighting in World War I were dropped in several locations near the towns of Jeffery, Sharples and Blair. At least one did not explode and was recovered by the miners; it was used months later to great effect during treason and murder trials following the battle. On orders from the famous General Billy Mitchell, Army bombers from Maryland were also used for aerial surveillance, a rare example of air power being used by the federal government against US citizens.


A group of miners display one of the bombs dropped by Chafin's airplanes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain

[amborin]

98. tent was from Koch bros

[crazyjoe]

100. no problem, democrats are perfectly in their right to punch people

who don't agree with them. It's only repukes punching democrats that is disgusting childish behavior.
no no no, not hypocritical at all. You obviously aren't an enlightened individual to think otherwise, maybe i should punch you in the face. you deserve it for not being like me.

[liberal N proud]

101. The Labor Movement: A Violent Period in American History

The only thing the anti labor thugs will understand is violence, that is seen in history.
[The labor movement of 1865-1919 was initiated by strikes that began because of wage cuts, the new inventions of machinery, and the depersonalization of workers. The first of these strikes began in 1892 with workers at the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead, Pennsylvania.

This strike is known as the Homestead Strike. Next was the Pullman strike. This occurred in 1893 when the nation was faced with another financial depression. During the late 1800s, the unions were conducting strikes that led to rioting and disorder. In order to restore peace the government was taking action to secure power again.

The public was angered by the carelessness of union officials who allowed violence to occur. As a result of their outrage, riots broke out, strikes began, and mobs formed. The Baltimore Ohio railroad strike of 1877, for example, caused a series of riots spreading to such cities as Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis. The outburst of violence in Baltimore lasted four days and cost fifty lives.

http://www.ilwu19.com/history/labor.htm

[HooptieWagon]

112. +1

A few more Fox "reporters" and AFPers need their asses kicked. If they want to pick a fight with unions, bring it on.

[Ilsa]

107. I don't want violence. But the corporatists

had better learn that middle America isn't going to take their crap.

I'm not there, I'm not in a union and I live in a Right to Work For Less state. And this story has me riled up to the point where I'm wishing severe ill will upon Snyder and his GOP thugs.

There has been violence before. I predict we'll see it again.

[backscatter712]

109. We would have never had the Wagner Act without Blair Mountain.

Sometimes, the only way to move the political process is to break things.

[backscatter712]

113. Did Crowder throw the first punch?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/11/1169097/-STEVE-CROWDER-PUSHED-THE-UNION-GUY-FIRST

Hard to tell, because FAKES "News"'s videos is highly edited, but from the link above (which has one of the common videos going around, watch at 0:37. The video shows Crowder and a few union guys arguing, then suddenly cuts to a fight, with the union guys getting up.

It's hard to tell from the video, but I suspect that Crowder threw the first punch. Too bad he didn't end up in the hospital.

[pediatricmedic]

149. He didn't throw the first punch, but his comments were enough to incite the violence

Which is exactly what he wanted for the cameras that were all around.

[backscatter712]

172. The video doesn't show the first punch.

In fact, the video's cobbled together from bits and pieces that were taken hours apart from each other, and made to look like one event. The video makes an abrupt cut from arguing to brawling, but doesn't show the first punch.

If the union guys did throw the first punch, you'd think that FOX would have shown it. Their cameramen almost certainly were in a position to film it.

[hughee99]

115. As long as violence is directed at people I don't like,

it's justified. Labor's history of violence (as some have mentioned above) is, of course, a valid excuse, because if an organization has used violence going far enough back, then they are "grandfathered" in and get a pass, right?

As one poster above said "Don't fuck with the union, And you won't get hurt." That's a great saying, as long as you don't replace "union" with police, mob, or government, because then it would be offensive and unacceptable.

[RZM]

117. He should have known better, going to a frat party dressed like that

Plus he got drunk and and made out with everybody in sight. I'm not saying it was justified, but if you go into that environment acting like that, you shouldn't be surprised if you get assaulted.

Oops. Sorry. Wrong thread. I forgot that sexual assault is completely wrong in all circumstances, while physical assault depends on the political affiliation of the participants.

My bad.

[hughee99]

121. Touche!

I didn't even think of that.

[Common Sense Party]

124. Well done.

[War Horse]

181. Yes, well done

[B Calm]

119. Sometimes violence is the only way

you can get the attention of the masses to what the hell these Cheap Labor Cons are doing to the middle class!

[Great Caesars Ghost]

142. +10001

[lonestarnot]

120. Give 'em the gawd damned bidness!

[GaYellowDawg]

125. The headline SHOULD read...

"Fox News contributor annoys a man old enough to be his father and then gets his ass kicked by the old guy"



I say, good. Remember the people who were assaulted at Rand Paul rallies? I'd say it's about time that they started tiptoeing around us. Experience tells me that if you beat the hell out of a bully, you don't have to deal with that bully again. I absolutely applaud this.

[roody]

126. Good. And I'm a pacifist.

Enough is enough.

[cecilfirefox]

127. This is NOT okay. You act like savages and people will start to treat you like savages. nt

[roody]

128. What is a savage?

[Marr]

133. Are you kidding? They already do treat the people like savages, and they do it

because they are completely unafraid of the sheep.

[backscatter712]

135. Explain that to Crowder.

Fuck all the mewling for peace. We tried the non-violent approach, and got nothing but sneers from the Kochs and their whores.

