I've been weary for some time of the annual election-time barrage of bullshit that comes to my home from the teachers' union. I join this thing every year in case an overzealous school administrator starts taking him/herself too seriously. Today's mail included a flyer from the Menendez campaign (via the NJEA) - "6 good reasons why educators are supporting Senator Robert Menendez for United States Senate".

Let's take a look at the 6 "good reasons", shall we?

Bob Menendez opposes school vouchers. Unlike his opponent - who supports school vouchers - Bob Menendez will stand up to the forces of privatization and oppose vouchers and tuition tax credits.

As a United States Senator, Bob Menendez has no authority to involve the federal government in state decisions regarding school vouchers, tuition credits, or anything else that has to do with education. The Tenth Amendment assigns full authority to determine the course of education to the individual states and the people, period. Therefore, a vote for Bob Menendez is a vote for federal intrusion into states' rights with regard to school vouchers - NOT a "good reason" to vote for him.

Bob Menendez will work to fix a bad law. In 2007, Congress is scheduled to vote on reauthorizing the "No Child Left Behind" Act. Bob Menendez will work to fix the law's many flaws, and to hold George Bush accountable for funding it properly.

Again, NCLB is unconstitutional, and therefore ILLEGAL, under the Tenth Amendment, which is the only "flaw" the law has that is relevant. As far as holding the President accountable for funding it, all Menendez is saying in this ad is that he will increase the amount of spending on a program that is not legal in the first place. Again, NOT a good reason to vote for this candidate.

Bob Menendez is a proven friend of children in public education. With an almost 100 percent NEA voting record, Bob Menendez has shown unflinching support for public education.

You'd think those charged with education our children (the NEA) would know what the Constitution has to say about "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States" being "reserved to the States respectively, or to the people". You'd think an organization of teachers would be teaching our children about this very important constitutional provision. If they are, then I find it to be the height of hypocrisy that they would so consistently support candidates that stand against this very basic right - NOT a good reason to vote for him.

Bob Menendez will fight to protect our hard-earned benefits. He believes school employees should be able to retire with the pensions and post-retirement medical benefits that we've earned. As a state legislator, he supported full funding of our pensions and benefits and opposed any attempts to diminish them. He'll continue to do so.

Quite frankly, Bob Menendez would have had EVERY RIGHT to support these things as a state legislator. As a federal legislator, however, he has no business getting involved. Pensions and medical benefits are within the rights of the various states, but not of the federal government - not the President, not the House or Senate, and not the federal judiciary. Again, Bob Menendez is showing himself in this ad as completely disrespectful of the Tenth Amendment - NOT a good reason to vote for him.

Bob Menendez will help college students. He will fight for more Perkins funding and Pell Grants, to make college more affordable.

Exactly how, as a US Senator, is he allowed to do any of this, save for reaching into his own personal bank account? Please. NOT a good reason to vote for him.

Bob Menendez supports universal health coverage. He's already restored $130 million of George Bush's cuts to New Jersey for seniors' prescription drug coverage. He supports universal health coverage because he understands the crisis that uninsured families face every day

Ah, yes, Hitlerycare. Playing on people's pity for "seniors" and "the uninsured". Look, if any state, including New Jersey, wants to provide universal healthcare for its citizens, it's more than welcome to bring it on. The federal government has no authority in the matter.

Please help elect a true friend of public education - Senator Robert Menendez.

I don't see how the following words could be misinterpreted:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This ad should really say...

Please help elect a true enemy of the Tenth Amendment - Senator Bob Menedez.

I'm not saying his opponent is much better, but this guy's openly putting his desire to break the law right into his campaign ads. Anyone who casts a vote for this man is as much an enemy of the Tenth Amendment (and therefore of the Constitution) as he is.

RWR