High schooler challenges Michele Bachmann to Constitution showdown

By Liz Goodwin

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)