Oregon Public Broadcasting

Wednesday night two of the country's most famous political strategists went head-to-head in Portland. Karl Rove and Howard Dean stopped by to discuss foreign policy, at the World Affairs Council of Oregon. April Baer was there.

An hour before Dean and Rove took the stage at the World Affairs Council event, several dozen protestors were lined up on the sidewalk outside the Schnitzer concert hall.

Kay Exo   “The message is Karl Rove treats the law as though it works one way for him, and another way for the rest of us.”

Portlander Kay Exo didn’t just stand on the sidewalk holding a sign. She was one of several people who bought tickets, went into the event, then got ejected for outbursts during Rove’s opening statement.

At least five people interrupted Rove during his opening remarks, including one man in the balcony who tried to throw something at him.

Rove admonished him for manners, suggesting a similar debate in Midland, Texas would have welcomed Democrat Howard Dean with better manners. Most audience members then applauded Rove.

When the two tacticians finally got down to business, they steered clear of their considerable domestic expertise, and stuck to the evening’s topic, foreign policy.

Howard Dean   “I think this is an exceptional country because of the extraordinary hope that is laid out in founding docs of United States.”

Dean, a former presidential contender and Democratic party chairman, talked about America’s role in the future being defined by its principles, like the rule of law.

Howard Dean “The exceptionalism in America is the allegiance to hope, and rejection of cynicicsm.”

That’s not to say, Dean continued, that America always succeeds in living up to high standards. But, he says the nation’s moral authority in the best times springs from its willingness to strive for better in economics and human rights.

Rove countered that America’s exceptionalism comes from its relationship with free nations of the world, and a commitment to defend that freedom.

Karl Rove  “The United States must accept and understand that it has a unique role in international leadership. If we don’t care about it, if we don’t lead, the world’s not going to pay attention to it.”

Rove called for strong advocacy against nuclear proliferation, and said the country must expanding global trade, and maintain relationships with the country’s traditional allies, in the face of a changing world.

After initial protests died down, the audience generally listened to what both men had to say – barring some hooting at Rove, and outright laughter at his assertion that the US  never tortured foreign detainees.

The discussion ranged from  the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to Latin American power politics to climate change.

On his trip to Oregon,  Howar Dean also committed to attend two fundraisers for  Democrat Bill Bradbury, who’s running for governor.   

The Oregon Republican Party says Rove will not be doing any fundraising for GOP candidates while he’s in the state.