 "Photo: Karl Rove speaks at Goucher College. Eric Gazzillo/The Towerlight")
He is a man of many nicknames. The Architect. Boy Genius. Turd Blossom.
Karl Rove, arguably one of the most divisive figures of the George W. Bush administration, was the Fall 2009 speaker of the President's Forum at Goucher College Wednesday night.
The forum at Kraushaar Auditorium, presented and moderated by Goucher's president, Sanford Ungar, attracted 1,200 people, filling the room.
Police presence outside the auditorium was heavy. More than 18 police vehicles surrounded the area.
Rove's appearance drew a fairly hostile crowd.
“No matter who we bring, there's always going to be somebody who doesn't like it,” Kristen Keener, Goucher's media relations director, said. “Obviously, Karl Rove is more divisive than other speakers.”
Nicholas Powell, who described himself as a “temporarily out-of-school” Goucher student, turned out with about 30 other protestors outside the auditorium. He said he came to protest, “to expose Karl Rove as the war criminal that he is, the war profiteer.”
“People like that should not be allowed to speak on college campuses across the country, especially when it's for profit,” Powell said. “I would like to see him arrested. I would like to see him put on trial for the crimes that's he's committed against humanity, not even against this country, against humanity.”
Powell and a friend were removed from the audience shortly after Rove's remarks began after standing up holding two signs that read “Citizens Arrest Rove.”
Pikesville resident Bradley Barthlow was the sole counter-protester outside Krausharr Auditorium, holding a homemade sign rallying against perceived media bias. He said participating in the Tea Party protests in Washington, D.C., motivated him to become more involved in protests, and that his decision to counter-protest at the speech tonight was “spur of the moment.”
“Like him or not, Karl Rove is an individual, he's a real good speaker and he knows politics and he knows what's happening in America right now and I have to support him,” he said.
After numerous interruptions, Rove spoke for 20 minutes about what it was like to work in the White House. Following his remarks, he sat down with Ungar, who was a gracious but unforgiving host. Ungar questioned him about topics such as involvement in the war in Iraq and opinions on the health care debate.
The floor was soon opened to Goucher students, who pressed Rove on issues such as health care and education. One student asked about his legal opinion on gay marriage, which in his response, he compared to polygamy. Towards the end of the event, Ahmed Tarik, an Iraqi student approached the microphone to confront Rove about the costs of the war.
“Saddam Hussein was a dictator and everybody knows that,” he said. “But he was convicted and hanged for the 128 people he killed... how about two million [killed since the American invasion]?”
He went on to cite statistics on Iraqi civilian casualties and refugees. Rove responded angrily, claiming Tarik's numbers were “wildly exaggerated,” leading to the event's tensest moment.
“[Refugees] didn't flee the Americans,” Rove said. “It was the violence of people like Saddam's dead-enders, the Sunni insurgents and Al Qaeda.”
Tarik and much of the audience disagreed as Rove segued to a story about one-time Homeland Security nominee Bernard Kerik, who went to Baghdad to train police and found torture tapes from the Hussein regime.
Much of the conversation followed this adversarial tone, with most of the students questioning him on his role in the White House and his role in national politics. The event ended with many unanswered questions and some unsatisfied students.
“I was a little disappointed in some of the questions,” Kenneth Case, a 2009 Goucher alum, said. “I thought there were a lot of things specifically in regards to Karl Rove's position in the White House and his individual role that weren't really addressed... I think it would have gone better had more of the people that had significant ideas about why this man should be criticized had put their thoughts into questions that they would have asked to put him in a tough position.”
He admitted Rove had a rhetorical advantage.
“Since he is one of the brilliant political strategists of our time, he did a pretty good job of covering his ass,” he said.
Goucher freshman Olana Kingsley agreed.
“I was really excited to hear him speak, but now I'm really frustrated because I feel I didn't get much out of the talk because of all the diversions,” she said.
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Your argument is actually remarkably liberal: everyone should be able to say what they want so long as it doesn't affect anyone else. The problem is that there is speech that should NOT be tolerated. In fact, I think that today, the project is really to create a world in which there is no space for someone like Rove to speak!
This multiculturalist liberalism is really the enemy.
The conservatives in the US have used FEAR to promote their interests and it's just sad. The thing I don't understand- is you don't have to serve in the military to understand how this country is run. Live abroad in a few countries and get a more well rounded perspective, attend events for speakers on BOTH sides, then draw your conclusion.
I assume you are a bitter old married couple who murmur republican bedtime stories to each other nightly. The students are young. They are at a fine institution and this kind of exposure stimulates their cognitive prowess and develops their ability to argue reasonably. You seem to think that Rove should only be questioned by Board-certified trial lawyers! He probably should...but that is another issue entirely. Right now, this is an innovative classroom experience for newly minted college students....an excellent learning opportunity! Ease up on your slamming of the students.
