There are days where I wonder what the hell my fellow Republicans are thinking.

Today is one of those days.

Senator McCain was successful in limiting my First Amendment right to support a political candidate or political position through his so called ‘Campaign Finance Reform’. He touted the bill as a way to clean up politics, get the special interests out blah blah blah (the same special interests he’s now embracing in his run for the White House, but I digress). With such altruistic motives, there was no way that bill WASN’T going to pass.

Republicans back here in Arizona took notice, and are aiming to do the same thing. But this time, they’re looking to the classroom. Republicans in the state legislature, under the guise of protecting our children from political indoctrination in the classroom, have introduced a bill that would punish educators for expressing politcal opinions. It’s for the children!

Classrooms should not be forums for schoolteachers and college professors to espouse political opinions, a group of lawmakers concluded Thursday.

A proposed law would prohibit any instructor in a public school or college from advocating or opposing a political candidate or one side of a social, political or cultural issue that is part of a partisan debate.

Supporters said the measure would let students disagree with instructors without fearing retribution. But college students and education advocates worry it would discourage instructors from leading discussions and debates on controversial topics.

Well this should make those Poli Sci and Economics classes rather useless, don’t you think? Even some of the brilliant Economics professors I had would have a difficult time not expressing an opinion on certain economic policies that are part of a partisan debate. We would’ve had to skip the entire discussion on the Laffer Curve and Supply Side Economics. Kinda important to the study of Economics. What would my tuition be paying for then? Stimilating discussions of the history of the dollar bill?

I can certainly understand the desire to ensure students aren’t punished for having a right of center point of view, when their proffessors offer up these little gems in class:

Troy Hyde’s ears perked up in a college class when his professor called President Bush an idiot, and he was stunned when another professor said suicide bombers are reasonable people.

But what is the purpose of the education system if not to prepare kids for real life? How is limiting an instructor’s First Amendment right to speak freely and openly about hot button political issues going to prepare my son for dealing with people he disagrees with outside of the academic setting?

I’m sure there are instructors who punish students with strong opposing opinions, but you know what? That’s life. Every day out in the real world, we are held accountable for the things we say and the things we believe. Sometimes we’re even punished for it - whether it’s passed up for a promotion, dumped by a moonbat for not agreeing Bushie’s the lefty equivalent of the Antichrist, whatever. That’s reality. Kids need to learn how to deal with it, not be sheltered from it.

And don’t even try to go down the indoctrination road with me. I know all about indoctrination - I’m a product of the California public school system. When I emerged from that education system I was so open minded my brains were falling out. Now that I’m not such a moonbat, I make sure the values and the things I believe are taught and reinforced at home. My son will be well armed against teachers who try to shove their opposing political opinions down his throat. I am responsible for preparing my son for that. Not you, not his school or his teachers and certainly not some state legislator.

Now if the Republicans in the legislature could kindly stop trying to mimic Senator McCain by restricting First Amendment rights and playing nanny to my son, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.