They've been committing economic violence against the middle class for decades - keeping wages stagnant, cutting, forcing people to accept less and less, turning a blind eye when people are losing their homes or can't get medical care.

They've been committing violence in slow-motion, and have killed hundreds of thousands.

Now you're wagging your finger because a few of the people getting fucked and then openly provoked threw a few lousy punches? Go condescend somewhere else.

We're tired of getting fucked, and if a bit of "savagery" is what it takes to turn the tide, then call me a fucking savage.

[Hugabear]

141. These union members are fighting for their lives, and you call them savages?

I'm glad that anti-union piece of shit got what he deserved.

[Marr]

129. We need a lot more of that. Sorry.

I've watched decades of peaceful demonstrators insulted, arrested, ignored, and mocked. We've been slowly steamrolled by the people Fox News does PR for, and do you know why? Because they're not afraid of the populace at all. Why should they be?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

130. If there is a trial,

I'ld like to volunteer to be on the jury.

The video clearly shows that Crowder was a provocateur.

[Sunlei]

134. looks like the scab loving fox lies got what he was asking for.

[PD Turk]

136. Good

Screw the right wing agitators, they got what they were looking for.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

143. Now Crowder is issuing a challenge to the old gent in an MMA fight

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101785974

[brettdale]

150. Steven Crowder was very very aggressive before the punch

Not sure if Faux has taken the video down, I think the huffington post might have it.

He was standing over the people he was interviewing, screaming his questions.

This was intimidation at his worst.

[PeaceNikki]

153. Who is screaming "he's got a gun" and that they would "kill a mother fucker"?

I've been trying to figure that out.

Also, there was another camera on the other side - anyone know where that video is? Was that also one of this shithead's crew?

There's a lot we haven't seen yet, but I am sure it will surface.

[Mc Mike]

168. Right after the punch up, when the nazi was going back to the tent,

you can see a camo clad teabag in front of the tent with a rifle slung over his shoulder. Visible from sec 52 to 54

Sounds like one labor member was warning about the threat of gun play, and the same guy yelled that they would kill 20 right wing gun toters.

[backscatter712]

175. Sounds like a provocateur to me.

It was an AFP guy that was slinging the rifle, and I have zero doubt that FAKES "News" would sink to using provocateurs to attack unions.

[bongbong]

156. It's almost as bad ...

... as when the many cases of teabaggers beating up counter-protesters WEREN'T reported by the MSM.

[Ganja Ninja]

157. First off nobody knows who any of these people are except for Crowder.

So the whole thing could be staged.

[FightForMichigan]

163. I hope it hurt

Because believe me, however hard that punch was, it hurt a lot less than what the Republicans are doing to us in this state. If they have no remorse over what they're doing, why should I feel a morsel of regret or shame about the punch that was thrown. And you know what? If they keep making the working class more and more desperate, they're going to get much worse than a singe punch.

Jeez Louise, I don't know what to say when I read some of the comments here. "A win for Fox News"? Are you kidding me? Did you think there was any sliver of a chance that they'd report without bias? Did you think they were going to come out on the side of labor, if but for this sad punch to a smirking face?

I don't know what game some of you think you're playing with the Republicans, but I can tell you this: It's rigged.

[Nye Bevan]

164. "Don't fuck with the union?" "Good"? "I hope it hurt"? This thread is not DU's finest hour.

While many here are gratified to see an unfriendly reporter subjected to a severe physical beating, this might not be the best long-term strategy to win over public opinion in general.

[FightForMichigan]

165. Were you there yesterday?

I was.

Did you see what they've done to democracy in our state? Did you talk to the provocateurs AFP peppered the crowd with? Were you face to face with the lines of police in riot gear and on horseback trying to intimidate people who only wanted to be heard?

You make people desperate, they do desperate things. Why is this so hard to understand?

[Nye Bevan]

166. "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral"

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar,
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater,
but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate.
So it goes.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[FightForMichigan]

167. Nonviolence is nice

Feels good. Looks good. Only works when there are enough people around who care. Otherwise, all it does is get you run over, literally or metaphorically.

Really, did you think Fox was going to give fair coverage of the event if only this hadn't happened? No, neither did I. I say it's time to quit worrying about what the teabaggers think and say. They're lost already.

[backscatter712]

171. This.

The media has gotten so jaded with non-violent protesters that in the few times they deign to cover them at all, they belittle them and demonize them.

So the only thing that non-violent civil disobedience has done lately is gotten peaceful protesters beaten, prosecuted, punished with insanely harsh prison sentences, while the authoritarian right pitches tents in their pants at the sight of the riot cops.

[backscatter712]

173. So the right-wingers will turn to our side if we just gave them a hug?

[Nye Bevan]

174. No, I guess you're right. We need to kick serious ass like MLK and Gandhi (nt)

[Great Caesars Ghost]

177. In the words of Billy Jack......

"And what happened to those two?!?!?"

[EnviroBat]

179. Crowder fancies himself quite the "MMA Fighter" tough guy.

He's the perfect clown for FOX to trot out and instigate a confrontation. Well, he get's it. You fuck with these Union Guys, you should plan on getting your ass pummeled. I for one, do NOT feel sorry for this asshole.

[War Horse]

182. An agent provocateur puts up a bait,

and the bait is taken. Just like he wanted. I might possibly have punched him myself, if provoked enough, as messing with unions makes my blood boil. That don't make it smart. Pick your battles.