Eagle Forum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Founders | Phyllis Schlafly |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Alton, Illinois; Clayton, Missouri; Washington, D.C. |
| Staff | Phyllis Schlafly |
| Members | 80,000[1] |
| Motto | "Leading the pro-family movement since 1972" |
| Website | http://www.eagleforum.org/ |
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1967 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC.[2] The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes itself as pro-family and reports to have a membership around 80,000.[1][2] Others have described it as socially conservative,[2] and anti-feminist.[3][4] As of 2008, Phyllis Schlafly continues to be the president of the organization.[5]
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1967, Phyllis Schlafly launched the Eagle Trust Fund for receiving donations related to conservative causes.[6] After the 1972 proposal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Schlafly reorganized her efforts to defeat its ratification, founding the group "Stop ERA"[7] and starting the Eagle Forum Newsletter. In 1975 Stop ERA was renamed the Eagle Forum.[7]
The Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund was organized in 1981 as a non-profit wing of Eagle Forum.[8] It is a tax deductible charity under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code.[9]
The Eagle Forum PAC began receiving donations in 1993[10] and has served as a the source for candidate endorsements from the Eagle Forum and has donated money to various candidates that the organization People for the American Way has described as "right-wing".[2]
Eagle Forum members have often worked within the Republican Party. The Texas state Eagle Forum chairman, Cathie Adams, for instance, was named Republican national committeewoman from Texas at the state convention in 2008 and then in October 2009 was chosen as interim chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.
[edit] Activities and positions
The Eagle Forum is involved primarily in conservative issues. The organization is pro-life, against international oversight from the United Nations or the International Criminal Court, supporting of English-only education in schools, supporting of women's role as "fulltime homemakers"[11], and in opposition to same-sex marriage.[12] Circa 2006, Eagle Forum began preparations to fight the introduction of the amero Northern American currency. They support those saying Christopher Columbus is a hero. It has also been active in the anti-vaccination movement, particularly fighting mandatory hepatitis B vaccination requirements for newborn babies,[13] and opposition to sex education in the public school system.[14][2] On its website, the Eagle Forum publishes a weekly column written by Phyllis Schlafly.[15]
Two youth-oriented programs are also operated by the Forum: the "Teen Eagles" program for children ages 13–19[16], and the "Eagle Forum Collegians" for conservatively-minded college students.[17] Eagle Forum maintains offices in Clayton, Missouri[18]; Alton, Illinois; and Washington, D.C[1], and has established chapters in 30 states.[2] Eagle Forum operates "Eagle Forum University", a "continuing education" program that offers conservative-oriented online courses on various topics.[19]
[edit] Criticism
Eagle Forum has been criticized for its conservative views and activities. TheocracyWatch says "Congressional scorecards from organizations such as the Christian Coalition, Family Research Council, and Eagle Forum also illustrate the strength of dominionists in Congress."[20][21] Frederick Clarkson wrote that the Eagle Forum and its founder, Phyllis Schlafly, were included in a "who's who of dominionists and dominionist-influenced Christian rightists" at a conference sponsored by former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.[22] Both TheocracyWatch and Glenn Scherer place the Eagle Forum with other so-called theocratic groups that are opposed to environmentalism.[23][24]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Join Eagle Forum so you will have a voice at the U.S. Capitol and at State Capitols". http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/descript.html. Retrieved 2006-01-22.
- ^ a b c d e f "Eagle Forum". People for the American Way. September 2002. http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=3152. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ^ Right Wing Watch: Eagle Forum Archives
- ^ Global Policy Forum - NGOs at the UN: Discrimination
- ^ Phyllis Schlafly Bio
- ^ http://www.jstor.org/view/00377791/ap030144/03a00040/0
- ^ a b Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States Sara Diamond. Guilford Press, 1995.
- ^ Microsoft Word - English brief final.doc
- ^ Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits
- ^ F.E.C. IMAGE 93038344312 (Page 1 of 7)
- ^ http://blog.eagleforum.org/2009/12/feminists-dont-believe-in-choice.html
- ^ Join Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly - Join Eagle Forum so you will have a voice at the U.S. Capitol and at State Capitols
- ^ Schlafly, Phyllis (1998-10-21). "Compulsory Medial Treatment is Un-American". Eagle Forum. http://www.eagleforum.org/column/1998/oct98/98-10-21.html. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
- ^ Lane, Frederick S. (2006). The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 1591024277.
- ^ 2008 Index to Phyllis Schlafly Columns
- ^ Eagle Forum Teen Eagles
- ^ Eagle Forum Collegians
- ^ Mannies, Jo (2005-07-31). "Phyllis Schlafly is keeping up the fight". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. http://www.eagleforum.org/phyllis/keeping-up-the-fight.html. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ "Eagle Forum University". http://www.eagleforumu.org/. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ Home Page before Nov. 06
- ^ Chris Hedges Article
- ^ The Rise of Dominionism - Remaking America as a Christian Nation Frederick Clarkson. The Public Eye Magazine, Winter 2005.
- ^ The Environment TheocracyWatch.
- ^ The Godly Must Be Crazy Glenn Scherer. Grist Magazine. October 2004.
