Politics & Government

GOP Nominee: Planned Parenthood 'More Lethal' than Ku Klux Klan

Chesapeake pastor and attorney E.W. Jackson is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia.

Pastor and attorney E.W. Jackson won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Virginia over the weekend, and a YouTube video he made last year with strong words against Planned Parenthood is getting attention.

Jackson, an African-American minister, lawyer and author from Chesapeake, posted the “message to black Christians” in September 2012, chiding African-Americans for their “slavish devotion” to the Democratic Party and saying that Planned Parenthood had been more lethal to black citizens than the Ku Klux Klan.

"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,” Jackson said in the video. “Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was. And the Democrat Party and the black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide."

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Jackson overcame six opponents in four rounds of balloting over 10 hours at the Virginia Republican Convention Saturday. He is the first African-American Republican nominee for state office since Maurice Dawkins competed against Sen. Charles S. Robb, D-Va. in 1988, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Jackson joins a staunchly conservative ticket lead by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who formally accepted the Republican nomination for governor Saturday morning. State Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) defeated Del. Rob Bell (R-Albemarle) during the first round of balloting to win nomination for attorney general.

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Jackson previously ran an unsuccessful campaign to be nominated for a U.S. Senate seat in the 2012 election. Jackson lost the Republican nomination to George Allen, who in turn lost to Democrat Tim Kaine.

Jackson is a former Marine and graduate of Harvard Law School.

Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Aneesh Chopra called Jackson “extreme” in a release following his nomination.

"This choice highlights just how out-of-touch the Republican Party of Virginia has become,” Chopra said in his statement. “Jackson's extreme views are far to the right of Virginia voters.”

Chopra will face state Sen. Ralph Northam (R-Norfolk) for the Democratic nomination to ultimately compete against Jackson. The Washington Post endorsed Northam on Sunday.


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