Phyllis Schlafly Elephant: Anti-Feminist Mentor at the Core of Palin Strategy

"Phyllis Stewart Schlafly (born August 15, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American conservative political activist known for her opposition to feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment. Her bestselling book, A Choice, Not An Echo, was published in 1964 from her home in Alton, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from her native St. Louis. From this self-publication, she formed her Pere Marquette Publishers company. A Choice, Not an Echo decries the power of the "Eastern Establishment" in the Republican Party once exercised by New York Governors Thomas E. Dewey and Nelson A. Rockefeller. Schlafly supported U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater in his unsuccessful race against Lyndon B. Johnson. (Sound familiar, folks???)


Schlafly has co-authored several books on national defense and was highly critical of arms-control agreements with the former Soviet Union.[2] In 1961 she wrote that arms control "will not stop Red aggression any more than disarming our local police will stop murder, theft, and rape."[3]

Schlafly continues to exert some influence within the Republican Party and maintains an active presence on the lecture circuit. In 1972, she founded the Eagle Forum, and was the founder and president of a sister organization known as the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, which also operates in the Eagle Forum's St. Louis office. She played a key role in writing some socially conservative language in the Republican National Convention's platform, most recently in 2004. As of 2007, she is still the president of both organizations. Since 1967, she has published her own political newsletter, the Phyllis Schlafly Report."

Work Cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Schlafly

Media Elephant: Check Out Pork Barrel Palin Report on Randi Rhodes Show

The question is... why no major media reports about Palin's Alaskan record i.e. hanging with the boys and lobbying for millions? Message to the Media: Don't let the phony, Republican "sexist" threats and attacks on journalists get you down. Most voters see right through it.

De Facto Sexism the Big Elephant in Election 2008

I was dumb-founded when no one on today's "Meet the Press" panel picked up on the gender specific "word" used to describe Hillary, i.e. "bitch" listed on the Pew survey. Not one comment regarding the demeaning, sexist term...
My question : if the "N" word appeared on that same Pew list to describe Obama, how do you think the media would react? What's the difference between the "B" and the "N" words when it comes to hate? Is de facto sexism the real heart of this election story?

1. Thirty years later, the Equal Rights Amendment guaranteeing women equal pay for equal work has not been ratified. Three states are still needed to pass this amendment, including former state legistator Barack Obama's beloved Illinois, standing in the way of a fair day's wage for women, approx 50% of our population.
2. When young women were challenging equal wages during the 60's-70's, creating a new world of economic opportunity, breaking down barriers, working harder, demonstrating excellence and merit, did we ever consider that as soon as we were older, had earned our way up the ladder, that those doors would slam shut again? When it comes to Hillary, seems like her husband, her looks, her so-called career, and her age are still the main criteria for conversation.
3. According to popular culture amplified through an expanded cable and youtube media, the message resounds: any woman making her way to the top is still called a bitch, and that's OK. I might mention that there is equality when it comes to sexism- women taking sides against another woman. Name calling and discriminatory language, under the guise of humor or infonews is certainly harrassment.
4. Thiry years ago, women were earning an average of 70 cents per dollar compared to men. Three decades since the introduction of the equal rights amendment, the latest numbers show women are now earning 79 cents on the dollar compared to men.

As we wrap up this primary season, women might seriously consider stepping back from "pleasing" the same popular culture that is throwing women and children overboard economically. Younger women need to do their research, discover if career advancement is still all about looks. What about merit? Does merit even matter in our current culture or is it all about what's fashionable at the moment?

Resisting the youth movement and putting yourself first for once, although we are thrilled that this sleeping giant is finally showing up, ask yourselves this simple question before you vote: If Obama was a young, black woman, do you really think she would be able to even win a primary, get the same media coverage, coalition support, media adoration that a male candidate gets? and that's OK?

Up the elephant!