CNN Political Ticker
344 days ago

Rove taunted at University of Iowa

Rove spoke at the University of Iowa Sunday.
Rove spoke at the University of Iowa Sunday.

(CNN) - Former top Bush aide Karl Rove didn't get the friendliest of receptions at the University of Iowa Sunday, CNN affiliate KCRG reports.

Rove, who was paid $40,000 to speak at the University, was confronted with an at-times hostile crowd of 1,000, and was interrupted on several occasions.

At one point during the speech, Rove reportedly lashed out at some of the students, saying, "You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements, let me make mine."

Police also were forced to remove two people after they tried to perform a citizen’s arrest on Rove for what they said were his crimes while a member of the Bush Administration.

At one point, a person asked Rove if he has ever shed a tear over the war in Iraq.

"I shed a lot of tears and I have been inspired by many of the people who feel their son or daughter should not have to die in vain," he replied.

Toward the end of the speech a member of the crowd yelled, "Can we have our $40,000 back?"

Rove replied, “No, you can't.”

Radio Iowa also reports one audience member told Rove that MSNBC's Keith Olbermann named him the "worst person ever."

"Ever?" Rove joked. "Yea, worse than Hitler, worse than Stalin, worse than Mao and worse than the person who introduced aluminum baseball bats."

Cameras were only allowed to film the beginning of the speech.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney


Filed under: Karl Rove
soundoff (335 Responses)
  1. Shelle

    What an idiot!

    March 10, 2008 10:18 am at 10:18 am |
  2. MaryJo Bruce Surprise, Ariz

    Freedom of speech. Thats what we Americans are about. But, where
    has civility gone through the years?

    March 10, 2008 10:21 am at 10:21 am |
  3. Mike

    I love that smart student asked for $40,000 reimbursement! good job.

    March 10, 2008 10:22 am at 10:22 am |
  4. JAS

    "You got a chance to ...make your stupid statements, let me make mine."

    Karl, there just isn't enough time.

    March 10, 2008 10:22 am at 10:22 am |
  5. Houston Texas

    Now I see why Hillary said Iowa was irrelevant.

    March 10, 2008 10:23 am at 10:23 am |
  6. susants

    Love you Iowa. Right on!

    March 10, 2008 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  7. Joan

    Good for them.

    He deserves the ridicule.

    Rove is also a monster, not just Hillary.

    March 10, 2008 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  8. Enrique

    Way to go Iowa State!!!! Awesome. This guy is the worst of the worst. He helped Bush steal 2 elections and was the brain child for one of the worst military campaigns in modern history. Maybe the Clinton campaign has a position for him, eh?

    Obama 2008

    March 10, 2008 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  9. Jen-0-palooza

    Leave it to Academia that they would welcome Iranian's President and think Rove is too controversial. What a JOKE!

    March 10, 2008 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  10. Charlotte

    Wow, that's $40.00 a person. No wonder these politicians make so much money. Obama is on the right track for future income, he makes a great speech.

    March 10, 2008 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  11. Lee

    Karl Rove should be glad he's not in jail over the Valerie Plame incident, and should just stay home. It's unbelievable that a University would pay him $40,000 to speak. That money should be spent on actual education.

    March 10, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  12. KaptKarl

    Way to go, Karl!

    March 10, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  13. Shannon Shiflett

    based on overwhelming evidence, rove should be in prison for treason. if you don't agree, then you must hate america and should leave.

    March 10, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  14. Porter

    This seems to be happening a lot lately. Are today's college kids really this immature and intellectually lazy?

    March 10, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  15. Carlos P.

    It would have been nice if the police had grabbed Rove, and hauled him out of the building as well. This man is being payed 40k to corrupt the minds of young college students. Boy, those republicans will stop at nothing with their agenda, will they?

    March 10, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  16. Linda Carpenter, Phoenix, Arizona

    Karl Rove should be in prison for outing a CIA agent in a time of war- that is treason and is punishable by death! Why in the world would any University pay a criminal like him $40,000? He should be in contempt of Congress as well for ignoring a subpeona.

    Go Iowa University students! I am so pleased to read that you are active in politics, know what a slimey murderous egotistical criminal Karl Rove is ....I pray that he gets what he deserves one day.

    March 10, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  17. Rebecca

    Karl Rove is the WORST PERSON EVER in America. I'm glad he is going to work for McCain. Just more proof the McCain is just more of the same.

    March 10, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  18. E .ballesty

    When are we going to see Rove indited for war crimes.

    March 10, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  19. Rutth Schwartz

    I guess he considers his statement : "You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements, let me make mine." I guess he considers his statement stupid, too, Right?

    March 10, 2008 10:30 am at 10:30 am |
  20. VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    Well, should Rove be in on trial or in prison. Oh, I forgot
    he is the one that helped Bush cheat to win in the elections
    therefore, he is as responsible as Bush that sent American
    on one of its worst, never to be forgotton, battle in History.
    Love the soldiers, America owes them and they should never
    be forgotton.
    Fox has had some pretty awful, hateful shows with a bold
    Hannity, who thinks he is God. Then I see that Fox has hired
    Rove. Oh, My God. I couldn't believe that Rove has a job on
    the Fox news channel. That man should never be able to
    work again.

    March 10, 2008 10:31 am at 10:31 am |
  21. RightyTighty

    The University of Iowa has never been known for producing Einstein’s.

    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM..

    March 10, 2008 10:32 am at 10:32 am |
  22. Bill, Streamwood, IL

    If the University of Iowa can pay Karl Rove $40K to speak, then they obviously have more money than they know what to do with.

    Using that money to help some qualified, but financially strapped, students with their tuition would have been a much better investment.

    March 10, 2008 10:32 am at 10:32 am |
  23. Brad, Obamaha NE

    i live right next door to iowa – and until now i never had an ounce of respect for them.

    "until now" being the key words.

    a witch hunt where one finds and destroys real witches is really called a good day.

    March 10, 2008 10:32 am at 10:32 am |
  24. robert

    Can't he just go away? Please?

    March 10, 2008 10:33 am at 10:33 am |
  25. Danny

    Yes, I think so......Mr. Rove and Bush Administration worse than that.

    March 10, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  26. Paul

    Can you believe that FOX News actually hired this criminal clown to work on their show. "Fair and Balanced" my butt, they are in bed with the right wing and paying Karl Rove to work for them proves it. Karl Rove should be in jail and I hope he is feels comfortable with the resposibility of American and foreign blood on his hands.

    March 10, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  27. Agt. Smart

    What a horrible group of kids – and stupid enough to pay this guy 40K just for giving a speech

    March 10, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  28. jeremy

    couldn't have happened to a better person. too bad they didn't have eggs to throw at him.

    March 10, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  29. Bill

    Stupid people acting stupidly. Dmondtrates the maturity of you average liberal, oops excuse me "progressive".

    March 10, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  30. Brian

    Unbelievable that these criminals were allowed to run our government for eight years. History will not be kind to them, I promise you that.

    March 10, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  31. Jed in Texas

    Well at least he knew what list he belonged on.I have to applaud the students for recognizing the Benedict Arnold on their stage.

    March 10, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  32. TheLeftNut

    Karl Rove = evil dinosour

    March 10, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  33. Dilip Samuels

    imagine the stupid university officials wasting $ 40,000 on the likes of KArl Rove

    They should be fired

    Better ways to spend $ 40,000

    March 10, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  34. @americans

    I, for one will perform a citizen’s arrest on Rove anytime I see him...it's about time!

    March 10, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  35. Matt, Manchester, CT

    Glad to see those criticizing Karl Rove are quoting Olbermann – he should have stuck with SportsCenter, his idiocy was better off there.

    March 10, 2008 10:36 am at 10:36 am |
  36. Black Man in Dixie

    I think his 15 minutes are up.

    March 10, 2008 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  37. elmerg

    Why did the university hire this crook to speak in the first place?
    The students had every right to abuse this miscreant.
    $40,000? What a waste of students money.

    March 10, 2008 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  38. Terry Shea

    He deserved worse.

    March 10, 2008 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  39. Robert from MN

    Can we have our $40K back? LOL.

    Try, can we have our country back?

    Karl Rove, the man that brought you the Gay Marriage voting issue, and other important red herrings. He may not be worse than hitler or stalin, but he keeps good company.

    March 10, 2008 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  40. Beans

    We have high standards in this state. We don't like Bush here and we don't like Rove. We also don't like Hillary Clinton. In fact, we told you with our votes that we like Barack Obama the most and John Edwards second. Get the picture–QUALITY!

    March 10, 2008 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  41. Paula

    Thank God students are doing something other than supporting Baraka Obama, the candidate of "hope". Hopefully, this means students are thinking and protesting and not just showing up at stadiums like a bunch of rock star groupies.

    March 10, 2008 10:38 am at 10:38 am |
  42. Veronica

    Well... Mr. Rove.... that's what happens when you run a corrupt campaign against Al Gore and John Kerry and prey of the fears of Americans. The use of 9/11 as a political tool is shameful and now after the dust has settled people see how the Bush Administration has lied and scared people into voting for them.

    March 10, 2008 10:39 am at 10:39 am |
  43. J.Crobuzon

    He and Hitler would have been good friends. He'd have managed Adolf's election campaign with pretty much the same rhetoric of despite that he used so well against the Democrats and moderates in this once-free country.

    March 10, 2008 10:39 am at 10:39 am |
  44. silverspring

    Who paid him that kind of money? Karl Rove is NOTwort h a penny. He has blood on his hands.

    March 10, 2008 10:40 am at 10:40 am |
  45. JDS N.C.

    Yea Libs are in favor of free speech? They always look for suppressing free speech when they disagree. I am sure UI has liberal speakers who others disagree but let them talk. That is what a university is supposed to support-dialogue.

    March 10, 2008 10:41 am at 10:41 am |
  46. G.L. Agliata

    Carl Rove, under the guise of being a true American patriot has managed to injure our country and its political system more than anyone in our entire history. Not the worst spies, not the worst traitors could have done as much to damage the core of America. Between Rove and Cheney, we do do not need Al Qaida, the Chinese, the Iranians, the North Koreans and the rest of our enemies to destroy our way of life.
    Why would anyone want to pay Carl rove $40,000 to make a speech?. Too bad many Americans still support him.

    March 10, 2008 10:41 am at 10:41 am |
  47. Spirit of America

    Ochids to Hawkeyes for protesting the appearance of the American Goebbels on your campus. You demonstrate the Spirit of America. Onions to those who invited this monster to campus and paid him 40 grand to spew his venom and lies. When do the war crime trials begin?

    March 10, 2008 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  48. K, Florida

    Freedom of speech does not entail a paycheck Mary Jo Bruce!

    March 10, 2008 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  49. richard m mitchell

    Mr.Karl Rove is part of the ignorance we have in the present
    administration,no one listens to the people anymore, we
    have an administration that is out of touch.

