Can conservative women be feminists?

This may seem an absurd question on its face — because it is. But in reality, conservative women face far greater obstacles to public service than their more-liberal counterparts primarily because of reproductive issues. EMILY’s List, for example, anoints women candidates for public office (Translation: Are they pro-choice?) and has clout in the political realm. Conservative women needn’t apply.

The three women panelists — Reps. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Susan Brooks (Ind.) and Rep.-elect Barbara Comstock (Va.)— spoke of their experiences dealing with media bias and facing down Democratic opponents who seemed to want to talk only about reproductive issues. These are important, obviously, but abortion doesn’t define every woman’s life, nor is it necessarily paramount to Republican women’s interest in public service.

Why should smart, conservative women essentially be blackballed by liberals based on this single issue? Please, this is a purely rhetorical question.