For the record, I am not one of the biggest fans of the NCLB (not because it’s bad, but because it doesn’t go far enough), but this is just outrageous.

Education Dept. paid commentator to promote law

Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.

Is this even legal? I sure hope not!

Update: Armstrong Williams, the prominent black pundit in question, responds.