Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Karl Rove: Take Two. The former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush, will speak at 7:30 p.m. tonight, in the Iowa Memorial Union on the University of Iowa campus.Rove was originally scheduled to speak Feb. 17, but the event was postponed due to inclement weather, thus providing anti-Rove contingencies more time to organize a staged protest against the controversial speaker.
The day’s anti-Rove festivities begin as early as 2 p.m., when a group of bands, collectively called the “Seeds of Dissent,” take the stage at The Mill Restaurant in downtown Iowa City in protest of the Rove lecture. The UI Anti-War Committee (UIAC) is organizing a protest outside the IMU, which begins two hours before the scheduled event and is expected to draw 200-300 protesters. Events include a street demonstration, live political dance music provided by the School of Flyentology, street theater, and a variety of campus groups will be tabeling and leafleting for their respective causes.
While the UIAC supports the UI Lecture Committee’s attempt at bringing balance to its lecture series by hosting conservative speakers, the group takes issue with the committee’s decision to pay $40,000 to Rove, who they deem a war criminal.
UIAW member David Goodner takes issue with Rove’s refusal to testify about his involvement in the firing of several U.S. attorneys, despite a congressional subpoena the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to hold him in contempt.
“If Rove is innocent and has nothing to hide, why won’t he testify in front of Congress?,” Goodner writes on his Des Moines Register blog, “Straight Out of the Cornfield.” “If the Bush Administration acted fairly and lawfully, why is Bush claiming that “executive privilege” exempts his current and former aides from testifying? If the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed with the “executive privilege” claim, why did they vote to hold Rove in contempt? Why would the entire House hold two other Bush aides in contempt for refusing to cooperate with the investigation?”
Despite the planned protests outside the IMU, UI officials are not expecting any disturbances during Rove’s lecture, but are aware of the possibilities.
“We don’t want to stifle any voices,” Sharon Benzoni, a UI senior and chairwoman of the event’s sponsor the UI Lecture Committee, told the Press-Citizen. “I don’t have any problems with someone dressing in a robot suit as long as they are not hiding something. … We have a step-by-step process (for dealing with disruptions) so no one gets out of control with a Taser. We are very aware we need to be nonviolent.”
Benzoni is alluding to UI professor Kembrew McLeod, who, dressed as a robot infiltrated the IMU and interrupted former President Bill Clinton’s speech a few months ago. McLeod demanded that Clinton, who was stumping on behalf of his wife, Hillary, apologize to Sister Souljah for “dissing” her in 1992.
Bill Searls, associate director of public safety, told the Press-Citizen that there haven’t been any arrests at recent events and isn’t expecting any tonight. “My plan is to work with organizers and IMU staff to make sure things go smoothly and to make sure people are safe. I don’t want to make it an adversarial relationship,” he said. “You prepare for things, and 99 percent of the time they don’t happen.”
The format of the venue will provide an opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions, thus providing voices of dissent an opportunity to ask Rove questions. This will follow a formal interview by Frank Durham, UI professor of journalism.
Nonetheless, event organizers aren’t leaving anything to chance and have banned all recording devices, per Rove’s stipulations in his speaking contract. Students and attendees will not be allowed to bring in book bags, backpacks, or any other large objects that may be considered a security risk.
“We understand people will have cell phones, and if anyone is seen recording with that they will be taken away,” Benzoni told the Press-Citizen. “Hopefully, there won’t be any terrible incidents to broadcast, but if something does happen, I do think that should be seen. I would not be surprised if video was taken.”
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