Republicans against Xenu? New Mexico GOP candidate walks 'hand in hand' with Scientology 'troops'

There is definitely a very legitimate debate to be had about whether kids today are being over-medicated -- but that still doesn't mean it's smart to go around embracing groups associated with the Church of Scientology just because you agree with their position about not giving kids psychiatric drugs.

The NM Political Report reports that New Mexico State Rep. Nora Espinoza, who is a Republican candidate for New Mexico Secretary of State, has appeared in promotional videos for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) where she says that she "loves" and walks "hand in hand" with the group.

CCHR was founded by the Church of Scientology as a lobbying group to prevent schools from coercing students into taking psychiatric medications. Scientology, of course, isn't just opposed to over-medicating kids with Ritalin, but opposed to all psychiatric drugs and the entire profession of psychiatry.

“For you guys to stand and to fight for this— love you guys,” said Espinoza in a video where she praised the group for helping pass a law to prevent schools from coercing children into taking mood-altering drugs. “That is the reason I walk hand in hand with you and you’ve walked hand in hand with me.”

Even though Espinoza tells NM Political Report that she is "not associated" with Scientology in any way, she was also effusive in her praise of the church in the promotional video.

"The Church of Scientology has been at the forefront in taking action on this issue that is very important on a local level and on a national level,” Espinoza said. “They’re hands-on. Not only do they have pamphlets, not only do they have CDs, not only do they have ads, but they have troops on the ground."

So even though Espinoza might not be joining Scientology's galactic struggle against the tyrannical space war lord Xenu, she does appreciate some of the work they're doing here on planet Earth.