Virginia GOP nominee compared Planned Parenthood to KKK
(CNN) - An outspoken and provocative conservative who emerged from Saturday's Republican Party of Virginia Convention as the party's nominee for lieutenant governor once compared Planned Parenthood to the Ku Klux Klan and blasted African-Americans for their "slavish devotion" to the Democratic Party.
E.W. Jackson, an African-American pastor and attorney from Chesapeake, made the comments in a self-produced "message to black Christians" posted on YouTube last year.
"The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions. Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was," he said in the video. "And the Democrat Party and the black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide."
Sensing an opportunity to tie Jackson to the rest of the Republican ticket in Virginia, especially conservative gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli, Democrats have already started highlighting those remarks and others in emails to reporters.
Cuccinelli, the state Attorney General, will face Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the former Democratic National Committee chairman, in the November election.
"Extremely divisive rhetoric from Jackson and Cuccinelli reflects the social agenda they would impose on Virginia. At a time when Virginians are looking for leaders who focus on jobs, the Tea Party has nominated a ticket whose careers have been defined by a radical social agenda," McAuliffe campaign spokesman Brennan Bilberry said in a statement.
Cuccinelli and Jackson were nominated at Saturday's GOP convention in Richmond, where Jackson beat out six other candidates for the number two spot on the ticket. Party activists tapped Mark Obenshain to be their nominee for attorney general.
Jackson, the founder of a nondenominational church, is a former Marine and graduate of Harvard Law School. But he is rapidly becoming known for a raft of controversial statements that have bubbled up online in the wake of his surprise victory on Saturday. He has publicly questioned President Barack Obama's faith and has been spearheading efforts to recruit black Democrats to the GOP since last year, when he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Virginia.
"Shame on us for allowing ourselves to be sold to the highest bidder. We belong to God," he said in the video. "Our ancestors were sold against their will centuries ago, but we're going through the slave market voluntarily today."
As lieutenant governor, Jackson would hold the tie-breaking vote in what is currently an evenly divided state Senate. Republicans currently hold the lieutenant governorship and control of the 40-seat body. But with the unpolished Jackson as the GOP nominee, Democrats are now a safe bet to pick up the lieutenant governor's office and control of the senate.
Democrats will decide their nominee in a June 11 primary. To the frustration of establishment Republicans, GOP activists in the state chose to nominate their candidates at a convention instead of in a primary, a move that gave a relatively small group of conservative activists control over the nomination process.
A purple state, Virginia currently has a Republican governor, Bob McDonnell, but voted for Obama in the last two presidential elections.
Poll numbers so far show neither party with a sizable lead in the race, less than six months before Election Day. Because Virginia voters elect the governor and lieutenant governor separately, it's possible that the winners could be from different parties.
- CNN's Peter Hamby and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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He should be ashamed of himself. He's shilling for the party that is the KKK's party of choice.
Planned Parenthood has saved millions of lives with the pre-natal care they offer. Perhaps you should discuss the "killings" with the mothers and fathers who make the decision to abort.
He's telling it like it is. Why should CNN act shocked? They support the Southern Poverty Law Center labeling churches as hate groups and then when a gun man comes through the door and starts shooting people they don't cover that.
Wait, so this guy may be out of touch? A Republican? You don't say. I am shocked.
I've seen too many unwanted kids grow up in poverty, resentful of their neglectful parents, to ever take a stand against abortion.
Where does the GOP get these people???
.
"Extremely divisive rhetoric from Jackson and Cuccinelli reflects the social agenda they would impose on Virginia. At a time when Virginians are looking for leaders who focus on jobs, the Tea Party has nominated a ticket whose careers have been defined by a radical social agenda,"
The GOP is not concerend with the lives of Americn's, jobs, or economics, they GOP is only concerned with Social Conservatism at all costs because the Peter Spetterson and The Kich Brothers paid them to be that way.
He's a good example why people like me are starting to hate Republicans. People that are religious, seem to think they know what is best for everyone. His comments about abortion and African-americans and Democrates are the exactly why voters have turned against Republican. Try and take away a woman's right to abortion, you are trying away personal freedom to do what she wants with her body. When men start giving birth, then they can have a say about. If you don't want an abortion, then don't have one, but get out of my face about other folks rights. I'm 71, and I was part of the group that fought for Roe V Wade. Spare me from these arrogant religious, self-righteous jerks!!
More predictable self-righteousness and hatred from the GOP. Are we surprised? Not in the least...
Keep talking Republicans. You're the Democrats best spokespeople!
This guy is a joke...right?
@pjoe
He sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Sometimes the truth hurts.
Allen West is that you ?
Perhaps there would be fewer black abortions if the black women in question would do one of three things:
1) Use birth control
2) Tell the guy to use a condom
3) Failing in 1 or 2, say no condom, no nookie.
The problem is not with the GOP, the Democrats or Planned Parenthood. The problem lies in the foolishness of the people having sex. Perhaps they should use a little common sense? If she can't do one of those things and he can't be bothered to us a condom, it's a pretty clear indicator that the backup plan of an abortion is acceptable to both parties, especially her.
Human nature seems to have a propensity to chose one random characteristic (race, religion, age) and exterminate and discriminate against it. We think our society is so advanced with human rights issues, but in reality we've just shifted our abuse to another population. Maybe when the technology advances enough that the "age of viability" is conception we will finally recognize that our generation is as cruel as those who have gone before us. Maybe even more so.
Religion and politics don't mix. There's nothing wrong with a pastor/priest/minister/imam/rabbi/guru running for office. However, if they are elected that says there is something really wrong with those who voted for them.
The Republicans only care for the life of one before birth. Once born, they could care less. It's amazing how many people support these religious zealots when they run for office to govern us.
He will fit right in with the rest of the Republican/TeaPary crowd.
Let's clarify something...we have a group of people using a service that is reduced in price or they are not paying for. We have another group of people paying for that service but do not agree with their tax money being used for it. Now...you can say what you will about the right to have an abortion but if you do not agree with it and you do not want your tax money to pay for it...then your only way to prevent that is to vote in representatives that will put a law against it. But it comes down to votes and having laws passed. If it came down to morals only then abortion would be outlawed. I don't want my money paying for an abortion but I don't have any option to stop that short of voting....which there is not much on the democrat or republican side worth voting for anyways.
Moderate, sensible republicans appear to be an endangered species. How can any voter with a lick of common sense vote for candidates like this guy?
E.W. Jackson. Kind of reminds you of Herman Cain, Allen West or just about any other radical Republican/Tea Party person.
How dare you compare a women's health care provider with the KKK! I hope your mother is ashamed of what came out of your mouth because I know she did not teach you to talk like that. Will you sink any lower for your 15 seconds of fame! Shame on you!
And the GOP continues to scare off the voters in center. As long as the religious right controls this party they will NEVER get my vote.
This guy is a treasure, he hit the nail on the head. And to Donnie the lion, the end doesn't justify the means. If there are too many kids being born that have neglectful parent, then it's time to talk MORALS.
"Shame on us for allowing ourselves to be sold to the highest bidder." Wondering how many lobbyist are lining up to support him? Will he sell himself to the highest bidder?
Why do some politicians perpetuate the idea that its ok to create legislation that forces one religion's views on everyone else? The GOP loves to wrap themselves in the constitution UNLESS doing so would go against their own personal belief system, which they are very happy to try to force on everyone else. Envision a Muslim politician trying to create a law restricting anyone from eating pork, or a Jewish leader making a law that you can't get a tattoo. Can you imagine the firestorm that would create (and mostly from the far right)? But its apparently perfectly ok to legislate evangelical Christian ideas. /sigh