Education Reformer Gets Rough Time for Interview in the Twittersphere

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 01:20 PM EST

The most scathing questions from Michelle Rhee’s doomed Twitter Q&A

The controversial education reformer held a Twitter town hall, but not all of the questions were friendly

Elias Isquith

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Topics: Michelle Rhee, Education Reform, Matt Yglesias, Twitter, Students First, Twitter Q&A, News, Politics News

Michelle Rhee (Credit: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Apparently having learned nothing from last year’s #AskJPM and #AskRKelly debacles, controversial education reformer Michelle Rhee announced on Wednesday that she’d be answering questions from folks on Twitter using a hashtag of her own: #AskMichelle.

Hey Twitter! I'm around for a little bit, anyone have any questions for me? Please use #AskMichelle.
— Michelle Rhee (@MichelleRhee) January 15, 2014

And while Rhee got some earnest queries — stuff like “What’s the biggest challenge facing education reformers in the 21st century?” or “What would you do if you were Secretary of Education?” — she also received a fair share of abuse.
Like anyone familiar with Twitter Q&A sessions, Slate’s Matt Yglesias (who’s generally sympathetic to Rhee’s agenda) predicted Rhee would get a lot of hostile questions. But Rhee, ever the optimist, was undeterred.

@mattyglesias Make a New Years resolution to be positive, Matt! #AskMichelle
— Michelle Rhee (@MichelleRhee) January 15, 2014

Anyway, here are the best of the #AskMichelle questions that she’ll definitely never answer:

#AskMichelle @MichelleRhee Would you rather shame 100 Poor-sized teachers or 1 teacher-sized Poor?
— Mike Conrad (@mikeconrad1) January 15, 2014

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#AskMichelle Why didn't the StudentsFirstNY canvassers outside my school identify themselves, instead of just asking for signatures?
— Molly Knefel (@mollyknefel) January 15, 2014

Which brand of tape is best for shutting children's lips? I smell a corporate partnership! #AskMichelle @MichelleRhee http://t.co/YUVdMZwayT
— Brian Thill (@Brian_Thill) January 15, 2014

#AskMichelle How's Scott Walker these days? He's been kinda quiet. @MichelleRhee http://t.co/M3cEhz3RMc
— Brian Thill (@Brian_Thill) January 15, 2014

Did you get this idea from #AskJPM ? RT @MichelleRhee: Hey Twitter! …anyone have any questions for me? Please use #AskMichelle.
— billmon (@billmon1) January 15, 2014

#AskMichelle @MichelleRhee Do you think kindergarteners should have to take standardized tests? http://t.co/x3e30VDtR7
— Sarah Jaffe (@sarahljaffe) January 15, 2014

#AskMichelle is it a coincidence that state policies you rank as best have terrible outcomes and are radically right wing? @MichelleRhee
— Sam Knight (@samknight1) January 15, 2014

.@MichelleRhee Why aren't Students First's donors featured on your website? #AskMichelle
— Prison Culture (@prisonculture) January 15, 2014

.Dear @MichelleRhee, why have you never come clean about the cheating scandal in DC? You preach accountability but take none. #AskMichelle.
— Prison Culture (@prisonculture) January 15, 2014

.@MichelleRhee Why did you support OH's Senate Bill 5 that stripped collective bargaining rights from all Ohio public workers? #AskMichelle
— Doug Foote (@FooteSteppes) January 15, 2014

@MichelleRhee Do you feel any shame about using ideology rather than peer-reviewed research in your rhetoric?#askmichelle
— NoMore Shrubs (@NShrubs) January 15, 2014

Why won't you disclose all your funding sources? #AskMichelle @MichelleRhee
— Mikey Franklin (@mikeyfranklin) January 15, 2014

How much $$ do you get from Walmart? RT @MichelleRhee: Im around for a little bit, anyone have any questions for me? Please use #AskMichelle
— Asher Huey (@asherhuey) January 15, 2014

Elias Isquith is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on politics. Follow him on Twitter at @eliasisquith, and email him at eisquith@salon.com. More Elias Isquith.