Eagle Forum

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Eagle Forum
Non-profit_
Non-profit_type =
founded_date = 1967
founder = Phyllis Schlafly
location = Alton, Illinois; Clayton, Missouri; Washington, D.C.
origins =
key_people = Phyllis Schlafly
area_served =
product =
focus =
method =
revenue =
endowment =
num_volunteers =
num_employees =
num_members = 80,000
subsib =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan = "Leading the pro-family movement since 1972"
homepage = http://www.eagleforum.org/
dissolved =
footnotes =

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.cite web|title=Eagle Forum|url=http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=3152|publisher=People for the American Way|month=September | year=2002|accessdate=2007-02-19] 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.cite web|title=Join Eagle Forum so you will have a voice at the U.S. Capitol and at State Capitols|url=http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/descript.html|accessdate=2006-01-22] Others have described it as socially conservative and anti-feminist. [ [http://www.rightwingwatch.org/groups/eagle_forum/ Right Wing Watch: Eagle Forum Archives ] ] [ [http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/docs00/druelle.htm Global Policy Forum - NGOs at the UN: Discrimination ] ] As of 2008, Phyllis Schlafly continues to be the president of the organization. [ [http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/bio.html Phyllis Schlafly Bio ] ]

History

In 1967, Phyllis Schlafly launched the Eagle Trust Fund for receiving donations related to conservative causes. [http://www.jstor.org/view/00377791/ap030144/03a00040/0] After the 1972 passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Schlafly reorganized her efforts to defeat its ratification, founding the group "Stop ERA" [http://books.google.com/books?id=w1bqY-DxHMEC&pg=PA246&dq=dominionism&lr=&ei=wq9uR6mfEojAiwGN491z&sig=LR62biySEGdtfo-b8rx0zhjgxYo#PPA167,M1 Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States] Sara Diamond. Guilford Press, 1995.] and began publishing the "Eagle Forum Newsletter" initially aimed at organizing and defeating the ERA. In 1975 Stop ERA was renamed the Eagle Forum.

The Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund was organized in 1981 as a non-profit wing of Eagle Forum. [ [http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/briefs/pdf/english.pdf Microsoft Word - English brief final.doc ] ] It is a tax deductible charity under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code. [ [http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits ] ]

The Eagle Forum PAC began receiving donations in 1993 [ [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_93038344312+0 F.E.C. IMAGE 93038344312 (Page 1 of 7) ] ] 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".

Activities and positions

The Eagle Forum is involved primarily in conservative issues. Among a range of issues the organization is: pro-life, against international oversight from the United Nations or the International Criminal Court, supporting English-only education in schools, and supports a “full time home-maker” and opposes same-sex marriage. [ [http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/descript.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 ] ] Circa 2006, Eagle Forum began preparations to fight the introduction of the amero Northern American currency. It has also been active in the anti-vaccination movement, particularly fighting mandatory hepatitis B vaccination requirements for newborn babies [cite web|last=Schlafly|first=Phyllis|authorlink=Phyllis Schlafly|title=Compulsory Medial Treatment is Un-American|url=http://www.eagleforum.org/column/1998/oct98/98-10-21.html|publisher=Eagle Forum|date=1998-10-21|accessdate=2007-03-04] , and opposition to sex education in the public school system. [cite book|last=Lane|first=Frederick S.|title=The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture|year=2006|location=Amherst, New York|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=1591024277] On its website, the Eagle Forum publishes a weekly column written by Phyllis Schlafly. [ [http://eagleforum.org/column/ 2008 Index to Phyllis Schlafly Columns ] ]

Two youth-oriented programs are also operated by the Forum: the "Teen Eagles" program for children ages 13–19 [ [http://www.eagleforum.org/teen/ Eagle Forum Teen Eagles ] ] , and the "Eagle Forum Collegians" for conservatively-minded college students. [ [http://www.eagleforum.org/college/ Eagle Forum Collegians ] ] Eagle Forum maintains offices in Clayton, Missouri [cite news|last=Mannies|first=Jo|title=Phyllis Schlafly is keeping up the fight|url=http://www.eagleforum.org/phyllis/keeping-up-the-fight.html|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=2005-07-31|accessdate=2008-02-01] ; Alton, Illinois; and Washington, D.C, and has established chapters in 30 states. Eagle Forum operates "Eagle Forum University", a "continuing education" program that offers conservative-oriented online courses on various topics. [cite web|title=Eagle Forum University|url=http://www.eagleforumu.org/|accessdate=2008-02-01]

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." [ [http://www.theocracywatch.org/index_before_nov_06.htm Home Page before Nov. 06 ] ] [ [http://www.theocracywatch.org/chris_hedges_nov24_04.htm Chris Hedges Article ] ] 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. [ [http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v19n3/clarkson_dominionism.html The Rise of Dominionism - Remaking America as a Christian Nation] Frederick Clarkson. The Public Eye Magazine, Winter 2005.] Both TheocracyWatch and Glenn Scherer place the Eagle Forum with other so-called theocratic groups that are opposed to environmentalism. [ [http://www.theocracywatch.org/environment.htm The Environment] TheocracyWatch.] [ [http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2004/10/27/scherer-christian/ The Godly Must Be Crazy] Glenn Scherer. Grist Magazine. October 2004.] Suzanne Herel writing in Mother Jones magazine in 1998 criticized the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, which is supported by Eagle Forum, of dominionist connections and a theocratic agenda. [ [http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1998/01/cra.html God's Vice-Regents] Suzanne Herel. Mother Jones. January 20, 1998.]

References

External links

* [http://www.eagleforum.org Eagle Forum]
* [http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu Eagle Forum University]