You should understand that your free speech doesn't give you the right to take away my free speech. YOUR RIGHTS STOP, WHEN YOU STOP MINE! The protesters were stopping my rights to listen and Mr. Rove's right to free speech.Yes, free speech still exists, though this current administration would like to only allow free speech that is favorable to Obama just like Chavez . The current crop of Liberals are not Liberals at all, they are ILL-Liberals and hypocrites. The Democrats have just reprimanded a Congressmen because he didn't use the civility that they themselves lack, and to remind you, Harry Reid called Bush a liar, so did Gore and so did Kennedy, several times he was called Hitler. Pelosi called fellow Americans Nazis and Astroturf and now racists. And none of them have been held to the fire for their lack of civility. DOUBLE STANDARD?? The Speaker of the House calls fellow American Nazis - isn't that professional? You like that, don't you? The protesters lacked civility and that was okay, because they represented your view points. That's very mature, right? Not mature, not civil, not respectful, and certainly not Liberal. And you wonder why you aren't respected. Give me a break.As for Ahmed Tarik, he was wrong with his facts and he knew it - his facts don't even come close the UN estimates so he made them up to bolster his points, he wanted his platform. He was rude to Mr. Rove and he sounded like the jerk he is when he just kept repeating himself over and over again, and he butted in line in front of other students to ask his fake question -that says something about who he is. Interesting to know his background, his family was probably doing very well socializing with Hussein. If he hates America so much then tell him to get the hell out. They all hate America, but they can't wait to come here - hypocrites.The only worthwhile information was the conversation between Mr. Ungar and Mr. Rove, the students, unfortunately, showed the lack of knowledge they have regarding politics and what's happening within their own government or the world. They don't know what was going on during the Bush administration. I seriously doubt if any of them know who the Secretary of State was or if they could name any cabinet members. They probably can't name any cabinet members now. All they know is what the MSLSD media has dictated to them. Too bad, they had a chance to show that they had some intelligence. Oh well, an expensive education can't guarantee that you will actually learn anything.
The young and older generation shouting across the street forgot that Karl Rove can not be charged with war crimes since they are not a representation of his peers. They are a minority who was out to get themselves on T.V. This one person angry mob prevented anyone with connections to our local news from covering them as they would have heard me screaming at the top of my lungs about the truly leftists that Obama has surrounded himself with. One would have women sterilized after the 2-3 child. One would take away private media which this site represents. One would do away with the 2nd Amenment. One forgot that he spent $168,000 in tax money, but it was accepted as an honest mistake. Let anyone of your readers do the same and he/she would be looking through the bars of a cell somewhere.
The majority of College Professors who challenge the youth of campuses nation wide have progressive, leftist ideologies. They think that everything someone with a conservative viewpoint says is evil. Those under their charge are systematically being brain washed into their points of view. If one hasn't been out in the world and seen the good and bad in humanity all they have are Professors with an axe to grind. When I went to Towson in 1970 I wasn't readily accepted as I was part of a war that had been demonized by the Professors of that time. I stood my ground and spoke my mind to show that I could speak freely without having to fear retribution.
The young college students who call Karl Rove a war criminal should look at themselves in the mirror. Most lead priviledged lives paid for with the sacrifice of many men and women who CHOSE to be in the military as they believed in duty, honor, & country. They go anywhere in the world and subject themselves to unbelievable hardship. They suck it up as they know that when it's their turn another brother or sister in arms had done their part. All the brave men and women ask is to be treated fairly and sent home when their time comes. The same protestors who thought it COOL to disrupt the assembly don't have the faintest idea what a real patriot is like. If they did they would have chosen 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as Obama continues to send our troops into harms way and many do not make it home. He stated that as soon as he took office he would immediately begin rotating our troops home. Didn't happen as he found out world politics are more complex then hope and change. I say to all of you young who want to continuously whine about past deeds of others to ask yourselves 3+ years from know if you are better off then that now. When this administration is done with us you might have forgotten what democracy really stood for. God Bless this nation and our men and women sent off to kept the ideals of freedom safe so that you to can whine about the past deeds of someone who has no control over policy decisions. Retired MSG Bradley Barthlow
Bravo to them- they were able to ask questions of Karl Rove that need to be asked. as usual he became angry when confronted with the death toll in Iraq. That is not the first time he has reacted this way, when asked a similar question.I am also happy to see that someone here remembers that there was a surplus, soon to become a deficit during the last administration.That deficit lasted many years, and it surprises me that people think it can be reversed in 9 months or a year, or two years. It will be years before we are back to where we were before the Bush administration.
I'm taking notes on how to think.. hope I'm getting it...? Freeee speech ..right.. maybe Acorn can help me out here...?
They were not arrested or removed because they were simply voicing their opinion. Rather, it's because they were being a hindrance and major distraction for everyone in the facility, and were not behaving in a manner such as those that took their time and asked questions - as did Tarik and others from the article; there is a major difference.
Because of the mere fact that "free speech" exists de facto, it means that we should refrain from practicing it? Further, those practicing free speech were removed and some were arrested.