Chris Kluwe Challenges Downey, Prominent Republicans to Debate

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is deperately seeking a debate opponent.

Kluwe, a vocal advocate for gay marriage who has recently been speaking out against the proposed constitutional marriage amendment, reportedly sent out letters to ten prominent Minnesota Republicans asking them to take part in a public debate over the proposed amendment.

Invites to the debate supposedly were mailed out to Rep. Mary Franson, Keith Downey, Kurt Daudt, Mary Kiffmeye, Steve Drazkowski, Steve Gottwalt, Kurt Bills and Senators Mike Perry, David Hann and Michele Bachmann. An additional letter was mailed to Minnesotans for Marriage Chairman John Helmberger and Campaign Manager Andy Parrish.

"I would like to debate any and all politicians who are interested in passing the Minnesota marriage amendment so I can finally get a logical reason why we should discriminate against American citizens," Kluwe said, in a release.

Reached via email Tuesday, Edina's own Keith Downey—who's in the midst of a campaign for State Senate District 49—said he had neither heard anything about the debate nor received an invitation to participate.

Downey said he experienced a similar situation last year, when labor unions sent invitations to a debate before actually inviting him to take part in it.

"First, this appears to be the same tactic the unions used a year ago—schedule an event, don't invite me, and then blame me for not making it," Downey said. "Second, my actual opponent in the campaign, Melisa Franzen, has declined five debates with me in our district; I'm not sure there's a need to debate a football player outside of my district."

The debate is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Brave New Workshop. Twin Cities radio personality Tom Barnard has signed on to act as moderator for the debate.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Kluwe took to Twitter to report both Michele Bachmann and Minnesotans for Marriage had declined his invitations.

"Just a friendly heads up to the politicians I invited: I'm more than happy to debate an empty chair if no one shows. #itsbeendonebefore," Kluwe tweeted.

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