Democrat Party Chairman Howard Dean is trying to "reach out" to pro-lifers -- kinda.

He discussed the abortion debate after a student questioned why the party was supporting Bob Casey Jr., a Pennsylvania Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.

The chairman tried to draw a distinction between Casey and Santorum, even though both men oppose abortion rights.

"You have to respect people's positions of conscience," said Dean. "I think Bob Casey's position is a position of conscience."

Dean, a former Planned Parenthood board member, said the difference between his party and Republicans is that "we believe a woman has a right to make up their own mind and they believe (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay should make it up and Rick Santorum should make it up for them."

Umm....if Bob Casey is pro-life, then he too belongs in the DeLay/Santorum group for which Dean shows such disdain.

Howard Dean -- not the sharpest tool in the shed.