March 10, 2008
Karl Rove Greeted With Student Protests in Iowa
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.
Sara Hebel | Posted on Monday March 10, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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The left is great! The left is great! Substitute “left” with “allah” and get a better understading of student’s brainwashing.
— Richard Mar 10, 03:40 PM #
Sound the trumpets! Rove admits to making STUPID statements!
— Barbara Shell Mar 10, 03:43 PM #
Too many universities promote diversity of skin color but NOT diversity of political ideas. This short changes our students.
— Armando Mar 10, 03:51 PM #
Speakers who accept an invitation to speak on a college or university campus are entitled to respect and to be heard, no matter who they are or what they profess. It is the essence of a free university that all ideas and opinions have standing and dignity. I was most unhappy when the President of Columbia University delivered a bigoted and hateful introduction to the Prime Minister of Iran. I was embarassed for the faculty and administration at Columbia University. I am equally embarassed for the faculty and administration of the University of Iowa. No one could hold Mr. Rove and his ideas in less regard than I do, but he should have been given a respectful hearing at the University of Iowa. The faculty and administration of a university must be sure that public meetings are conducted responsibly. Give the University of Iowa black marks on its record as a free institution! Don Freeman
— Donald M. Freeman Mar 10, 03:56 PM #
I agree with simple respect for the paid guest and then putting forth their objections and questions. That said, I wouldn’t be particularly happy with my child’s institution if they spent $40,000 on contracting a speaker whose ethics were as questionable as this particular individual. Not interested in promoting the message that the end justifies the means to my child.
If students/parents are unhappy with the institutions choice of speakers they need to vote with their wallets. It’s the only message most understand today. Sadly.
— Linda Mar 10, 03:59 PM #
In my own view, Rove does not deserve a “respectful” hearing, but he does deserve a hearing. When I was an undergraduate some decades ago, my college invited neo Nazi leader George Lincoln Rockwell to speak. A lot of students showed up, listened quietly while Rockwell spewed his nonsense, and then, when he was done, the students walked quietly out of the auditorium. The silence was eloquent.
— Dave Mar 10, 04:08 PM #
What in the world is Iowa spending $40,000 of student fee income on Rove for? The uneducated man has been discredited as a corrupt politician advisor for his role in the Plame outing affair. $40,000 really? No way. Iowans are smarter than that!
— Good ol' Bubba Mar 10, 04:16 PM #
It should be considered ultra vires to pay US$40k for a speaker at an institution of higher education. Who authorized this payment?
— Dave Postles Mar 10, 04:33 PM #
If we’re not going to execute him or send him to jail for life for treason in the outting of a CIA agent, then Rove should at the very least be forever branded as one of the nefarious architects of the Bush evil empire—a legacy that will forever stain the history of the United States of America.
— marci Mar 10, 05:11 PM #
Did Mahmoud Ahmadinejad get a speakers fee?
— John Mar 10, 07:33 PM #
As someone who was at the event, I have to add that I felt Mr. Rove was given respect. There were certainly many people in the audience who disagreed with him, but Dr. Frank Durham’s questions were both respectful and fair. The few disruptively vocal dissenters were removed within the five minutes, and other than a mixture of cheers (Mr. Rove had a very vocal and fairly numerous fan base in assembly) and boos at several of Mr. Rove’s more overtly controversial statements, the crowd was reasonably calm and certainly respectful. I would also like to point out, that Mr. Rove was the only one in the room to call another person “stupid” (which he did several times).
On the whole, I was proud of the way the University of Iowa managed to balance reverence and dissent while maintaining some semblance of decorum. By his own admission, Mr. Rove is controversial and polarizing figure who is going to attract heated debate where ever he speaks. I think that by inviting him and maintaining what I found to be a decent level of respect throughout the program, the University showed the class, courage, and commitment to freedom of speech that I wish everyone in this nation and world (not least Mr. Rove himself) could and would emulate.
— Sara Mar 10, 08:44 PM #
The Karl Rove story the mainstream media didn’t get
http://www.desmoinesregister.c…..gister.com
If you pay a clown $40 grand, you should expect a circus
http://www.desmoinesregister.c…..gister.com
— David Goodner Mar 11, 09:40 AM #
Being a life long citizen of Iowa and having a brother who attends the university, Im embarassed.. Iowa citizens use to be known as the friendly people who welcomes people wth a hand shake and smile. Not yelling and cussing at guess. you guys should be ashamed on how these people acted, I understand you have the right to say what you want but it comes a point in time where you should be respectful and not rude, Real classy Iowa real classy, this is why people from other states and cities think we are nothing but hicks, glad you showed them diffrent……..
— Kayla Currie Mar 11, 02:01 PM #
I’m embarrassed for you Kayla!
Perhaps you should proof read or spell check your messages prior to sending. You don’t reflect that well on Iowans either!
— Mag Mar 11, 03:06 PM #
HOW DO YOU MAKE A CITIZENS ARREST OF A WAR CRIMINAL WHO SHOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT WITH BUSH, B-LIAR AND HOWARD FOR THE MURDER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN A SOVEREIGN HEAD OF STATE OF IRAQ, NO MATTER FOR HOW LONG!
— THE REAL PRESIDENT Mar 11, 09:38 PM #
Perhaps those disgusted at the price payed for Rove’s speech should note that this is not uncommon.
At the Fortune Forum Gore was paid almost $200,000. He demanded his own exclusive reception, invited Press were ushered away and other VIPS were not allowed to meet him. His usual bill for speaking is $100,000 +.
Bill Clinton, recently made $475,000 for two speeches on the same day in Canada.
Now I don’t have a problem with this. These men are making money legitimately – I mightn’t agree with the message.
But to criticize Rove for accepting $40K for a speech, when this is common practice, is ridiculous and biased.
— sd Mar 12, 11:32 AM #