An EXCLUSIVE Eyewitness Report and Audio From the Protest...
By Brad Friedman on 7/26/2005, 3:37pm PT  

Moments ago, an eyewitness has informed The BRAD BLOG that several hundred are currently protesting outside this evening's fundraising event for Maryland's Deputy Gov. Michael Steele and featuring "Special Guest Karl Rove".

The fundraiser, being held right now at the Ronald Reagan Republican Center next door to Union Station in D.C., is being hosted by Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) for Steele is seeking a U.S. Senate bid for the seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes (D-MD).

The protest was quickly organized this morning by members of several activist organizations including MoveOn, Velvet Revolution and Progressive Maryland.

The eyewitness tells us that there's "a rather large police presence", and that "all of the major networks are present with cameras."

The BRAD BLOG has acquired a small audio clip [MP3] of the protest as recorded moments ago. The booing near the end of the clip is when Michael Steele showed up, as he was "rushed into the backdoor."

Karl Rove reportedly snuck in through the parking garage in his Jag as the police threatened protesters with jay-walking citations.

Steele was called on to cancel the Rove Fundraiser a month ago, but laughed, as RAW STORY reported today:

When Democrats called on Steele to quit the event earlier this month, citing a probe into the Bush adviser's role in the outing of a CIA agent, the would-be senator's allies laughed.

"Are they afraid he's going to raise too much money?" asked GOP strategist Carol Hirschburg told the Washington Post.

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