There seems to have been little love lost between Karl Rove, President Bush’s former political adviser, and students at the University of Iowa, where Mr. Rove spoke yesterday.

His remarks to an audience of about 1,200 were often interrupted by about 200 vocal student protesters, according to various news accounts, including this one from Radio Iowa.

Mr. Rove responded to the protesters, according to Radio Iowa, by saying: “You’ve got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements. Let me make mine.”

CNN reports that Mr. Rove was paid $40,000 to speak at the university and that police officers removed two people from the event after they tried to perform a “citizen’s arrest” on Mr. Rove for what they said were his crimes while a member of the Bush administration.

Meanwhile, Politico is reporting that Mr. Rove isn’t just sitting on the sidelines of this year’s presidential campaign. The news site said that he has given money to John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, and is informally advising the senator’s campaign.