Yet Another Karl Rove Piece

One more Rove article. Notice how Claremont students actually defend Rove's right to speak and our right to invite him unmolested.

Rove draws protesters

Police deny reports that some were pepper-sprayed

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer

Article Launched: 09/16/2008 10:22:35 PM PDT

CLAREMONT - T

Publish Post

he man known as Bush's Brain was greeted by protesters before and after a speech on Monday evening at Claremont McKenna College.

Karl Rove, the former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President Bush, spoke for an hour and a half to at least 500 people at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on the campus.

Rove discussed the presidential election between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and the importance of time in the campaign.

Obama had not seized the narrowing election days to "advance his case," Rove said.

For instance, Rove said, Obama linked the country's economic problems to Bush and McCain instead of showing a specific proposal for why he is up to the job.

Rove also defended the presidency of Bush who he said was successful but had done "a lousy job of explaining" why that was.

Loud chants against Rove could be heard from outside the athenaeum while he spoke. Protesters chanted anti-war and anti-Rove slogans and held up signs such as "USA vs. Rove."

Claremont police Capt. Gary Jenkins said between 200 and 300 people protested on the campus.

Police said the demonstration initially seemed peaceful, but some protesters made it difficult to get Rove safely out of the athenaeum.

Rove left about an hour behind schedule in an undercover police vehicle.

"He didn't seem too bothered by it," Jenkins said.

Todd Logan, 21, of Pomona College said he saw two people get hit by pepper spray as Rove was led out by security. Other students said that three or four people were hit by pepper spray.

Police and university officials denied the students' claims.

Some younger protesters said they were hit by the vehicle that Rove left in.

Henry Watkins, consultant for Claremont McKenna College security, said no students were hit by a vehicle or hit with pepper spray.

A bomb was reported to be inside a dining hall at 7:31 p.m. Monday but the report was found to be false, Watkins said.

Max Wilson, 21, a Claremont McKenna student, disagreed with Rove's politics but was less enthusiastic about the protests.

"He does not have any power," Wilson said. "He's a journalist and a political pundit."

Mike Whatley, 20, of Claremont McKenna College said he felt Rove's speech was very thoughtful and disagreed that the protests were a way to create change.