    He does deserve the courtesy of being listened to; but I can
    understand the frustration of the students, it was no shock to me
    to understand why it got out of hand

    March 10, 2008 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  50. David Jones

    Who in his right mind would pay someone like this anything to speak? He should have a permanent gag order applied. That would be money better spent. The man is completely out of touch with reality.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  51. Pascal

    Awww, poor war cwiminal.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  52. Sick and tired of the radical left in LA

    It just shows you the wonderful future of America doesn't it. I'm sure those smart folks in the audience would also be the same group that would have run off to Canada if there was a draft.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  53. Eric

    Ye shall reap as ye hath sown, Karl Rove. Or something like that.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  54. Jim

    So he admitted his statements were stupid? Awesome! He's finally seeing the light.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  55. Altoid

    Rove: "you got a chance... to make your stupid comments, let me make mine."

    hahaha, he admitted his comments were stupid! that's priceless.

    March 10, 2008 10:43 am at 10:43 am |
  56. Kerry

    Karl Rove is not the worst person in history!

    I once heard a debate in which one of the speakers said the only person worst then Karl Rove was Bill Clinton's advisor.

    March 10, 2008 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  57. Jacob

    Karl Rove is a black mark against the Republican party and this November he will lead to the landslide victory of Democrats in the senate and the white house as well.

    March 10, 2008 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  58. Sharon from Michigan

    Karl Rove is starting to get what he deserves.. Next on the agenda, George Bush. I think he will have a rude awakening when he gets out of office and has time to watch TV again. He might actually realize how people feel about him and what's really happening in the country. Too bad he didn't watch CNN earlier, but then again, denial is a good defense.

    March 10, 2008 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  59. Joe

    Nice job Hawkeyes. Rove is evil.

    March 10, 2008 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  60. TheLeftNut

    $40,000 to talk?

    How much to shut him up?

    March 10, 2008 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  61. Ken, Austin TX

    The part about the citizens arrest becuase of his crimes while on the Bush administration is just too funny! Way to go University of Iowa? He deserved this after his remarks about Barack.

    March 10, 2008 10:46 am at 10:46 am |
  62. Amit

    Thank You IOWA! Americans are with you. We Love Iowa.

    Go Obama '08!

    March 10, 2008 10:47 am at 10:47 am |
  63. kathryn

    What an IDIOT...wish I could have been there!!!
    I've heard that John McCain might have this guy help him during his campaign...I can't believe it's even a consideration...since Rove trashed him so badly when he ran against Bush in 2000

    March 10, 2008 10:47 am at 10:47 am |
  64. CTurner, Durham, NC

    Anyone connected to the Bush regime should be confronted every time they show their vile faces in public. In 7 years they've managed to destroy everything they've touched. From the sound of it, Rove got off easy. He should have been tarred and feathered and dumped on the side of the road outside of town.

    March 10, 2008 10:47 am at 10:47 am |
  65. elmerg

    J.Crobuzon- your comment hit the nail on his head. How can any rational American support this sleazy, dishonest man?

    March 10, 2008 10:47 am at 10:47 am |
  66. Liberals also said there were weapons

    To be called the worst person ever by that leftist, communist nitwit Olbermann is actually a compliment.

    Free speech is great as long as you agree with it, oh genius brainwashed "college" students.

    The same people that trash Rove, champion the conspiracy theorists and HATE AMERICA crowd like Ward Churchill.

    Oil prices are through the roof and they rightfully get hammered, why do we NOT HEAR A PEEP for the colleges that are making money hand over fist and they are pricing EDUCATION out of "lower to middle income kids" grasp?

    Oh yeah, that's right, the liberal media is not going to call out the liberal education system for their ripping us regular folks off.

    Say is that Brittany Spears over there?

    March 10, 2008 10:48 am at 10:48 am |
  67. ILoveAmerica

    Whoever is responsible for choosing to spend $40,000 of the university's money on a speech by Karl Rove ought to be fired.

    March 10, 2008 10:48 am at 10:48 am |
  68. rb

    Idiot!

    March 10, 2008 10:49 am at 10:49 am |
  69. Righty Wrong

    RightyTighty March 10th, 2008 10:32 am ET

    .

    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM..

    Your hero Karl is a Political Science major..so much for that theory

    March 10, 2008 10:49 am at 10:49 am |
  70. ProudVet

    he sure doesn´t need the 40k, he should have millions hidden from the 8+ billions that J.P. Bremmer says were never found but handed out to the "inner circle".
    Ali Baba and the......REVISITED

    March 10, 2008 10:50 am at 10:50 am |
  71. Joyce - Texas

    Karl Rove deserves everything he got in Iowa. He should take his ego and blood guilt hands and sit down.

    March 10, 2008 10:51 am at 10:51 am |
  72. Kristin

    I have never been more proud of those Hawkeyes. Way to go! That's the biggest waste of $40,000!

    March 10, 2008 10:52 am at 10:52 am |
  73. JP

    I thought Liberals were supposed to be tolerant and of others? Way to show your true hateful intolerant characteristics.

    March 10, 2008 10:52 am at 10:52 am |
  74. Bernadine Platen

    Who at the University of Iowa thought he was WORTH $40,000? Someone must have invited him...

    March 10, 2008 10:52 am at 10:52 am |
  75. john

    The Sudents who tried to make a citizens arrest were right.
    Rove should be charged with Treason for outing a serving operational CIA officer. period.

    March 10, 2008 10:53 am at 10:53 am |
  76. Elly

    Down with rove with his dirty politics!!!
    Bushs *TINY PEA BRIAN* !!!

    March 10, 2008 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  77. Pat Lambert

    I have a couple questions for him as well. I suppose that he would regard them as stupid to.

    March 10, 2008 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  78. hey allons,tn

    hey you trader to the america way of life you slime ball go crawl under a rock where you belong you make me sick you & g.w.bush and all the (REPUBLICANS you all suck HiLLARY CLINTON 08 best all the people we LOVE you

    March 10, 2008 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  79. 4Real

    If Mr. Karl Rove can stand in from of a crowd of people and say he feel bad about the war, then why can't Hillary do the same. He is getting paid to show people that money can buy anybody.

    March 10, 2008 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  80. Jay

    I just find it strange how you never really hear about republican "activists" who interfere with or try and break up a speech by a Democrat speaking somewhere or burning down houses or car lots...

    It's a shame how the extreme left wing in this country gives such a bad name to the Democratic party in this country. (What's worse is how the majority of Democrats don't come out and denounce these people.)

    Where is Clinton or Obama or even Dean coming out to denounce what these people have done not only in Iowa but the recent home burnings in Wash, etc. Just a joke. And don't give me the BS line that they aren't affiliated with the party at all..

    You don't like Rove, fine, nobody said you have to. Almost as bad as what they did to Coulter – although if anyone deserved that – still, not something you do. But then again, one needs to look no further than how they treat their own – Bill Clinton – and we can see how screwed up this party is.

    March 10, 2008 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  81. Justin from West Haven, CT

    Rove sucks, dude is worse than the President of Iran.

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  82. john

    The Students who tried to perform acitizens arrest were right.
    Rove should be charged with treason for outing a serving operational CIA officer. Period.

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  83. Sunshine from University of Florida

    Don't Taser ROVE, BRO

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  84. 18-30 White Male

    This guy's a bald, blundering, ignorant, IDIOT and deserves to be in jail for crimes against humanity!

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  85. JustinA

    Don't Universities have a better way of spending their money?

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  86. TheLeftNut

    Karl Rove doesn't talk, he spins (webs of lies and deceit)

    March 10, 2008 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  87. Toochi

    I've read somewhere that Karl never completed an undergrad degree...is this true?

    March 10, 2008 10:56 am at 10:56 am |
  88. pj

    no more karl rove politics, and no more scooter libby justice...

    good for iowa!

    March 10, 2008 10:56 am at 10:56 am |
  89. Jack

    Karl Rove is going to now work for McCain. McCain, Bush, Rove, Clinton...all more of the same Washington scum.

    March 10, 2008 10:58 am at 10:58 am |
  90. Larry in Harpers Ferry,WV

    It would be nice to see someone with the resources go through the correct channels and processes to get Rove and other guilty parties in this administration arrested and charged with their crimes which include Fraud and Abuse,Conflict of Interest and Revealing Secret Information.

    March 10, 2008 10:59 am at 10:59 am |
  91. TheLeftNut

    Roves's rhetoric is the launching pad for facist inflitration and religious extremism. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of him, you know, strong-arm facist…It's a whole lot easier have some overt operatives (like Dems in the White House) do the job and then get it over with.

    ….to paraphrase Pat Robertson.

    March 10, 2008 10:59 am at 10:59 am |
  92. Miami

    Looks like the college crowd won't be campaigning for Rove anytime soon, but little good it does. Rove trumped the Democrats again with this Florida delegates flap. Florida loses its Democratic delegates because the Republican Governmor and Legislature move the primary date up to January 29, against DNC rules. Ever petulant Howard Dean comes out swinging at Florida Democrats and refuses to re-instate the delegates or pay for a new primary. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Charlie Christ is everywhere with John McCain before and after the primary. Now he's #1 choice for McCain's VP running mate.

    The Democrats can't win without Florida (and Michigan). So either Rove is a genius or Dean is an idiot. You decide.

    March 10, 2008 10:59 am at 10:59 am |
  93. VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    Where in the world did Bush ever find a guy like Rove.
    Vell, I am sure they were crazed over on another when
    they first met. Crooks like other Crooks

    Obama for President 2008 Not to be Vice Pres. under a
    liar, well two liars.

    March 10, 2008 11:00 am at 11:00 am |
  94. Dennis

    While I think that some of the students' antics were over the top, I can't say that he didn't get what he deserved.

    March 10, 2008 11:01 am at 11:01 am |
  95. VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    And Carl Rove has a new job with Fox News? It must
    smell in there.Nice Pick, Fox News. You deserve a reward.

    Obama 2008

    March 10, 2008 11:02 am at 11:02 am |
  96. Danny

    Beans, you said you don't like Hillary right and you want Obama to be United States President but look at UNC now what's going on.

    So, change and hope it mean nothing only for the people that have no idea and no plan like Bush and Obama.

    March 10, 2008 11:02 am at 11:02 am |
  97. t

    I love the last quote in the story. That's great, "..... worse than the person who introduced aluminum baseball bats."

    March 10, 2008 11:02 am at 11:02 am |
  98. William Robert, Dallas

    This is what I don’t like about Iowa. They are actually starting to believe their press clippings. Just because they are the first to vote in the presidential primaries, they think they can tell the rest of America how to vote and what to think.

    Let them have their “15 minutes” because they rest of the time they will just be out in the barn, shucking corn. What a bunch of hicks!

