The National Education Association Advocacy fund just dropped $550, 000 for a last pitch in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. The NEA describes it as “a significant, six-figure, tough new television ad.” They must be extremely concerned about the race if they are dropping that much coin. Ernst leads by 2.1% according to Real Clear Politics average of the latest polls. Four polls taken in October have Ernst up by 3 or 4 points. Loras College has Braley up by 1 point, and CBS News/New York Times/You Gov poll had the race tied. This race is as tight as a tick and a toss-up. Which is certainly not where Democrats thought Bruce Braley would be months ago.
The NEA ad started running on Tuesday and will run through Monday next week.
“Can voters really trust Joni Ernst?” asked NEA Political Director Karen White in a released statement. “This is the biggest question as Iowa voters head into the polls on Tuesday. Iowa educators know what is best for students, and when they ask voters to do their homework and check Joni Ernst’s record on education, voters should pay attention. After all, her extreme views on education are out of line with what most Iowans believe. Taking funds from public school students and giving them to wealthy private schools aren’t values that most Iowans share with Joni Ernst.”.
What exactly are her extreme views? Well according to the ad “Homework” that the NEA is running they are:
1. She wants to funnel public money to private schools… aka school choice – empowering parents to make educational decisions for their kids. Something that I like to call common sense. Something that teachers unions know precious little about.
That’s a reason to vote for Joni Ernst, not vote against her, and their statement that this is not “values most Iowans share with Joni Ernst” is simply not true. A majority of Iowans favor school choice measures. The NEA holds the extreme position here, not Ernst.
2. She wants to close the U.S. Department of Education. The NEA claims that Iowa schools will lose $1 billion in Federal programs and services. First, that’s money that could stay home in Iowa rather than go to DC. Secondly, how much money is tied up in that bureaucratic behemoth that never sees the light of day in an Iowa classroom? I’d say most of it. Third, Federal money is a drop in the bucket compared to the bloat of regulations that accompany it. Over all that would be much, much better for Iowa schools.
Here’s their desperate ad, what a waste of money, their members deserve better than this.