SFB: It’s hard to tell 100 percent for sure, but one thing’s for certain, which we noted at the time: The original clip cut out a few key seconds. Here’s the raw clip (fight starts around 1:30).
EDIT: HuffPo talked to others at the scene. Here’s what they said:
Ken Spitzley, a state agriculture department employee, told HuffPost that he walked to the protest at the state Capitol during a break from work and that he witnessed Crowder getting in protesters’ faces.
“He was just after everybody,” said the 56-year-old Spitzley, a procurement technician whose workplace is represented by the United Auto Workers. “There was no question he was there just to start a fight, to start some kind of trouble.”
Crowder denies goading the protesters.
Today in Fox News contributors getting beat up on camera: Steven Crowder, described on his Web site as “Fox News’ brightest, funniest young Conservative mind,” found himself in the middle of a crowd full of union folks (understandably upset over the passage of the Right to Work law in Michigan earlier today) who were in the midst of tearing down a tent put up by Americans for Prosperity. Crowder was there asking questions conservative in tone. There appears to be some tight edits in the clip, so we don’t know exactly what provoked it, but this much is clear: A union guy who had enough of Crowder’s you-know-what started punching him in the head.
EDIT: The raw video, which actually aired on Fox News, appears to show an interesting detail.
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Union supporters attempt to blockade the Romney building, home to Michigan governor Rick Snyder’s office, in downtown Lansing across the street from the Michigan State Capitol to protest new Right to Work legislation. Calls of “Nobody in, Nobody out!” rang out after the buildings doors were closed and State and Lansing police took up position around other entrances to the building.
Right
Union organizers inflated “rat” effigies of the Michigan politicians behind the new Right to Work legislation in Lansing on 12/11/12.Left
Labor supporters cover their faces and move back after Michigan State Police used pepper spray to push back protesters from the entrance and first story windows around the Michigan State Capitol during a protest of new Right to Work legislation. — with Brian Laskowski in Lansing, MI.
Photographer Brian Laskowski sends along these shots from the Michigan Right to Work protests, which he covered in person.
I think the Republican strategy in doing this so quickly is that they don’t want what Wisconsin had, dragging on for so many days. This is a blitzkrieg, and Republicans hope it’s going to be over and done with tomorrow.“Inside Michigan Politics” editor Bill Ballenger • Discussing the Republican strategy behind passing the “right to work” law in Michigan — which looks like it may get passed on Tuesday, in a fight over unions similar to the one that took place in Wisconsin nearly two years ago. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder may or may not sign the bill into law, though Democrats are not convinced he will side with them. While citizens could band together fight the law at the polls in 2014, if the law were to pass, it would go into effect at least until then.
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