    March 10, 2008 11:03 am at 11:03 am |
  99. Paul

    It's amazing how right wing individuals blindly support criminals like Karl Rove. I for one and happy to see them come out in his defense. You people can carry the responsiblity of American soldiers blood on your hands too for defending such a corrupt person.

    March 10, 2008 11:04 am at 11:04 am |
  100. TheRightNut

    I like Rove. He looks like, well... me.

    March 10, 2008 11:08 am at 11:08 am |
  101. kim

    It was the U of I, not Iowa State!!

    March 10, 2008 11:09 am at 11:09 am |
  102. Celeste

    Seems like the University could have made better use of that $40,000

    March 10, 2008 11:09 am at 11:09 am |
  103. Darryl

    How many more of our service members have to die because of bad choice by our President George Bush and Dick Chaney:

    The cost of the war in Iraq is about $12 billion a month - triple that of what it was in the war's earliest years, according to a study by a Nobel Prize-winning economist. Another study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office offers a lower estimate, but the costs remain huge and the numbers of family they're destroying.

    America need to have a March on Washington and I'll lead it.

    March 10, 2008 11:10 am at 11:10 am |
  104. Scott

    In your face, Karl (go Hawkeyes!)

    March 10, 2008 11:11 am at 11:11 am |
  105. Vig

    It couldn't have happened to a more evil guy.

    March 10, 2008 11:11 am at 11:11 am |
  106. Michael Guinn Ventura, CA

    Kommandant Karl is the poster child for why we need change! Too bad the Clinton campaign seems to embrace his tactics. He is politics at it's Worst!

    March 10, 2008 11:12 am at 11:12 am |
  107. Roderick

    To the Moderator, why do you keep deleting my comments about Rove? They are no more inflamatory then anyone else. What type of sensorship is this? I think Karl Rove is in the top 20 worst people in the world and he is part of an andministration that sent our children off to die. Like it or not, print it or not...its the truth!

    March 10, 2008 11:13 am at 11:13 am |
  108. Karen

    No one asked him if he was afraid of the Don Siegelman case coming back to haunt or imprison him?

    March 10, 2008 11:13 am at 11:13 am |
  109. to the left nut

    Leftnut... you're a fascist as well (not in the sense of Nazi Germany), but the idea that a fascist is a person that ridicules everyone who doens't follow what the perceive as the normal path. Karl Rove may be on to that effect as well... but use the terms right

    cough global warming cough... is a prime example of true fascism... anyone not believing that we created global warming is seen as a substandard person... sounds familiar right?

    March 10, 2008 11:13 am at 11:13 am |
  110. CB

    Mr. Rove what were you thinking saying, "You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements, let me make mine."? What stupid statements did you make for 40K? Smart man to tell them they couldn't get the $40,000 back after the event, though. Help the Republican's some more with your witty sayings, maybe old' Hillary will use some of them.

    March 10, 2008 11:14 am at 11:14 am |
  111. Sick and Tired of the Radical Right

    Well it shows that College students are not just "blindly following rock stars" but actually think on the issues. I am so tired of the Radical Right crying foul whenever their (multitudinous) faults are brought to the fore. the University agreed to pay him to speak, I am sure most tried to hold their tounges as this fool spouted his radical right wing nonsense but at some point, as a TRUE ADULT and AMERICAN, you must speak up. You must speak the truth and confront the people who are destroying the world. I am SO PROUD of those who risked the ire of the police and the entrenched radicals from the right to speak out and try to silence the lies! GREAT JOB!

    March 10, 2008 11:14 am at 11:14 am |
  112. to miami

    Thanks for not mentioning Michigan and the liberals that hurt their people's vote as well as Florida.

    You pick your facts to meet your case, but deny what your own party as done in another state. What a pathetic excuse. We see through you.

    March 10, 2008 11:15 am at 11:15 am |
  113. Student

    Now, Rove needs to publicly endorse McCain and start campaigning for him...

    What a waste of money, those students should demand to have it reimbursed.

    March 10, 2008 11:16 am at 11:16 am |
  114. thomas a rogers

    that smug fascist sob should be in jail and humiliated for destroying 1 our reputation with his brilliant torture ideas he made a few bad apple reservists pay for2 turning in our own spy who tried to tell the truth3 invading irak and letting bin laden go.(chinese mole?) anyways he is a discusting person, a real beltway slime. god knows what kind of a sex pervert he must be considering what a closet fascist he is. sincerely, sen. craig

    March 10, 2008 11:16 am at 11:16 am |
  115. Hillary unsensord

    hillaryunsensord at youtube.

    Get the best picture of your candidate. visit youtube/hillary unsensord.

    It is good to know who will govern the only country that you love.
    Enjoy the videos about Hillary and business partner.

    March 10, 2008 11:16 am at 11:16 am |
  116. dan

    Good job iowa,it's about time karl rove get's it America is tired of spin,we want folks who care ,The karl rove/bush ideology that citizens are like robotic you just push a button and they follow you,this kind of stuff is over.we are waking up to understand how we got into Iraq,the deficit,house crisis,expensive oil prices,katrina,wiretaping, name it, the list goes on,please no more payroll for karl rove and his followers

    March 10, 2008 11:16 am at 11:16 am |
  117. Lee

    The incredible part of this story is that a university would pay $40,000 to this man. Did the people who attended have to pay a fee? I would never pay a dime to listen to this man – in fact, you couldn't pay me enough to go listen to him speak.

    I can think of hundreds of better uses for $40,000.

    March 10, 2008 11:17 am at 11:17 am |
  118. Anne E.

    The university should never have wasted its $40,000 on this uber-nerd
    to begin with. But kudos to those who spoke their peace, even if it was by taunting. The taunts are MORE than deserved.
    Words cannot begin to describe how utterly despicable and morally reprehensible this man really is.

    March 10, 2008 11:17 am at 11:17 am |
  119. Sridhar Prasad

    You were instrumental in taking the nation to its present status – whatelse do you expect from the citizens?

    You deserve it – big time.

    March 10, 2008 11:18 am at 11:18 am |
  120. Jim Wade, IA

    I was there. Better than most comedy shows I have been to. Rove got what he deserves.

    March 10, 2008 11:18 am at 11:18 am |
  121. VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    Good Strong, Smart College Students. When the police were
    called, the police should have handcuffed the liar, crook, cronie
    friend of Bush's. Maybe they can waterboard Carl?

    March 10, 2008 11:19 am at 11:19 am |
  122. brian

    you can disagree with someone without demonizing them. the problem with the obama supporters is that they think that anyone who isn't with them is against them... much like the Bush administration under Rove. Hypocrites.

    March 10, 2008 11:20 am at 11:20 am |
  123. Thomas

    Since Bush thinks waterboarding is an acceptable way to get information, I think we should be able to dunk Rove until he tells us the truth about how he engineered the theft the 2000 and 2004 elections, Bush's ties to the bin Laden family and the lies that got us into Iraq, Valerie Plame, spying on American citizens, etc.

    On the positive side, it's looking less and less likely that any other politican is going to be turning to this jerk for help in the future. He is becoming a political pariah.

    March 10, 2008 11:20 am at 11:20 am |
  124. Aaron

    I love Iowa

    March 10, 2008 11:20 am at 11:20 am |
  125. Anonymous

    send carl rove iraq to give speaches

    March 10, 2008 11:21 am at 11:21 am |
  126. amk

    "You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements, let me make mine."

    What an idiot.

    March 10, 2008 11:21 am at 11:21 am |
  127. Obama4President

    LoL, I can't believe they tried to do a citizens arrest....too funny!

    March 10, 2008 11:21 am at 11:21 am |
  128. TN_Dave

    Way to go U of IA. He is a criminal, like the rest of the Bushies, and add Hillary and McCain to that list too. Time to take our country back.

    March 10, 2008 11:22 am at 11:22 am |
  129. Black Man in Dixie

    Tie him to Howard Dean. Put them in a sack. Tie a rope to it, and throw them in the river.

    March 10, 2008 11:22 am at 11:22 am |
  130. Angela Robinson

    I think that Rove's "I'm just here for the money"- attitude doesn't go over well with most people.
    Why was he there, again?

    March 10, 2008 11:23 am at 11:23 am |
  131. TheRightNut

    To "to the left nut". It's the "TheLeftNut" if you please.

    I quote you :
    a fascist is a person that ridicules everyone who doens't follow what the perceive as the normal path...

    I make fun of Rove and his ilk (you) because I'm smart enough to know I will never change your mind no matter how solid the logic or how overwhelming the evidence, people like you don't use your brain, you use Limbaugh's or Coulters or O'Reilly's brain. You have the inability to reason for yourself.

    So what's left? I'll just have fun by making fun (of YOU)!

    March 10, 2008 11:23 am at 11:23 am |
  132. plain jane

    These must be the kids voting for Obama....see what a uniter Obama is.....!!!!!!

    March 10, 2008 11:24 am at 11:24 am |
  133. marcia

    NOT SURPRISED, SAME STUDENTS VOTED FOR OBAMA. WONDER WHAT THEY ARE IN SCHOOL FOR- JUST CURIOUS

    March 10, 2008 11:25 am at 11:25 am |
  134. ssssss

    This country is done dealing with ediots and criminals like Karl Rov who are out there to destroy this planet. My delema is why does God allow this kind of people to be born. Then may be it is the satan who is sending people like karl Rov to test us like he did to Jesus. People Say No to people like Karl Rov, Hillary Clinton, Bush alike.

    March 10, 2008 11:25 am at 11:25 am |
  135. thomas a rogers

    appropriate comment....rove belongs in a prison cell and if you don't see that you're an idiot.........

    March 10, 2008 11:26 am at 11:26 am |
  136. Paul

    In my day free speech was something we believed in. If I didn't want to hear a guest speaker – I didn't go. Makes me sad to read all the hate in these responces. My fear is that soon shouting will be replaced by shooting.

    March 10, 2008 11:28 am at 11:28 am |
  137. thomas a rogers

    karl rove should experience all the pain and suffering and damage he has caused by being a real bloody monster.....covered in d.c. slime and mideastern blood. dripping....belongs in jail if this country had half a brain....enjoy the mission accomplished halliburton recession all you good ol'boys. gas up those cowboy trucks and head over to the wide world wrestling match with a quarter pounder....... duh duh duh puke

    March 10, 2008 11:29 am at 11:29 am |
  138. Franky

    "Rove reportedly lashed out at some of the students, saying, "You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements, let me make mine."

    LOL!!!! That's funny. Yep, it's a tough world out there......LOL!!!

    March 10, 2008 11:29 am at 11:29 am |
  139. Rene, Lt Col, USAF

    Why do the media report such an immaterial article since 17 year olds are not able to vote? Who they support is nothing more than propaganda that can now be attributed to the American media and their support for Sen. Barack Obama. The medial should concentrate on the senator’s lack of experience but more importantly his lack of knowledge in countless areas that are important to America. Areas such as history, international politics, military, strategy, economy, and now we learn getting things done as a senator. His political record is marginal at best but his Harvard record reflects that same poor ethics of fellow alumni like the ENRON leadership.

