I must confess that I don't watch Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club." Neither do I listen to Air America radio. Having made those two confessions, I find Sen. Tom Harkin's comments [last item] just as offensive and outrageous as anything Robertson or Falwell have ever said.

On the same program, Harkin said Christian broadcasters are "sort of our home-grown Taliban." He added: "They have a direct line to God. And if you don't tune into their line, you're obviously on Satan's line."

At the risk of playing to Harkin's stereotype, I say: "Sen. Harkin, go to hell."

Not literally, of course.

If Democrats really want to reach out to "values" voters, then people like Sen. Harkin need to take a long, hard look at themselves and think at least a dozen times before opening their traps.

With a party chairman like Howard "Republicans are evil" Dean, a Senate leader like Harry "loser" Reid and other assorted hatemongers, the Democrat Party is well on its way to permanent minority status.