anitacrane.com

WASHINGTON – Following a lengthy and reverential introduction by John Hilboldt, director of lectures and seminars at the Heritage Foundation, Phyllis Schlafly, the grande dame of the conservative movement, strode to the microphone and addressed an intimate gathering in the think tank’s auditorium as well as cameras from C-SPAN’s BookTV.

“Yes, I’ve had a very interesting and fun life, and I don’t owe any of it to the feminists,” the sprightly 86-year-old activist said in promoting her newest book, “The Flipside of Feminism,” written with her niece, Suzanne Venker. “Feminism has become a very hot topic. I suppose the reason is Sarah Palin. Feminists cannot resist attacking Sarah Palin. It’s not just because she’s a successful woman. She has a cool husband, a lot of kids, a great career, making lots of money. … And the acid in their wounds is that she’s pretty too.”

Legends are made of such stuff – and Schlafly is a living legend among conservatives.

She almost single-handedly defeated the Equal Rights Amendment a generation ago – and now she’s back trying to finish off feminism with her feisty niece and collaborator.