Beating up on children figuratively by putting their lives at risk literally headlines Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s U.S. Senate campaign. Schmitt is among four Republicans who aspire to replace fellow Republican Roy Blunt in the Senate. To date, Schmitt is the frontrunner, at least in terms of funds raised in the last reporting quarter. To win the party’s nomination, Schmitt will need to raise more money from across the nation. Getting the big bucks means aligning with far-right party members on what they consider key issues. One of those issues, rooted in lies and paranoia, is a repudiation of medical directives needed to reduce the COVID-19 pandemic, which is killing fellow Americans. Ironically, many of those dying are Missouri Republicans. Schmitt shows where he stands on COVID-19 – the method that picks on children – by targeting school districts that require everyone in school to wear masks. On Aug. 24, he used his office to sue school districts, including…