Karl Rove visits Portland area, and police prepare for protests Posted by The Oregonian April 13, 2007 11:34AM
Karl RoveRepublicans in Washington County are aflutter today, police are scrambling and lefty bloggers are ablaze over the visit to the Portland area of Karl Rove, one of the White House's most controversial figures. President Bush's chief political strategist is scheduled to give a talk in Tigard that's organized by the Washington County GOP. The "grassroots reception" -- for people wearing "business attire, please" -- is designed to help funnel funds into local GOP coffers. At $60 a pop, the event quickly sold out. According to Tigard police, about 200 people are expected -- inside a conference room in the Embassy Suites hotel at Washington Square Mall at 9000 S.W. Washington Square Road.
But perhaps many more people will be outside, protesting a man likened on some blogs as Satan himself. Rove has been linked to the leak revealing Valerie Plame's professional identity as a covert CIA agent, the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year and this week, to deleted e-mails in the White House.
BlueOregon has been holding a photo caption contest leading up to Rove's visit, and bloggers at Portland.indymedia have been organizing a protest.
Tigard police are gearing up for the event, working with the Secret Service and neighboring police departments.
"We are poised to ensure everybody's safety and their constitutional rights," said Jim Wolf, spokesman for the Tigard Police Department.