Actually, it really didn’t matter to me if it was a National Knitting Conference or a fund-raiser. The important element to ME, is that they were obviously protesting his presence in their town. 

I had not heard of the riots and so I did a search for more info. It seems that protestors in both L.A. and Portland are opposing the war on Iraq. Apparently, the President doesn’t like being opposed, since rubber pellets and tear gas and riot gear were donned for the event. He doesn’t seem swayed by them, saying that he is protecting our country “And it would be on your mind too is you saw what I saw on a daily basis.”

The whole thing is positively frightening. There are several ways how this is going to play out (and influence the people), and none are the least bit favorable.