    March 10, 2008 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  140. Jenny, Rio Vista, CA

    I'm amazed at the number of people here that think it's the liberal left wing's fault. You lot absolutely amaze me. I can't believe that you still have your heads buried in the sand. This country is going down the tubes because of people like Karl Rove, but you just can't see it. How many more American soldiers have to die before you finally realize that Bush, Rove, Rumsfeld, etc. etc. never did support the troops. They may wear flagpins that were made in China but as far as the troops go they just don't give a d...m. Wake up and smell the coffee. It's your so-called left-wing liberals that actually care about the troops. it was Obama that did something about the soldiers in Walter Reed. Listen to that O'Reilly smugbutt. he doesn't even beoieve that veterans are homeless. he would rahter not beoieve it than lift a finger to help.

    March 10, 2008 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  141. Cami

    Righty Tighty said:
    The University of Iowa has never been known for producing Einstein’s.
    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM..
    ----------------------------
    Actually, if you were to do your homework, you would find many famous, relevent graduates from the University of Iowa. By the way, that thing you're typing on . . . . it was invented in Iowa, too.
    (See if we sell YOU any more corn for your SUVs!)

    March 10, 2008 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  142. P. D.

    Why does Rove, Gonzales go to these venues? The money. I believe it is shameless. Here we have two men who have totally destroyed our nations reputation. Just stay home

    March 10, 2008 11:31 am at 11:31 am |
  143. jgarth

    Good for the students of Iowa for not cowering before this noxious 'turd blossom'!

    March 10, 2008 11:31 am at 11:31 am |
  144. maya

    Obama supporters please take notice- focus your rage against men like Karl Rove- not Hillary! We HAVE to take back the White House in 2008!

    March 10, 2008 11:33 am at 11:33 am |
  145. CHERYL

    THIS GUY IS YOUR TYPICAL REPUBLICAN!

    HEY, HE GOT BUSH ELECTED THOUGH DIDN'T HE!

    WE WILL HAVE JOHN McCAIN AGAIN IF WE VOTE FOR OBAMA !

    THE GOP WILL SWIFT BOAT HIM SO FAST!

    OBAMA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE MILD ATTACKS FROM THE MEDIA!!!!!!!!!!

    HOW WILL HE HANDLE THE REPUBLICANS OR THE PRESIDENCY?

    SENATOR CLINTON IS MY CHOICE!

    A TOUGH INTELLIGENT FIGHTER IS WHAT WE NEED!!!!!!!!!

    GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!

    March 10, 2008 11:33 am at 11:33 am |
  146. Ean

    It's too bad I didn't know he was going to be in Iowa City. I would have joined the crowd! Iowans are not as blind as many others in today's society. We don't forget easily...it's a Midwest trait. We call it as we see it, and were not afraid of overtly expressing ourselves when our principles and values have been undermined by those who consider themselves above the fray. In other words...pompous morons are not allowed to spin false rhetoric in Iowa. That's why HRC lost the caucus, and that's why Rove will never be welcome. As GW would say, "you fool me can't get fooled again."

    March 10, 2008 11:34 am at 11:34 am |
  147. CHERYL

    WATCH HANNITYS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!

    INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!!

    March 10, 2008 11:34 am at 11:34 am |
  148. kelly WI

    you Rove haters are stupid. You don't know what you're talking about. Just trying to find an excuse for your candidates own failings.
    Don't be silly. The Flame incident was investigated by everyone and theres nothing there. Don't worry if the dems had found anything wrong they would have raised all kinds of hell. They tried but it didn't work out. It's Valerie that should be in prison for lying to the congress.
    You go Karl. Some people really can't stand the truth when it doesn't fit in with their fanatsies. The idiots are just jealous of your brilliance.

    March 10, 2008 12:37 pm at 12:37 pm |
  149. anon

    Iowa students, freedom of speech means you ALLOW controversy, not try to drown it out!

    March 10, 2008 12:37 pm at 12:37 pm |
  150. Rebecca - CA

    Leave it to college students to have the nerve to stand up to the evil estabishment.! The got it right!! I am surpirsed he didn't try to pander to them by doing his lame rap performance.

    March 10, 2008 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |
  151. Ames Tiedeman

    Let them bash all they want. I have some predictions if Hillary becomes President:

    1. She will think of every reason not to leave Iraq.
    2. She will be tougher on Iran than Bush
    3. She will become knows ad the dictator, or "Queen Hillary."
    4. Her Presidency will be in shambles with few accomplishments
    5. She will antagonize the right so much that NOTHING gets fixed
    6. She will be the most hated President since Nixon or Carter
    7. The left will turn on her and the right will say, "we told you so."
    8. Bill Clinton will be considered an idiot after is flops as first husband
    9. Taxes will go up and economic production down.
    10. She will do nothing about the budget or trade deficits.

    March 10, 2008 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm |
  152. art

    Q: did you ever shed a tear over Iraq?

    Rove: yes, when they started investigating the no-bid contracts.

    March 10, 2008 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm |
  153. S.Mike

    rove Should be laughed at, spit on then run out of town...anytown...everytown!!!

    March 10, 2008 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm |
  154. Ana

    "Can you believe that FOX News actually hired this criminal clown to work on their show?"

    Yes, I can believe it. It's not the first time they've signed on a criminal. Fox also hired Oliver North as one of their illustrious pundits.

    March 10, 2008 12:40 pm at 12:40 pm |
  155. Damian

    Carl Rove is the GOP's worst enemy. The very presence of him reminds Americans about all they hate about the Bush years. He is will key in the general election race for the Democrats to seal the deal. Even worse than George Bush endorsing John McCain, Carl Rove making any kind of public appearances.

    March 10, 2008 12:41 pm at 12:41 pm |
  156. Tom G

    True Americans will give this neo-clown what for at every public appearance he makes. He should go back to what ever snake hole in Texas that he crawled out of.

    March 10, 2008 12:42 pm at 12:42 pm |
  157. simple thought ?

    karl, i'm a deaf vet. i sign to communicate. my comment is simple.
    read the middle finger of either hand.

    missouri

    March 10, 2008 12:42 pm at 12:42 pm |
  158. Peg

    The old saying "what goes around....comes around," will someday come back to haunt him......maybe while he's in jail.

    March 10, 2008 12:42 pm at 12:42 pm |
  159. stuart_zechman

    Hillary!
    Hillary!

    She's the best for you and me!

    Hillary!
    Hillary!

    Obama time to be VP!

    Hillary!
    Hillary!

    Vote for her or sexist you B!

    March 10, 2008 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |
  160. TheLeftNut

    I LOVE how all the W.A.C.K jobs come onto the message boards and criticize "liberals" for be "nasty" and "hateful".

    I remember back in 2000 and 2004 when "liberals" were criticized for "not talking from the heart" and being too "academic" and "too intellectual".

    I guess that's just the way the "loosing team" rationalizes...hmmm.

    GLOSSARY:

    W.A.C.K = "White American Consertive Know-it-all" e.g. Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly etc

    W.A.C.K job = a person who listens to a W.A.C.K hence, becoming a product of a W.A.C.K and relies on the W.A.C.K for all high brain functions such as reasoning and perception

    March 10, 2008 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |
  161. Harvey, Tampa, FL

    Why in the world do we place so much importance on the thoughts and opinions of 18 to 21 year-olds at college forums? I was once one of those 18-21 year-olds at Penn State, and lets just say at 44 I know TONS more now than I knew back then.

    I'm not suggesting that college-aged people are dumb in any way, but they certainly don't have a lot of life's experiences under their belts like most 40+ people...

    March 10, 2008 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |
  162. M.

    I'd say it's definitely a toss up as to who was the worst person in this regime...Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Rove, Rice...Take your pick...They all bear responsibility for the quagmire that has become this country...Let's look forward to better...GO IOWA!

    March 10, 2008 12:44 pm at 12:44 pm |
  163. The silent majority

    Go Hawkeyes! Let Rove know that he could not corrupt the minds of Midwesterners after he corrupted Washington along with his master Bush and the gang. Paying him $1 to speak was just too much let alone $40K! He should be ashamed of his criminal arrogance.

    March 10, 2008 12:45 pm at 12:45 pm |
  164. Randy - Denver

    As an independent voter I have favored Mr. Obama this campaign, I have read his stand on the issues and his books, I have also read Ms. Clinton's stand on the issues and he books. I have read Mr. McCain's stand, as well as most of the candidates that have fallen on the campaign. I recognize that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats will get everything they wish for from their campaigns, and that either party will most likely ahve to surrender on something they really support, that is the nature of compromise and that is the nature of our Government, compromise not destroy. based on the information I have read, my understandign of the job of the president (spelled out pretty clearly in the Constitution) and my personal impression of the candidates I feel Mr. Obama would make the better president. If he is not allowed to run because of mechanization by the Clinton campaign, I will definately vote for Mr. McCain. Not a threat just an observation by an Independent voter. I am not bound to a party but to a person and I feel the CHARACTER is more important than EXPERIANCE. As a person with a BS in HRM i was taught that experiance is not as driving a factor as character when hiring a person, and the more important the job the more important the character is over the experiance.

    March 10, 2008 12:46 pm at 12:46 pm |
  165. Yankee Dog

    Way to go Iowa! Lets hope more people attending future Rove events do the same. This slime must be slammed at every possible opportunity.

    Also, what a waste of $40,000 - just think what the University could have done with that kind of money, and to think they paid Rove that amount to hear his evil spew..... the mind boggles....

    March 10, 2008 12:46 pm at 12:46 pm |
  166. krill

    Don't mess with IOWA!

    March 10, 2008 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |
  167. AtlantaVoter

    JAS said:

    "You got a chance to …make your stupid statements, let me make mine."

    Karl, there just isn't enough time.

    Exactly what I planned to say...apparently Rove gets a bit testy when he is not allowed to make all of his stupid statements. I should have known it was just wishful thinking on my part that we would not have to see or hear from him again.

    Do you mean people actually PAY to listen to him?

    March 10, 2008 12:48 pm at 12:48 pm |
  168. AJ

    Rove should join the Obama campaign. They are two peas in a pod.

    March 10, 2008 12:48 pm at 12:48 pm |
  169. Praetorian, Fort Myers

    What a sad state of affairs and a real disgrace to this institution.

    Regardless of their political beliefs, or their personal beliefs–these young adults showed profound personal immaturity and total lack self-restraint. This forum was no political rally.

    If this is an example of the kind of future leaders they're turning out in Iowa–we're in deep Kimchee!!

    March 10, 2008 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  170. maynard

    hello folks ;

    i running for office will anyone pay me or donate to me for my political outlook.. I running for clean politics and straight from the hip news reporting.. its time to clean up the mess and get to the heart of things..

