Press Releases

Lou Barletta Accepts Endorsement of Yet Another Right Wing Conservative Group

Republican candidate for Congress, Lou Barletta accepted the endorsement of and took campaign cash from a Right Wing Conservative Group, the Eagle Forum - a group known for espousing radical views such as securing that a woman’s place is in the home, putting a stop to sexual harassment legislation, and proudly claiming credit for defeating the Equal Rights Amendment.

“Accepting the support of a radical right wing group that believes that women's only choice is to stay at home, raises serious questions about Lou Barletta and his backward view on how to move our country in the right direction,” said Carrie James, regional press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Lou Barletta is sending a message to young girls with hopes of becoming doctors or teachers or stay at home moms that they do not deserve to chose how to live their lives. Phyllis Schlafly is greeted with protesters everywhere she travels to preach her extreme views, yet Lou Barletta embraces her support and stuffs his campaign coffers with her money.”

Background Information on the Eagle Forum, led by Phyllis Schlafly

The Eagle Forum’s website cites extreme positions such as their commitment to “constitutional amendments and federal and state legislation to protect the institution of marriage and the equally important roles of father and mother” concluding that they “honor the fulltime homemaker.” They also oppose “federally financed daycare” calling it a “feminist goal.” [www.eagleforum.com]

Phyllis Schlafly, the President of the Eagle Forum has been an outspoken opponent of many issues including: sex education (unless its “abstinence only”), reproductive rights, AIDS education, sexual harassment legislation, federal support for daycare and family leave, United States involvement with the United Nations, the international Chemical Weapons Treaty, affirmative action, bilingual education, multiculturalism and diversity education, gay and lesbian rights, teaching the theory of evolution in schools, environmental protection efforts, the dangers of pornography, and immigration. [People for the American Way, website]
Schlafly takes credit for defeating the Equal Rights Amendment, and her anti-feminism efforts made her a household name in the Equal Rights Amendment battle in the 1970s. She was responsible for popularizing the misconception that if the ERA was passed, separate bathrooms for the sexes would be illegal. [People for the American Way, website]