16-year-old faces threats after challenging Bachmann to a debate
A 16-year-old high school student says she is facing online threats after calling into question Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann's knowledge of the Constitution.
What started as a harmless -- if cheeky -- way of pointing out Bachmann's historical mistakes has turned darker for New Jersey high school sophomore Amy Meyers, the Courier Post Online reports.
Last month, Meyers posted an open letter online challenging Bachmann to a constitutional 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," Myers wrote. "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."
Several media outlets reported on Myers' challenge. As a result, she said, people have threatened violence against her and threatened to publish her address online, the Courier Post reports. Myers' high school has also reprotedly received inquiries regarding Myers' letter.
"A lot of them are calling me a whore," Myers said of the online remarks against her. Added her father Wayne Myers: "I personally did not think there would be a reaction like actual stalking and the vitriol that's coming out."
Myers has also seen a good deal of positive feedback online. Bachmann's office has said it would not respond to the debate challenge.
As leader of the House Tea Party Caucus, Bachmann has expressed an unwavering commitment to the Constitution, even organizing classes on the Constitution for members of Congress. She's used her platform as a Tea Party leader to build a national profile and may soon enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Yet as Bachmann becomes a more prominent political player, she has been subject to more scrutiny. Websites like Factcheck.org have dinged her for untruthful statements, such as the claim that Democrats "secretly" hid $105 billion in spending in the health care reform bill. She also dubiously claimed last year that President Obama's trip to Mumbai was costing $200 million per day.
In March, Bachmann claimed that the battle of Lexington and Concord, which began the Revolutionary War, took place in New Hampshire. That battle actually took place in Massachusetts.
She has also wrongly claimed that America's founding fathers "worked tirelessly until slavery was no more."