    WHATS WRONG WITH THE COUNTRY AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS will you pay me $40,000 to tell you how to do it..

    once again its time to clean up the mess and put a mouth gag on the reporters you must add to the already disgusting ordeal of politics

    March 10, 2008 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  171. justthefactsma'am

    Perhaps Mr Rove will now go back into hiding? Good job U of Iowa! Now you know you should have been harder on this hate monger.

    March 10, 2008 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm |
  172. Jerry

    Hey Jen-O-palooza,

    Brilliant. Yes, those dangerous academics. We should rid ourselves of these evil institutions of learning... Academia is the reason you can read and write. I'm guessing you're from Kansas...they don't allow those crazy academics to meddle too much with teaching there. Go creationism! (sarcasm)

    Jen-0-palooza March 10th, 2008 10:26 am ET

    Leave it to Academia that they would welcome Iranian's President and think Rove is too controversial. What a JOKE!

    March 10, 2008 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm |
  173. Alex H

    RightyTighty March 10th, 2008 10:32 am ET

    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM..

    Lets put William Buckley on that Poli-sci degree holding list of mindless liberals. I'll bet he's rolling in his grave for your ignorance.

    March 10, 2008 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |
  174. S. Mike

    To all of you far right wacco's check out what the turncoat rove said about you. He stated that he is an agnostic ( one that doesn't believe in God) but that all he had to do to get the Religous right to do whatever he wanted he would just include gay marriage, gun control or abortions to whatever agenda he wanted and you would do whatever he wished for. He is truly your champion. He just doesn't believe in God

    March 10, 2008 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |
  175. CBoz

    The students' behavior in this incident is something that goes beyond just Karl Rove. I've been in academia for close to 30 years, and, frankly, this is typical of how folks on the left think and behave - freedom of speech only applies to *them*; screaming and juvenile "protests" and displays are fine; blind, irrational hatred is something only the right wingers suffer from, everyone else is wrong *but them*, etc.

    Once these students go out and get real jobs and have real responsibilities, we'll see how they act. Chances are, at least some of them will grow up.

    March 10, 2008 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |
  176. Alex H

    RightyTighty March 10th, 2008 10:32 am ET

    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM..

    Lets put William Buckley on that Poli-sci degree holding list of mindless liberals. I'll bet he's rolling in his grave for your ignorance!

    March 10, 2008 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |
  177. TP

    My hat is off to the students in Iowa. But I feel sorry for whoever wasted $40,000. One might think such a fee can entice a speaker with dignity, conscience and respect. All of those attributes surely not found with Mr. Rove.

    March 10, 2008 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |
  178. Jack

    Good job Iowa!
    Rove should not be allowed in the civilized world.
    The likes of him and Ann Coulter should get together with Rush Limbaugh.
    Who knows Rush might finally get to use his smuggled blue pills.

    March 10, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |
  179. Renee

    Carl Rove, is not to be trusted and to have a job on Fox that said they are BALANCED. This is UNBALANCED.

    March 10, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |
  180. S. Mike

    rove should be laughed at, spit on then run out of town. anytown...everytown!!!

    March 10, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |
  181. Anonymous

    i love iowa!

    March 10, 2008 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |
  182. Pam Iowa

    I think Cheney needs to plan another hunting trip and take Karl with him!
    Maybe this time....................

    March 10, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |
  183. Shawn Smith, Kansas City, MO

    It's good to see him be put under the pressure and scrutiny, much like how he put all the gays and lesbians through hell during his uncouth attempt at the Federal Marriage Amendment. Him and his buddies, Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps basically stole the 2004 Election with their rhetoric of hatred. I hope he has trouble sleeping at night.

    March 10, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |
  184. A Bag of Chips

    Maybe Karl Rove should have performed his famous rap!!! Perhaps the response would have been different!!!

    March 10, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |
  185. Pam Dubuque IA

    I think Cheney needs to plan another hunting trip and take Karl with him! Maybe this time..............................

    March 10, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |
  186. brenda

    I will bet that he didnt shed a tear at all for all of those who lost their lives in this war that should never have been. It can be said that the person you do not want to have a debate with is the average college student . This used to be true when a higher education was all that it was worth, plus more. Todays college kids, however, are too busy trying to pick a fight, partying and spending mom and dads money. They are too busy "talking" about how things needs to CHANGE (so that their future is bright) but are too dumb to actually do something about it. Yes, they want change and are very glad that they can pin thier hopes on Obama to make this happen, BUT they do not know how or what it takes to BELIEVE in themselves and so they believe in Obama and HOPE that he can make life so easy for them after they graduate that they can just glide through life with relative ease. What a waste of a mind. Geez.

    March 10, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |
  187. Bob H, Minneapolis,MN

    Good job Iowa! It's about time Rove got called out over his sleazy methods and values.

    March 10, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |
  188. Vic

    He is a criminal!! Way to go Iowa. We need more college kids thinking for themselves and trying to arrest him..that is just pure Gold!!

    March 10, 2008 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |
  189. Chris, Washington, D.C.

    To Jen-O-palooza,

    You pick on institutions of learning for saying Rove is too controversial, but that's clearly not what happened. They paid him $40K to come speak, and clearly people showed up to listen to him speak. Sure they heckled him, but if you remember, Ahmadinejad was heckled and laughed at too. All part of the magic of free speech. They can say what they want, but the crowd can say what they want right back at them.

    March 10, 2008 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |
  190. Constantine, Fort Myers

    Praetorian, Fort Myers: wrote

    these young adults showed profound personal immaturity and total lack self-restraint

    Dude, wake up. I respect your combat boots but it's time to realize the attrocities of war and of the BUSH/CHENEY/ROVE administration.

    (No wonder Contantine disbanded the Paetorian Guard)

    March 10, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |
  191. Elizabeth Nichols

    Good for the students of Iowa!!

    March 10, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |
  192. Ryan

    FOR THE RECORD, the University of Iowa is not Iowa State. Iowa State is a different school in Ames. (Most people at the U of I would jokingly take that as an insult, as ISU is the rival state school stereotyped as a bunch of hicks, even if it is actually a fine institution.)

    March 10, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |
  193. Mauro Heck

    After he called the students and audience stupid two times i had to yell him from the third row:..."stop being so arrogant, you are a liar and you have blood on your hands"... he naively showed his hands to the public and then, because I was wearing a Kafia around my neck he angrily proceeded to comment on my sympathies for the .
    Mauro Heck, Iowa City

    March 10, 2008 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |
  194. Gino

    Doesn't anyone around here know the difference between a plural and a possessive? The University of Iowa "doesn't produce Einstein's." Einstein's what? And where did you get your degree. Give it back.

    March 10, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |
  195. Tracy J

    Porter,

    The children aren't mindless and disrespectful, they are exercising their rights!! They have the right to choose who and what they want to die for. You sound like they are wrong for chosing not to die for this lie of a war!! Note: To all of you who are here and agree with the war, sign up and go fight!! Put your life where your mouth is!!

    March 10, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |
  196. Jenny from IN

    First, let me say that I am SHOCKED at how many people on here are actually trying to defend Karl Rove. Neoconservatives that hate Americans and the constitution sticking together.

    Second, for those who say this indicates a low "maturity" level of liberals, and I believe someone used the phrase "intellectually lazy", you are just showing how ignorant and irrelevant the right wing has become. These kids had every right to do what they did and they had a responsibility to. This man deserves to suffer, and since our neconservative government won't do anything about it, we have to chip away at his dignity piece by piece. And how are these kids "intellectually lazy"? At least they know what's going on in politics, which is far more than I can say for anyone who tried to condemn their action on here.

    Ann Coulter came to my university and got the same treatment. All neoconservatives deserve this.

    And good job, Republicans, for letting your party and your views get jacked by the neoconservatives. You don't realize that your beliefs changed overnight. I guess that shows how "solid" you are. And that's the straight talk.

    Oh, and for the lady who said she was happy these kids did this instead of just going to rallies for Barack Obama like he's a rock star, get a grip. Why can't people accept that the youth in America ARE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK AND HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND WATCHING FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE ADULTS WHO GOT BUSH ELECTED TWICE AND HAVE NOT ASKED FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.

    Don't knock the youth vote. The youth have actually done their homework on the candidates. It's the older generation who I find shockingly ignorant of the truth and continually repeating Hillary propaganga in a ridiculous way.

    March 10, 2008 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |
  197. Gino

    Sorry. Where did you get your degree?

    March 10, 2008 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |
  198. James, Houston, TX.

    the Univ. of Iowa should file a "Stop Payment " on the $40 Thousand it Only cost a $25 Fee! Reason: Failure to deliver the Goods, as Usual!
    Let Karl contact FEMA !

    March 10, 2008 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |
  199. TheLeftNut

    Harvey, Tampa, FL wrote:

    ...Why in the world do we place so much importance on the thoughts and opinions of 18 to 21 year-olds ....at 44 I know TONS more now than I knew back then...

    Well that's because you were pretty stupid back then and your pretty stupid now. It's just at 44, you better at DENIAL

    March 10, 2008 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |
  200. Anne Johnson

    I'm proud of people who support the Constitution and the rule of law, and to those people who attack people who support the Constitution and the rule of law, why do you live in a state with the motto of "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain?" You need to move to a state with the motto of "Our Leader Right Or Wrong." Maybe North Korea.

    March 10, 2008 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |
  201. to the nut period

    I think for myself, just like you. I am a liberal, but I'm not going to fall down the extreme left of being a fascist/socialist. I believe in democracy and capitalism. I'm one of the few liberals who support Exxon because my 401k and stocks are in their name, just like 20 million other Americans who own 99 percent of that company through stocks and mutual funds.

    We all have a right to think what we want, but we have no right to force it down someone's throat if they disagree...

    March 10, 2008 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |
  202. CaliMale4Hill

    You Obamaniacs are Idiots. Stop comparing Rove to Hillary. I cant wait to see your riots across the USA once she wins. Any excuse to get free merchand

    March 10, 2008 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |
  203. Amit

    Five More American Soldiers Killed in Baghdad Today.

    After his Iowa talk, Karl Rove drives back in his limousine to his private airplane which flies him back to his private Mansion.

    March 10, 2008 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |
  204. truth be told

    remember the "shame on you, barack obama", the "kitchen sink", and now the vice presidential offer (that ain't gonna happen). these are rove's imprints on the new american politics. guess who's using them? also, guess who endorsed sen. mccain, while running for president, on the opposing ticket? also, a rove tactic.

    enough said.

    March 10, 2008 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |
  205. Ron

    Good for them!! Rove, Bush and Cheney all need to be thrown in prison for what they've done.

    March 10, 2008 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |
  206. TheLeftNut

    WILL SOMEONE PLEASE FOLLOW THE MONEY!

    Constantine dissolved the Praetorian Guard for a reason.

