A roving visit from 'The Architect'
Protesters, vocal audience welcome Rove to UI
Kelsey Beltramea - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Metro
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To say Karl Rove's Sunday talk was emotionally charged would be an understatement.
Boos exuberantly punctuated the UI Lecture Committee's introduction and dozens in the audience stood, turning their backs when President Bush's former deputy chief of staff and top aide took the stage. A woman charged up an aisle, her hands shaking, as she called for Rove to be arrested. And in a row near the front, a veteran told a different 84-year-old veteran to "F--- off" when he asked him to stop shouting.
"I've lived in Iowa City more than 60 years, and I have never been more ashamed than I am tonight of the disrespect shown by these people," 84-year-old Bill Olin said.
Meanwhile, the "architect" on stage remained seemingly unshaken. Armed with a sarcastic humor and several quotations from prominent Democrats to support his contentions, Rove took on the audience of roughly 1,100 - telling a woman who yelled that that UI wanted the $40,000 speaking fee they paid back, simply, "You can't have it."
He told another man his comment showed, "a simple, stupid mind, with all due respect."
"Look, you've had a chance to make your chants and protests and statements, and I want to have mine," Rove told the audience.
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But his critics gave him very little chance, repeatedly interrupting him to call him a liar and war criminal.
Sharon Benzoni, the UI Lecture Committee chairwoman, said she had hoped bringing the controversial figure would generate conversation, and she was pleased with the result.
"We feel like we really accomplished our goal of stirring up dialogue both inside the lecture hall and outside as people were leaving," she said. "That's what we wanted to do."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 38
David Goodner
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:25 AM CST
The Karl Rove story the media didn't get
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=c93e5f51e57d4a1696a5e44246b6eb53&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3ac93e5f51e57d4a1696a5e44246b6eb53Post%3abd8fae27-92e3-426b-a23c-d5df55e2f80a&sid=sitelife. (Continued…)
willtopower
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:50 AM CST
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magazine/17BUSH.html
In the summer of 2002, after I had written an article in Esquire that the White House didn't like about Bush's former communications director, Karen Hughes, I had a meeting with a senior adviser to Bush. (Continued…)
Tom J
posted 3/10/08 @ 7:01 AM CST
Did anyone ask Rove how it felt to know he was almost single-handedly responsible for the destruction of the Republican Party? Or how he felt about Hastert's seat being picked up by Democrat Foster?
Julia
posted 3/10/08 @ 7:42 AM CST
If Rove has any good faith at all, he should donate his fee to help homeless vets in this area.
factoid
posted 3/10/08 @ 8:27 AM CST
"Look, you've had a chance to make your chants and protests and statements, and I want to have mine," Rove told the audience."
Well actually, traitor, you've had your say for years and never once listened to the American people. (Continued…)
jukin
posted 3/10/08 @ 8:47 AM CST
More peace, love, and tolerance from the left.
Scratch a liberal, find a fascist.
Bob
posted 3/10/08 @ 8:56 AM CST
The people's republic of Iowa City have spoken.
What a bunch of pampered spoiled people.
I hate this town.
This is not Iowa
An attendant
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:10 AM CST
1) I am not a kneejerk liberal.
2) I was not one of the people who kept shouting at the event.
3) I was not opposed to Mr. Rove's visit.
4) I think Rove is a pretty good debater, for whatever it's worth. (Continued…)
Reykr
Gerald Baker
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:16 AM CST
Someone should compose a song about Rove, to the tune of "The Maid Of Amsterdam," and call it "The Knave Of Washington." It might go like this:
"A-Roving!
A-Roving!
For Roving is my ru-u-in!
I'll go no more a Ro-o-ving,
With you, Foul Knave!"
David Goodner
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:44 AM CST
CNN coverage:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/10/rove-taunted-at-university-of-iowa/
ABC coverage:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/the-belly-of-th. (Continued…)
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