Conservatives Try to Block Natl. Women's History Museum

The Religious Right is making one last attempt to block the creation of a new museum dedicated to American women's history, despite numerous failed efforts to derail the project.

Right Wing Watch reports that representatives from the Concerned Women for America (CWA), Heritage Action, Eagle Forum, March for Life and the American Family Association signed onto a letter to members of the House last week.

The letter references Sen. Tom Coburn's objection to a public lands package designating new national wilderness areas, as well as the creation of the Women's History Museum.

"This lands deal package includes creating a commission to study building a women's history museum. Every indication points to the museum including exhibits that would in fact be offensive to military members. For example, the current National Women's History Museum website glorifies Bella Abzug, who worked to drastically reduce military spending and said, "I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business," reads the letter signed by CWA's CEO and President Penny Nance, and others.

Earlier this year, conservative groups led by Concerned Women for America tried to stop the House from approving the plan to build the museum, with Nance claiming the museum would "promote a skewed view of women on key issues like abortion, the free market, and feminism."

As EDGE reported in May, Nance initially blocked the building of the museum sight-unseen, saying the museum would place too much emphasis on pro-choice, anti-marriage and anti-family viewpoints.

A press release on the CWFA website opposing the museum states: "Every indication points to the museum including exhibits that would in fact be offensive to military members. For example, the current National Women's History Museum website glorifies Bella Abzug, who worked to drastically reduce military spending and said 'I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business' but ignores Jeane Kirkpatrick, who was the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and helped to bring down the Soviet Union. By sneaking this item into the NDAA, Members of Congress are put in the no-win situation of voting for our military yet voting against an accurate portrayal of women."

After this strategy proved unsuccessful, Nance demanded to chair the museum's board of directors. When the museum's chief Republican supporter, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee offered her a seat on the museum's board, Nance rebuffed the offer.

The museum is set to be completed by 2020, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.