    March 10, 2008 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |
  207. Billy

    Keith Olbermann is correct. Rove is the worst person. Just think who employed him for seven years...Bush, the Republican. Do you think George's judgement in people is telling when he also recently endorsed McCain?

    What's up with the integrity, character and moral ethics of Bush, the Republicans, McCain and even Hillary?

    March 10, 2008 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |
  208. Raul

    This is a non issue. On the ad there is no reference to a particular individual

    March 10, 2008 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |
  209. Tim j

    The only reason Rove isn't sitting behind a jail cell right now (well scratch that he would have been pardoned) is because of another crinme Rove committed (deleting the e-mails) to get rid of all the evidence.

    March 10, 2008 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |
  210. Dawn

    Why would anyone pay $40,000 to hear Rove? Whoever made that diabolical decision should be fired. "Bush's brain" was part of the administration that's brought this country to its knees.

    March 10, 2008 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |
  211. PDC

    We're not going to see Rove in jail or on trial for anything. In fact he's now advising the McCain campaign.

    Nothing like a third Bush term to bring about the end of America.

    March 10, 2008 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |
  212. mary cleveland, ohio

    Do you think Rove is helping the Clintons with their campaign? The Clintons are such good friends with the Bushes, Rove is probably helping Hillary out. Not that she needs help being rude.

    March 10, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |
  213. Mary, Austin, Tx

    Looks like Karl got the last laugh.
    He gets to keep the $40,000 of taxpayer money.
    For 8 years we've heard what Bush's Brain has to say. Now we have to clean up the mess he's created.
    What a brilliant investment of public funds.
    Now Karl will try to use incidents like these to portray his detractors as extremists in his quest to achieve a third Bush term by electing Juan McSame.
    The election will depend on America's answer to one question: Are we better off than we were 8 years ago?

    March 10, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |
  214. Joseph

    I personally wonder how such Lackey's ever have the backbone to stand infront of an audience ... but oh that's right their school endorsed the moron. I am sorry people if you hate the man dont pay for the shmuck. And lastly lackey's only have two purposes to sell out for the highest bidder and to be forgotten.

    March 10, 2008 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |
  215. J.R.

    That makes me so happy! Go Iowa! Rove is the biggest pig out there!

    March 10, 2008 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |
  216. RightyTighty

    Carl Rove and William Buckley are only Einstein to their mindless opponents. Ooops, sorry..

    March 10, 2008 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |
  217. Jose Felix

    I should do an American Express commercial here but I won't...however
    the chance to publicly ridicule a Bush cronie is priceless. At the same time...$40,000 is also a bargain. Every time one of these guys speaks it helps push the Bush/McCain regime out of office.

    March 10, 2008 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |
  218. JT in Dallas

    There is your McCain bunch! Just in case you forgot!

    March 10, 2008 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  219. J.R.

    The constitution protects our freedom of speech, not getting your feelings hurt. Good job Iowa students!

    March 10, 2008 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  220. Peter

    What idiot paid this man $40,000 to offer his excuses?

    March 10, 2008 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  221. Becky in In.

    Karl Rove, thats what I say when I hit my finger with a hammer!!!!

    March 10, 2008 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  222. P. D.

    Reading some of these posts is sad. I can't believe people defend Karl Rove! He has bullied and smeared anybody and everybody to get Bush elected! The way he smeared Ann Richards was just the beginning. The fact the the news folks at Faux News treat him like a god is pathetic.

    March 10, 2008 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  223. AntiBrenda

    My question is who the hell paid Rove to speak?
    I wouldnt pay him a dime to work on my yard.

    March 10, 2008 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  224. RealityKing

    Who paid $40,000?

    March 10, 2008 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |
  225. Wake Up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    He should have tried to rap or something.

    March 10, 2008 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |
  226. LeftyLoosey

    To RightyTighty,

    You do realize your comment, bashing the intelligence of University of Iowa Grads (of which I am one), contains three grammatical errors? Perhaps I'm no Einstein, but I know that you never use an apostrophe to form a plural. Not to mention, an ellipses has three periods...

    That being said, kudos to UI for bringing Rove to the heartland, allowing students and citizens alike to voice their opinions and protest one of the most controversial vilified figures in the country today.

    March 10, 2008 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |
  227. rob

    The difference between Rove and Bismarck – Bismarck was fired, Rove quit.

    March 10, 2008 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |
  228. Schmidt/ Iowa

    Just remember it was Mr Rove and his kinds that didn't let Clinton away with Lying before the supreme court. Lied under Oath he did?

    Wow Was he really our president?

    March 10, 2008 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |
  229. JM

    RightyTighty said,

    "The University of Iowa has never been known for producing Einstein’s.

    Political Science, Art and Theater, now those are the degree's of the mindless liberals. Just who I want answering the phone at 3 AM.."

    I take personal offense to a statement like that, but at the end of the day I know I'm just flat out a better person than you. Much more progressive, much more positive and open towards others. And those are certainly characteristics that I find honorable in a person of the 21st Century. Your way of thinking is dying out, my friend. You are on the verge of extinction. Get used to it! And it's interesting that you referenced Einstein, a pacifist. Don't really think he'd be fighting in your corner, do you?

    March 10, 2008 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |
  230. adams

    I agree with Rove, the students should have picked his brain.

    Rove may be hard core right wing, but he has a wealth of political strategies.

    In some settings its better to maintain nonobjective attitude.

    March 10, 2008 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |
  231. Roger in SE CA

    I was fascinated by this event and reading all the responses. I feel it shows the polarization of the not so United States. I considered myself a middle of the road person. For example in the 2000, CA primary I voted for Mc Cain, but I will not vote for him this year, because 1) I feel the average American has been made second to Iraq; 2) there is too much greed on the part of corporations and 3)because of people like Karl Rove, who has wrongly had the former governor of Alabama imprisoned.

    March 10, 2008 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |
  232. David

    Chris at 1:01 ET:

    Shouting down speach is not free speach. It is censorship. Responding to speach with more speach - now that is free speach.

    It seems that when anyone from the right side of the political spectrum speaks at a college, he or she can be almost certain of being heckled and shouted down. A left-wing mob mentality has developed on campuses in which students feel it is their duty to disrupt any discussion that is not deemed politically correct or that espouses conservative viewpoints. In a marketplace of ideas, it is essential that all ideas are permitted to be expressed. The bad ideas will be recognized as such, and the good ideas will win out. If you start censoring the ideas you don't like, the system fails - who's to say your ideas won't be the next ones that are shouted down?

    March 10, 2008 01:37 pm at 1:37 pm |
  233. Haley Rodman Clemson

    Rove is a brillant strategist who was willing to take the fall for some questionable offenses by the Bush admnistration. I would love to hear him speak but not if other members of the audience are being rude, disruptive and malicious. It's completely unacceptable how college students are indoctorinated against anyone who represents Republicans or conservatives.

    March 10, 2008 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |
  234. Edgar

    Thank god you can still enter a comment! Look "people" the Iraq war is what it is and we can't change it. I see how everyone worries about the Iraqi people and how terrible the Bush administration did in dragging us to a war that cost American $12Billion dollars a day.

    All I have to say is how fast we all forget 9-11, and how fast we felt that day when our people were sufferring and died. I want a strong President that can protects its people and protect our economy. We call those War criminals for protecting America and its people.

    Are we all patriots of this nation or not!

    March 10, 2008 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |
  235. Jack

    I have been reading theposts on this site and am so relieved that the majority who have expressed their views see Karl Rove for what he really is. The Bush gov't came into power with a program designed to manipulate the the American people for their own neocon agenda. And 7 years later, after thousands of dead troops and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqi civilians, what they they accomplished for us, the American people? The world hates us, economy is in ruins, we have lost many of the civil rights this country was founded on etc,etc.
    It boils me up that i still see Bush/Cheney 2004 bumper stickers on cars..What planet are these people living on? I hope there is a thing called karma because i'd like to see all the Bush supporters get what they deserve.

    Then there are those idiots who are supporting McCain.

    March 10, 2008 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |
  236. CMS, CA

    Wow. Lots of name calling on this post without any real reasons as to why Rove is a "bad" person. Sounds like sour grapes; had he been on the left, you would celebrate him as a genius.

    March 10, 2008 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |
  237. Jack

    I don't know why people are so mad at Karl Rove.

    Thanks to him, Democrats will pick up seats in the House and the Senate, and win the White House in a landslide.

    He destroyed the country with the help of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, and now people loathe Republicans.

    If anyone should be angry with Rove, it should be the GOP.

    March 10, 2008 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |
  238. TheLeftNut

    Harvey, Tampa, FL wrote:

    …Why in the world do we place so much importance on the thoughts and opinions of 18 to 21 year-olds ….at 44 I know TONS more now than I knew back then…

    Well that's because you weren't smart back then and you're not too smart now. It's just at 44, you're better at DENIAL.

    March 10, 2008 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |
  239. Anonymous

    Best $40,000 ever spent. Would have been hilarious to witness!

    March 10, 2008 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |
  240. Nathan

    These students attempted to stop Rove from pursuing his freedom of speech. If you have a good point to make or accusations to throw around that is fine but yelling overtop of other people is rude and counter-productive. Even if you don't like Rove, he is a historical figure and it is expensive to book such a busy man, the students wasted the school's money by not allowing him to speak. If they were actually students of that school then they should be suspended at the very least maybe even full expulsion. I am all for protesting as well but freedom of speech applies to ALL Americans not just the ones you like. And anytime you want to protest a speaker it is appropriate to protest directly outside the event or immediately after the speaker has finished his/her last words. Anything less is uncivilized, anything less is unacceptable.

    March 10, 2008 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |
  241. jerry

    These two sure get alot of comment response. So what is in between the Leftnut and the Rightnut? Rove's head fits perfectly..............

    March 10, 2008 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |
  242. Smith

    What would one expect from the commie institutions turning out pinkos. The Liberal agenda has gone WAY TO FAR.
    Liberal arts education started out to question things and look for answers and has evolved into nothing more than PROTESTING everything not agreed with.
    Perhaps you so called "liberals" would be well served to research your own history and see what a bunch of idiots you have evolved into!
    Remember this...Freedom is not free! The freedoms you enjoy today have been paid for in blood by real patriots!

    March 10, 2008 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |
  243. Pearl

    To RightyTighty: Iowa doesn't produce many "Einstein's"? I had no idea we didn't produce Einstein possessive. We must be pretty stupid.

    To Jay: Democrats are not left-wing, they are millimeters away from the Republicans. So, all of the "left-wing activism" should have no effect on Democrats.

    I was there, I turned my back on him. He was yelling rudely at the audience members calling one "simple." The most frightening thing was you could see that he really taught himself to believe his lies.

