Rep. Michelle Bachmann rose to national prominence by courting controversy and firing up the conservative base. Thousands of politically active people would gladly argue with her if given the opportunity. It is therefore interesting that a high school sophomore in Cherry Valley, N.J., has generated national headlines by challenging the Minnesota Congresswoman to a debate. "I have found quite a few of your statements regarding The Constitution of the United States, the quality of public school education and general U.S. civics matters to be factually incorrect, inaccurately applied or grossly distorted," Amy Myers wrote in early May in an open letter to Bachmann. "Though politically expedient, incorrect comments cast a shadow on your person and by unfortunate proxy, both your supporters and detractors alike often generalize this shadow to women as a whole."
To be honest, I find the bit about incorrect comments reflecting badly on all women to be overwrought and off-putting. Women should be as free to engage in opportunistic, intellectually dishonest hackery as men! But I can't help but celebrate the letter's stirring conclusion: "I, Amy Myers, do hereby challenge Representative Michele Bachmann to a Public Forum Debate and/or Fact Test on The Constitution of the United States, United States History and United States Civics."
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