posted May 13, 2011 07:03 PM            

A New Jersey high school sophomore has challenged Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to a constitutional duel in an open letter that is making the rounds on political blogs.

Bachmann says she's a constitutional conservative and frequently cites the founding document when making arguments against policies or programs she doesn't support, such as the U.S. Census.

"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," writes Cherry Hill, N.J., high schooler Amy Myers. She concludes: "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."

The full letter was posted on CNN's iReport, though we haven't been able to confirm Myers' identity. This may be her blog, where an Amy Myers who says she attends Cherry Hill East high school writes about education policy, Gov. Chris Christie, and her ninth-grade reading assignments.

This is the entire letter:

Dear Representative Bachmann,

My name is Amy Myers. I am a Cherry Hill, New Jersey sophomore attending Cherry Hill High School East. As a typical high school student, 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. The frequency and scope of these comments prompted me to write this letter.

Though I am not in your home district, or even your home state, you are a United States Representative of some prominence who is subject to national media coverage. News outlets and websites across this country profile your causes and viewpoints on a regular basis. As one of a handful of women in Congress, you hold a distinct privilege and responsibility to better represent your gender nationally. The statements you make help to serve an injustice to not only the position of Congresswoman, but women everywhere. 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.

Rep. Bachmann, the frequent inability you have shown to accurately and factually present even the most basic information about the United States led me to submit the follow challenge, pitting my public education against your advanced legal education:

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.

Hopefully, we will be able to meet for such an event, as it would prove to be enlightening.

Sincerely yours,
Amy Myers

(Bachmann: AP)

article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/high-schooler-challenges-michelle-bachmann-to-constitution-showdown

posted May 13, 2011 09:58 PM            

quote:

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"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," writes Cherry Hill, N.J., high schooler Amy Myers.

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too true="As Walter from “The Big Lebowski” would put it, Bachmann is like a child that wanders into the middle of a movie. She is the Donny of politics: out of her element."

posted May 13, 2011 10:08 PM            

I notice this "high schooler" didn't bother to mention exactly what Bachmann got wrong. Neither have any of YOU!

posted May 13, 2011 10:13 PM            

for starters:
http://wonkette.com/435940/incredible-michele-bachmann-speech-gets-every- single-historical-fact-wrong

posted May 14, 2011 09:24 AM            

Ummmm, this supposed conversation is to be a Constitutional showdown.

Not a general gripe and biatch session with or about Michelle Bachmann.

Neither are the slavery issues raised by your source on point. They show they are just as Constitutionally challenged as the rest of the irresponsible bloviating left.

For instance Node. Do you know that the Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson was changed...or why it was changed?

Text:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and "Property"....

Because those on the committee who were directed to write the Declaration of Independence did NOT believe owning another person.."Property"..is a right and certainly not an "inalienable right", "Property" was stricken and the words "Pursuit of Happiness" were inserted instead.

The counting of slaves as 3/5ths of a person in the census...per the Constitution..was done to prevent the southern slave owning states from gaining a numerical advantage over the rest of the states in the US House of Representatives...and overpowering the rest of the states in legislative matters.

90% or more of what the federal government is doing has no Constitutional authority to be done by the federal government.

Let's look at the paragraph immediately following...Pursuit of Happiness in the Declaration of Independence. These words set forth the very reason for the existence of government...as envisioned by the Founders.

"THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"............

Those who actually read the US Constitution will find the concepts contained within track very closely with the Declaration of Independence.

Now, for all those in the "Entitlement Crowd".."please take care of me", "give me stuff from the federal treasury at someone else's expense"...take note of these words from one of the Founders!

"Of government welfare programs, Madison wrote, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents...”"

Gee, now what barbarian would dare say such a thing?

Hint! The man credited with being the "Father of the Constitution" and it's chief writer.

So, when Michelle Bachmann talks about an overreaching federal government, meddling in the affairs of the states and their citizens without Constitutional authority do do so...as in O'BomberCare, Cap and Tax, Bank Bailouts, purchasing car companies, insurance companies and banks...Michelle Bachmann is on very firm Constitutional grounds and Barack Hussein O'Bomber...is most certainly NOT.

posted May 14, 2011 09:44 AM            

Beats those laying around whining about their bleak future. That`s all

posted May 14, 2011 10:16 AM            

forgive me if that one tape did not provide enough evidence.

That one tape is a fine example of civics gone wrong.

posted May 14, 2011 11:16 AM            

AND Node, you still haven't provided one example of what Michelle Bachmann got wrong about the Constitution...nor did the bloviating commentary which accompanied the video.

