That video of union thugs in Michigan tearing down the Americans for Prosperity tent and punching Fox News contributor Steven Crowder repeatedly? You didn’t see that. OK, everyone’s seen it by now, so what are union supporters supposed to do? Claim the whole thing was a setup, obviously.
For their part, the Teamsters tweeted their concerns of “right-wing provocateurs” ruining their peaceful protest.
Peaceful protests follow #RTW4Less passage in #MI; #Koch lackeys try to smear #unions; automakers concerned http://t.co/J6xZ9tad #savemi
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) December 11, 2012
Right-wing provocateurs are at it again with phony 'damaged tent' outrage http://t.co/aBHOEcZK #savemi
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) December 11, 2012
@Teamsters have you seen THIS video?? http://t.co/SRrFTJkB
— U. S. Patriotic Persistence (@AmericanHawkTPJ) December 11, 2012
Of course they’ve seen the “heavily edited” video. The Teamsters, however, have linked to a blog post explaining the whole incident. Witnesses on the ground confirm that the AFP people loosened the ropes on their own tent. And those union people rushing the tent? They were pushing and shoving to help people out from under it. They even have a witness! Here’s Tom Duckworth.
And Crowder? He was, um, punching himself. No? Well, then he was provoking the peaceful protesters to the point where they had to start swinging fists. Daily Kos links to the same video.
Lol idiots at @dailykos denying any violence happened and saying AFP took its own tent down! At least attempt to sound reasonable #pendejos!
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) December 11, 2012
As the Daily Kos concludes, “Clearly AFP came to this rally to incite an altercation that could be shown on endless loop on Fox to show that union members are, indeed, ‘union thugs’. Not surprisingly, Fox News cameramen where [sic] right there on the spot to capture it all on film.” How to counter AFP’s fake video? Duckworth also spoke to the official blogger for the Ed Schultz show so MSNBC could pass along the truth.
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Conflicting reports! Which are you going to believe? The obviously fake and heavily edited video shot on the scene? Or this eyewitness who sat down with ProgressMichigan?
Are you people HIGH? Seriously, @msnbc. Watch the videos. MI protest, charges of violence, dirty tricks http://t.co/ZAOGv38F via @edshow
— Cheryl Fontenot (@StoreyLine) December 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/paulypeterson/status/278648135331504128
@edshow what about the video of unionists screaming, swearing and punching Crowder in the face? Guess that wouldn't fit your narrative.
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) December 11, 2012
Will Chris Matthews step in and do the job his MSNBC cohort won’t do? Of course not. Matthews is most concerned with who paid for the AFP tent. Oh, and racism.
Can't wait to hear Chris Matthews explain how "Ow! My face!" is racist code language.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) December 11, 2012
Hi, @hardball_chris , why haven't you shown this video? http://t.co/qw9Y6sVf Who paid them to do that?
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 12, 2012
https://twitter.com/MackeyBrad/status/278661260617338880
I don't like who @hardball_chris works for and it's a private organization. Using his logic I'm allowed to assault him.
— James Yaklin (@ajs_dad) December 12, 2012
It seems those clever right-wing provocateurs had the foresight to catch the assault from multiple angles. Here’s video from inside the AFP tent as it was being torn down. Those Americans for Prosperity really went out of their way to make the union protesters look bad.
Alternate view from INSIDE Americans for Prosperity tent. Sorry progs, that ain't a "staged" altercation. http://t.co/oMqeb6nd @FTR__Radio
— Mandy Nagy (@Liberty_Chick) December 11, 2012
Inside view as unions tear down AFP tent: http://t.co/0limADiy via @youtube
— China is lying (@jtLOL) December 12, 2012
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