    March 10, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |
  244. mary

    Where in the world did Bush ever find a guy like Rove.
    comment by VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    Rove has been intertwined with the Bushes for 35 years:

    'In 1973, when Rove was in a messy dispute as to who would be the chairman of the College Republicans, it was George H.W. Bush, then chairman of the Republican National Committee, who intervened and declared Rove the winner.'
    snip
    'In 1977, when the elder Bush decided to run for president, Rove moved to Houston to manage his political action committee, the Fund for Limited Government. Although Bush didn't win the nomination, he did become the vice president under Ronald Reagan. And Rove began changing Texas, which was totally dominated by Democrats, into a state dominated by the GOP.'
    snip
    'Once Bush moved into the governor's mansion in Austin, it was Rove who began prepping George W. for the White House'

    That's from a Salon article but there's plenty of other sources.

    March 10, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |
  245. Thomas

    Listen to yourselves. The hypocracy is astonishing.

    March 10, 2008 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |
  246. SaneTexan

    RE: Kerry, you Clinton-haters twist every bad turn in America to either Bill or Hillary. The fact is- American had a thriving economy and was respected in the world under Bill. He fixed our deficit, increased our productivity, overhauled welfare. The story is about Rove who us Texans know as the master of deception going back to when Bush was elected our governor. Rove and Cheney should be in jail now not out getting paid to corrupt the minds of students. People need to remember in the debated Democratic nomination. It's the Republicans who got us into this mess. Rove and McCain will keep us at war and will bring more hatred and terrorism against America.

    March 10, 2008 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |
  247. L

    Boy, it's days like this that I miss living in Iowa City! Go fellow Hawks!

    March 10, 2008 01:50 pm at 1:50 pm |
  248. Independant

    Hey Paula, have you noticed that Rove is working for Clinton?

    March 10, 2008 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |
  249. Ken, Suitland MD

    Karl Rove: admitted traitor and a war-mongering chicken hawk. Hypocritical coward of the first order.

    And, tellingly, a true hero to the right -wing, and therefore to the [R] party. I love it when a few of the [R] monkees drop from the trees to treat us to the pathetic thought processes of those that support Rove and the [R] party today.

    That the [R] party is not now defunct after their performance in Congress over the last 14 years and in the white hopuse over the last 8 years is a pathetic comment on the intelligence of our country.

    March 10, 2008 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |
  250. Wiselectorate

    With all the anti Bush-Cheney-Rove sentiment I wonder if the Republicans will have any luck of winning the White House 08.

    Democrats here is your chance and do not mess it up.

    March 10, 2008 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |
  251. Chaz

    Shannon Shiflett March 10th, 2008 10:27 am ET

    "based on overwhelming evidence, rove should be in prison for treason. if you don't agree, then you must hate america and should leave."

    You ain't got a clue baby. Grow up!

    March 10, 2008 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |
  252. shaun

    Throw this monster in prison and lose the key.

    March 10, 2008 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |
  253. Paul TX

    What a criminal! First of all, way to go crowd for showing him that he is unwelcome. For those of you supporting him, you should be tried for treason and war crimes along with Bush, Cheney, and Rove. You may want to be careful, your're out on a very short limb that's about to break and you will all come tumbling down to the ground.

    March 10, 2008 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |
  254. TheLeftNut

    Karl Rove's speech OR Baby Bush singing OR barbed-wire enima

    I'll take back door #3.

    March 10, 2008 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |
  255. Randy - Denver

    Why were cameras only allowed at the beginning of the speech I wonder? Were these Rove plants? (just a joke folks do not construe that to mean I think they were in some vast right wing conspiracy)

    March 10, 2008 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |
  256. JF in San Antonio

    Karl Rove is a genius and all of these comments sound intellectually lazy. None of these responses are saying anything really except Karl Rove has that much influence on your opinions. I'm waiting for Obama to say something relevant instead of things that were relevant in the 90s and first three years after 2000. Yes We Can...win the war in Iraq...and Somalia, Iran, Korea, Venezuela, Peru, Spain, England, Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, ...it's not just Iraq people. Iraq affects all those other countries and by running away from Iraq like Obama wants us to, we'll be majorly shorthanded to fight those other wars. If we run away from Iraq, I do believe more Americans will die...it just won't be as obvious and transparent which is what the Dems have always liked to sell...comfort. I love the Bush Administration! Go Rove!

    March 10, 2008 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |
  257. Travis from CO

    Rove and Lindbaugh could be twin brothers. They are both fat lazy disgusting excusses for humans.

    March 10, 2008 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |
  258. Rovie

    Awesome!!! People like this are going to start getting their due in return. Times are chaning folks!!!!! Good job students for not letting this guy get off scott free!!! Love it.

    March 10, 2008 01:56 pm at 1:56 pm |
  259. Thorsten

    What does it say about someone who – when accused of being the worst person in the world – has to use Hitler, Stalin and Mao (who are all dead, by the way) as a comparison:
    Uhhh, I believe Hitler was a little worse than me...

    March 10, 2008 01:56 pm at 1:56 pm |
  260. Linda

    This is why Hillary's stuff won't fly now, either. These college kids and young people are getting involved and don't want to accept the *** that politics has been all these years.

    Those kids were smarter than he is. They can see right through him. Notice that young people at Obama's rallies don't act this way. Some even walked miles together just to vote.

    I'm proud that they are paying attention, even though some of the actions were rude. They pale in comparison to the cannibal that is Rove.

    March 10, 2008 01:56 pm at 1:56 pm |
  261. LeftCoast Tim

    Bush's brain, huh. As it turns out...Bush is one of history's great dolt. I predict that when the history of this era is written, no one will want to be any where near Bush. The schrapnel will be devastating.

    March 10, 2008 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |
  262. Bill

    They should have tripled his pay for having to listen to those uneducated punks who were like 9 during the first Gulf war. I'm sure if obama were on stage he'd be cheered for his coddling of terrorists.

    March 10, 2008 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |
  263. Al in Dallas

    I was born and raised in Iowa and have had several reasons to be proud of it, but today is the icing on the cake. Hawkeyes, you rock!

    March 10, 2008 02:01 pm at 2:01 pm |
  264. A Bag of Chips

    hmmmmmmm I thought this blog was about Karl Rove! I see a lot of stuff in here bashing Obama!! WOW!!!

    March 10, 2008 02:01 pm at 2:01 pm |
  265. LeftCoast Tim

    Above we have one clown referring to Rove as a "brilliant strategist". Why, because he was able to trick the feeble-minded amongst us to vote for the village idiot.

    To quote the British publication of the Daily Mirror the day after the '04 election: "How can 59,054,087 people be so dumb?"

    I rest my case.

    March 10, 2008 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |
  266. HS

    In looking at the comments here, three things are obvious about today's colleges:
    1. They do not teach respect for opposing views – only their own.
    2. Thye do not teach spelling as is evicenced by these comments.
    3. They do not teach proper English and sentence structue as is evidenced by these comments.

    I fear for our country because of the likes of Rove but, I fear even more that these comments represent the future "leaders" of our country. God help us.

    March 10, 2008 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |
  267. TheLeftNut

    Rene, Lt Col USAF wrote:

    The medial should concentrate on the senator’s lack of experience but more importantly his lack of knowledge...

    Well put Coult...O'Reil...Limbau...Hanni.... I'm mean you.

    Bush/Cheney/Rove administration has scacrificed lives of the men and women of our military for ANOTHER country's consitiution and to babysit ANOTHER country's dysfunctional government in a "war" that was purposefully design as a 'barbed' invasion so that withdrawl is near impossible without catostrophic injury all in the name of maintaining the Millitary Industrial Complex.

    Look at the big picture before you start critizing Obama.

    Someone please follow the money.

    March 10, 2008 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |
  268. Bonnie

    Last time I checked the UI has one of the finest medical schools in the world. It is a university; kinda rhymes with diversity and that is good. Where did Karl get his degree? Oh that's right he dropped out of college! Couldn't cut it. I would have loved to be in the crowd. The video should be showing on YouTube soon! Anyone interested in a movie party watching Karl sizzle in the UI Memorial Union???
    Bonnie in IOWA
    OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    March 10, 2008 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |
  269. Deborah

    The students were right to BOOOOOO!! ROVE

    ROVE is EVIL He just needs devil horns on his head and you'll see the perfect picture of a devil.

    He has no caring for the normal people in the world.

    GO away ROVE

    March 10, 2008 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |
  270. simon

    The university and any committee that participated in Rove's selection and payment of the forty thousand are the people these students should question. Rebuke and/or Ridicule isn't necessary; it's newsworthy.
    In fact, did they let their displeasure with this choice be known ahead of time?

    March 10, 2008 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |
  271. Joseph Fafian

    If it weren't for the Bush administration defense of our country against terrorists and other enemies, these kids would not have the freedom to act rude and less than grown up.

    March 10, 2008 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |
  272. VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA

    Get the money!! Yes all of the $40,000 Mr. Rove!!! Then get the hook. When the police arrive handcuff him and take him to jail. Any body
    know how to waterboard????????????

    Obama 2008 for Pres.
    Not V.P. to the dirty rotton scoundrals.

    March 10, 2008 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |
  273. yemiray

    Yes!! people like Rove who have no conscience deserve this.
    This is the politics of new generation on the way!!

    March 10, 2008 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |
  274. Jeremy

    like to see any of you liberal brainwashed idiots do his job, you'd do worse

    March 10, 2008 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |
  275. TheLeftNut

    Edgar wrote:

    Are we all patriots of this nation or not!

    Dude, you are prime example why this country is in a bind.

    March 10, 2008 02:09 pm at 2:09 pm |
  276. Michelle

    I don't believe in HELL... but whenever I see or hear Karl Rove – I REALLY hope I'm wrong about that!

    March 10, 2008 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |
  277. OBAMA 08

    I have a great idea. If waterboarding is not cruel and inhuman punishment, the entire Bush administration should try it out.

    March 10, 2008 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |
  278. Dan

    I thought this guy got booed off the stage of American politics. I doubt he'll ever be tried for what he did, but I'm just as happy to let the poor sad man rot in obscurity... can't he just leave us alone.

    March 10, 2008 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |
  279. Toochi

    KARL ROVE NEVER COMPLETED AN UNDERGRAD DEGREE...

    so much for your "liberal college degree" theory...

    March 10, 2008 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |
  280. Nelson, Colorado Springs Co

    Why do the University of Iowa pay good money to hear rove speak about what, rove need to refund the $40,000 back ,he jump ship when bush was headed south on everything so did a lot of bush parters

    March 10, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  281. Sheldon

    Why would the University of Iowa want Karl Rove on their campus corrupting our young people? He is at the lowest of human decency. The only thing he can do is fabricatel lies and steal elections for Bush. He could have gotten Valerie Plame killed. What a disgrace to the United States of America.

    March 10, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  282. TNYC

    I LOVE YOU, IOWA! ROCK ON!

