Get Your Mitt Off That Prophecy

It shouldn't come as any surprise that Pat Robertson has issued another loony prediction, this time of "mass killing" of Americans on U.S. soil sometime in 2007. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that," he mused on national television.

Before we get all inflamed about how Robertson represents an entire swath of conservative voters and their wingy leaders, let's remember that in their circles Robertson is yesterday's news. Any homage to Robertson's ability to channel God is entirely ceremonial, and, in fact, largely absent. Robertson is long past his heyday and his ability to rally voters. Sure, people watch the 700 Club (I think). But Robertson has no political sway, outrage over his outrageousness just gives him more attention than is warranted in light of his actual influence.

But Robertson's empire, and the operatives he's cultivated there, is a different matter entirely. So that's why it's noteworthy that Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney -- under scrutiny for having once aspired to be to the left of Ted Kennedy on gay rights but of late has publicly scorned his own Massachusetts as a modern day Sodom -- has reportedly signed up Robertson's protege Jay Sekulow as an advisor to his campaign.