The 200-plus NEA delegates from the Democratic National Convention aren’t going to be reading Campaign K-12.

If they follow the advice of their union’s staff, they’ll be getting their convention news from stalwart liberal blogs DailyKos, talkingpointsmemo, and others.

The blogs will give delegates the news they need “to help direct the conversation toward the association’s goal: Great Public Schools as a Basic Right for Every Student!” says a flier handed out at the lunch.

Sample endorsement: americablog.com is “a great place to get anti-McCain information,” the handout says.

The advice is no surprise, given the tenor of the speeches at the two-hour event.
Robert Kennedy Jr. said that the Bush presidency is “the worst administration we’ve had” on education and environmental issues. (His uncle Ted may disagree when it comes to the No Child Left Behind Act.)

Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff praised the NEA’s state chapter as one of the “most aggressive and successful” groups assisting Democrats in their takeover Colorado’s Statehouse and governor’s mansion. State Treasurer Cary Kennedy (no relation to RFK Jr.) said that Democrats would win a ballot initiative to “drive a stake in the heart” of the state’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights--a conservative cost-cutting measure.

NEA’s incoming President Dennis Van Roekel told Michele and me that he’s traveling to St. Paul for the Republican convention next week. He’ll be lunching with the 20 or so NEA members who will be delegates there and giving them information to help them advance the union’s agenda. I wonder what blogs he’ll recommend them. Any suggestions?

--David J. Hoff