No casualties? White House disputes Robertson comment

Televangelist Pat Robertson and President Bush are disputing each other's comments about a conversation they had prior to the war in Iraq. Robertson claims he warned Bush to prepare for casualities. According to Robertson, Bush's response was there would be no casualties. More than 1100 American troops have sacrificed their lives in this war to date.

If we accept the White House's account of the conversation, why would Robertson lie about such a thing? Regardless, the last thing the Bush campaign wants at this point in race is to alienate the millions of voters who follow Robertson's lead on political matters.