Inquiring minds want to know. Exactly what did Michelle Bachmann get wrong...ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION?

posted May 14, 2011 01:21 PM            

The Constitution doesn't require and doesn't say that anything is required to be told beyond how many people live in a dwelling in the taking of the Census.

What census takers did in 1790 by asking questions beyond the total number of persons living in a dwelling is no proof whatsoever that answering those questions was a Constitutional requirement.

In fact, in 1790 there was a Constitutional requirement that slaves be counted as 3/5ths of a person...for purposes of taking the census. So, in 1790 that was Constitutional. But, this isn't 1790 and there are no slaves in American households.

However, asking questions about how many bathrooms, what kind of work citizens do and all the rest of the O'Bomber busybody meddling into citizens lives has NO Constitutional support whatsoever.

That's not to say census takers cannot ask, but there's no way to Constitutionally compel answers to those questions....meaning answers to those questions are "Voluntary".

So, Michelle Bachmann is absolutely right and the leftist morons at PolitFacts are absolutely wrong. But then, the leftist morons at PolitFacts are almost always wrong.

posted May 14, 2011 01:28 PM            

quote:

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The Constitution doesn't require and doesn't say that anything is required to be told beyond how many people live in a dwelling in the taking of the Census.

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posted May 16, 2011 01:15 PM            

Follow up on Ms. Myers:
Teen who challenged Bachmann to Constitution showdown is running for class president

Myers was angry that many of the most visible female politicians were seen as fodder for jokes and ridicule, which made her peers think it was ok to mock her political aspirations, too. She singled out Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) after her father noticed the congresswoman had incorrectly stated the Revolutionary War Battles of Lexington and Concord happened in New Hampshire. (She told a group of conservatives in Manchester in March: "You're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord.") In January, Myers watched agasp as Bachmann said America's founding fathers "worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States."

"We covered the presidents, and we're currently at Jackson," Myers says. She says that though John Adams (and his son John Quincy Adams, who was not a founding father) objected to slavery, the other founding fathers did own slaves. They were all dead before slavery was officially abolished in 1865, during the Civil War.

She decided that Bachmann's inaccurate historical statements were irresponsible, since they reflected badly on women everywhere, and particularly on Myers herself. (We at The Lookout would like to point out that politicians of both genders frequently say stupid things; you can consult our sister blog The Ticket for proof.) The forceful letter Myers ended up writing to Bachmann, challenging her to a showdown over the Constitution and civics generally, quickly went viral on political blogs. Many Yahoo! commenters suggested that all politicians be forced to take the challenge before being allowed to take office.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110516/ts_yblog_thelookout/teen-who-challenged-bachmann-to-constitution-showdown-is-running-for-class-president

posted May 16, 2011 01:25 PM            

quote:

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..Many Yahoo! commenters suggested that all politicians be forced to take the challenge before being allowed to take office.

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posted May 16, 2011 01:53 PM            

There is no Constitutional question involved in whether or not the Founders worked "tirelessly" to end slavery.

They did but they also knew there would be no ratification of the Constitution and therefore no United States of America if they attempted to abolish slavery by Constitutional decree. Southern states would never have ratified the Constitution if it had stipulated slavery was abolished.

Additionally, there is no shadow of incompetence cast on this stunt pulling teenager by another woman making a mistake..not a Constitutional mistake...but rather a mistake of the location of Lexington and Concord.

Node, you're sounding very confused. You gave a thumbsup to this statement.

"The Constitution doesn't require and doesn't say that anything is required to be told beyond how many people live in a dwelling in the taking of the Census."

Then, had this to say.

"Exactly! Where were you when Ms Bachman needed constitutional help!"

Michelle Bachmann didn't need my help in deciphering the Constitution as it regards the taking of the Census.

What Bachmann said agrees perfectly with what I said and you gave a thumbsup to what I said.

Remember?

"And I know for my family the only question that we will be answering is how many people are in our home. We won't be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that."
Michelle Bachmann

posted May 16, 2011 02:05 PM            

This stunt pulling teenager is wrong in the thrust of her challenge...a Constitutional Challenge and further, this stunt pulling teenager is not one of Michelle Bachmann's constituents.

posted July 09, 2011 11:33 AM            

I`ve been lax this summer in following up news stories and wondered if you all had an update?

posted July 09, 2011 07:14 PM            

I was just wondering if Ms Bachmann ever responded to Amy Myers challenge?

posted July 09, 2011 07:20 PM            

and for the record (and jwhop) the challenge made was to a "historical and constitutional debate" due to ms bachmann's apparently slim grasp on history in numerous instances.

posted July 11, 2011 10:03 AM            

Amy Myers claims challenge to Tea Party champion Michele Bachmann prompts threats

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/193133/250/NJ-teen-claims-threats-over-Tea-Party-challenge