Rove, Cheryl Crow clash at gala

WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, reportedly clashed with singer Sheryl Crow over global warming at a gala dinner in Washington.

Both were guests at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. Crow -- who has been on a promotional tour with "An Inconvenient Truth" producer Laurie David -- approached Rove and the result was a heated exchange, The Washington Post reported.

"I am floored by what I just experienced with Karl Rove," David said. "I went over to him and said, 'I urge you to take a new look at global warming.' He went zero to 100 with me ... I've never had anyone be so rude."

Rove had a different account of the incident, the Post reported.

"She came over to insult me and she succeeded," he said.

In a posting at the online Huffington Post, David said Crow reached out to touch Rove's arm and Rove said, "Don't touch me."

Crow reportedly responded, "You can't speak to us like that, you work for us."

David said Rove answered by saying he works for "the American people," and Crow told Rove, "We are the American people."

Witnesses told the Post David had been aggressive with Rove.