Nancy Pelosi Mocks Rick Perry’s Debate Challenge With Twitter Zing!

Earlier today, we brought you the hard-to-believe story that Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, challenging her to a debate on Monday. Pelosi’s response quickly underscored the problem with Perry’s challenge when she tweeted her response: “Re: Gov. Perry–Monday I’ll be in Portland. Later visiting labs in CA. That’s 2. I can’t remember the 3rd thing.”

It’s unusual enough for a presidential candidate to challenge a member of Congress to a debate, but in light of Perry’s performances in the forums thus far, his invitation was doubly confounding.

Here’s Perry’s invitation to Pelosi, via GOP12:(full letter here)

“I am in Washington Monday and would love to engage you in a public debate about my Overhaul Washington plan versus the congressional status quo.

I think it would be a tremendous service to the American public to see a public airing of those differences. Let the people decide.

If Monday doesn’t work, perhaps we could find a time in Iowa over the course of the next month to discuss these issues in front of the people of America’s heartland.”

Perry’s plan, which calls for Congress’ pay to be cut in half, along with their time in Washington,drew sharp criticism from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. He accused Perry of “pandering to the Tea Party,” and questioned the seriousness of the plan. Perry’s letter to Pelosi is pegged to Hoyer’s “outburst over my ‘Overhauling Washington’ plan.”

Since Monday didn’t fit in to Leader Pelosi’s schedule, Perry might be tempted to follow up on his plan B meeting in Iowa. He probably ought to just let it rest.

Update: Here’s Gov. Perry’s sad trombone rejoinder: “Something @NancyPelosi would like to forget: passing a 2k-page gov takeover of healthcare without reading it. American ppl haven’t forgotten”

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.