    March 10, 2008 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |
  283. Greg

    I suspect the protesters were disrespectful EGObama supporters

    March 10, 2008 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |
  284. Jerry - Davenport, Iowa

    I'm really proud odf these Hawkeye students!!

    March 10, 2008 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |
  285. Thomas M. Walter

    OK republikrats...

    Now how are u gonna blame the Clintons?

    March 10, 2008 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |
  286. George

    Toochi March 10th, 2008 10:56 am ET
    Says "I've read somewhere that Karl never completed an undergrad degree…is this true?"

    Absolutly! That is why he still has a brain of his own!

    March 10, 2008 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |
  287. Alex, Iowa City

    Two reasons we were there was that student's tuition is going to pay a very wealthy man, whom many consider a war criminal, more than our TAs make in a year. Secondly that he was listed as "controversial speaker" up until about two weeks before he was supposed to come, when they revealed it was Mr. Rove, giving the student body little time to react.

    What's more, many of the protesters were part of the Iowa City community and/or University faculty, like myself. Many of Mr. Rove's supporters (I think they were a minority of the crowd) were the College Republicans, so I don't think the mantle of experience (as some have argued here) was worn by those who kept quiet except to applaud after Rove called those against the war "stupid", and Middle Easterners "barbarians".

    "Teach us about the Truth, Karl!"

    March 10, 2008 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |
  288. RightyTighty

    Sorry for the grammatical errors Lefty. My Math and Science degrees didnt focus on sentence structure much, not to mention my big fat lazy fingers..

    March 10, 2008 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |
  289. JD

    Who would PAY to hear Karl Rove ?

    March 10, 2008 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |
  290. fred

    As well he should be...he should be in jail!!!

    March 10, 2008 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |
  291. Andrew

    Blah.. Blah .. Blah ..
    If you don't like Rove, then why invite him and pay him 40K to come talk at your campus?
    If you didn't pay him and didn't want him there, then here's an idea, DON'T GO .. if he shows up to an empty room, he'll get the message.
    Acting like a bunch of children on a playground throwing sand only shows just how immature you really are.
    Grow up.

    March 10, 2008 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |
  292. Alice

    Liberals. What a bunch of hypocrites. They shout down someone because they don't like what he has to say, but blast the Bush Administration relentlessly about taking away their civil rights. Rove OBVIOUSLY has more character than his detractors. Whew...what a bunch of airheads.

    March 10, 2008 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |
  293. PDC

    Hey Edgar –

    Iraq didn't have anything to do with 9/11.

    March 10, 2008 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |
  294. Heartland Neighbor

    How about those Hawkeyes! RightyTighty should learn to use an apostrophe before impugning the quality of an Iowa education.

    March 10, 2008 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |
  295. Felix

    Anyone remember Rove's mentor?
    Lee Atwater. When Atwater found out he was terminal with cancer (appropriately), he went round apologizing to the people he spent his life trashing. Would Rove have the courage ?

    March 10, 2008 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |
  296. Rogue Rove

    Why should this man be paid a dime for ripping up the Constitution and raping the country?

    Boooooooooo To Rove. He's a big fat lying pig.

    March 10, 2008 02:31 pm at 2:31 pm |
  297. American Patriot

    the same goes for LEFTYLOOSEY and their comments above.

    Dont trust them they are Corporate wannabe

    March 10, 2008 02:31 pm at 2:31 pm |
  298. Ellen

    What was the school thinking to bring a person so hated by the left? Oh well, he still has his gig with FOX news, where his infamy is lauded.

    March 10, 2008 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |
  299. Richard, FL

    No matter how immoral and repulsive a speaker is, everyone should let them talk at a formal speech. We are all free to protest before and after. They weren't forced to see "Turd Blossom", whose most recent blatant lie was "the administration was opposed to voting on (the Iraq war resolution) in the fall of 2002".

    March 10, 2008 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  300. Joe

    This is too bad! Mr. Rove and Mr. Bush are American Heroes!!! These people should be banned from rallies!!! Anyone who thinks Bush is bad, should try to be president with this world! After all, Bush is dealing with Clinton's unwillingness to act, and the US is paying for it! If Clinton would have been more concerned about America than Interns it might be a different story!

    March 10, 2008 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  301. stefan

    Rove...highly paid Bush white trash with no soul, no morals, and capable setting up even his mother and Dan Rather if it would win him some points in his sick personal battles

    March 10, 2008 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  302. Slap Stick, FLORIDA

    This is the next Generation of Americans who will not sit by and be idol and accept the Bull that our government has dished out. Good for them. GO IOWA GO.

    March 10, 2008 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  303. CLOspin

    David: "seems that when anyone from the right side of the political spectrum speaks at a college, he or she can be almost certain of being heckled and shouted down."

    David, unfortunately, you don't get it! He isn't just conservative, he is a CRIMINAL! Than again, most conservatives would say he isn't, he is probably a hero for maintaining the status quo and making sure his in-group get all the huge contracts.

    March 10, 2008 02:35 pm at 2:35 pm |
  304. Debbie

    Rove – he only knows how to play dirty – just like he did when he helped the Republicants still the last two elections and he and Bush will pay for the blood on their hands one day -just no soon enough!!

    March 10, 2008 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |
  305. Melody

    I pray that God will have mercy on our country and show us the way. I have faith in spite of the uncivilized comments I am reading here.

    March 10, 2008 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  306. Doug, New Jersey

    What I find funny is that every liberal Democrat who is saying Rove is an evil bad person is most likely a far worse human being than he ever could be. Rove may do some shady things but he doesn't want those who disagree with him killed or harmed for it, fact is most liberal Democrats in America today do.

    March 10, 2008 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  307. Jay

    they should have walked out on him

    March 10, 2008 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |
  308. thomas, houston

    a citizens arrest, that's awesome

    March 10, 2008 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |
  309. Jason

    Worst person ever?!? Wow, that has to be the single more moronic thing I have heard (today). I am not a Karl Rove fan (outing a CIA agent, no matter how much of a drain on society her husband is, is not *cough* the best of ideas...), but way to stick it to some of the idiots who attended his speech!

    March 10, 2008 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |
  310. peter C Hunt

    Last time I checked, we all live in a democracy. You know, the country where we allow people their right to free speech. Of course if you don't lie free speech, check into China, I'm sure they would love to have you.

    March 10, 2008 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |
  311. PJ

    This man needs to get a life, and sit down some where, I am tired of him, go away Pleaseeeee

    March 10, 2008 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |
  312. james

    i hear that karl rove may have been acting as an advisor to hillary clinton since the feb. 5th super tuesday.

    March 10, 2008 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |
  313. Wanted: Unbiased Reporting

    Now, that's well deserved!!

    March 10, 2008 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |
  314. Tom H

    This was at the University of Iowa, not Iowa State... I was there and the crowd was very hostile at times, but this man deserved all of it

    March 10, 2008 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |
  315. RJ Bardino

    Punk kids who don't know jack s**t about anything. I'll stick with Rove!
    Viva La Bush
    Viva La Rove

    March 10, 2008 02:51 pm at 2:51 pm |
  316. John W Stone

    You go Karl.!...you got $40,000...people constantly laugh at the liberals and the liberals get zippo! Justice prevails!

    March 10, 2008 02:51 pm at 2:51 pm |
  317. Deb

    He is the devil!!!

    March 10, 2008 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |
  318. George in Chicago

    Democrats- these are the "tolerant" ones, right, the ones who claim to be so supportive of free speech? RIght.

    March 10, 2008 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |
  319. K. Smith Minneapolis,MN

    Can you say karma? How ironic is it that he was chief advisor to Mr. Uniter himself (dubya)?

    March 10, 2008 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |
  320. j

    What can anyone say ?? ----He`s the "poster child" of the Bush/Cheney administration and all its corruption. He is the Heinrich Himmler of the present administration.

    March 10, 2008 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |
  321. Mike M

    It just shows that our college students of America are not as "bright" as people would let us believe.

    March 10, 2008 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |
  322. Ratgurl

    Whose idiotic idea was it to pay this guy $40K to talk? He should pay US to listen! Rove IS a criminal!

    March 10, 2008 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |
  323. Pete in NYC

    Their hatred of Rove is hysterical! Get a life. Don't like the war? So what? If they agreed to pay him $40k to speak that is their problem and he should have laughed at the guy right to his face. I wouldn't pay him a nickel to speak to me.

    March 10, 2008 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |
  324. The truth will set you free!

    Liberals are so ugly and meanspirited.....they can dish it out but can't take it. LIBERAL – JUST ANOTHER BAD WORD!

    March 10, 2008 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |
  325. Jose

    That is awesome, I want to know how far the two students got with the citizens arrest. Go IOWA for doing what the rest of the country would have done in that same situation.

    March 10, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |
  326. sg

    Show me one tear that you shed over Iraq, you liar.

    March 10, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |
  327. Corey, Maryland

    So we have a terrible education system in this country and then we go and pay retards like Rove and the "president" of Iran thousands of dollars, instead of buying decent text books. That would only happen in America........

    Obama Richardson 08!!!

    March 10, 2008 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |
  328. vesper7272

    What I find hard to believe is that anyone would pay Rove forty thousand to speak! He isn't worth a dollar! He's an idiot just like his puppet president that he helped get elected.

    March 10, 2008 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |
  329. JBS

    Go Hawkeyes!!!!!! Rove is a liar and a national disgrace! Anyone who thinks otherwise is an ill-informed idiot.

    March 10, 2008 03:02 pm at 3:02 pm |
  330. Steph

    It's strange how the liberals constantly talk about being tolerant, being open-minded, and engaging in dialogue with those with whom we disagree instead of aggressively confronting them. Apparently, this philosphy only applies when they are listening to other liberals. Apparently, when a conservative speaks, we are free - no, even encouraged - to engage in disruptive behavior and spew out childish taunts instead of listening thoughtfully like civilized adults.

    March 10, 2008 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |
  331. Ranger7

    We need to set up a deck of cards for Bush and all the masterjerks of the Iraq ..so called war!!!! (actually a police action)..
    > Then try these jerks one by one .....for.. all ...of US to enjoy!!

    Disgusted US ARMY Vet!

    March 10, 2008 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |
  332. Edgar

    So this is what the democratic party has become a fanatical left wing liberals! Shame to all of you and god help America if a liberal takes the White House!

    March 10, 2008 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |
  333. Doug R.

    Rove should be arrested and imprisoned.

    March 10, 2008 03:07 pm at 3:07 pm |
  334. Christian

    Why is anyone surprised at how these students act, they're typical democrats...rude and ignorant!

    March 10, 2008 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |
  335. Paul H

    RightyTighty is probably unintentionally comical. He/she/it denigrates the University of Iowa while using apostrophes in order to make words plural. Most people know the simple rules of spelling and punctuation well before junior high school. Perhaps RightyTighty grew up outside the state of Iowa, in a state very red in color.

    March 10, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |