E.W. Jackson Is Not Ready For Virginia

For those who do not know, this man - E.W. Jackson - is the man the Virginia Republicans chose to be their candidate for Lt. Governor in the 2013 election. With that context in mind, let's move on...

Jackson has every right to express his views, both as a citizen and as a candidate. Having said that, the views he is expressing do not paint a flattering picture of him. His campaign thus far has been marked by statements that are very far out of line with mainstream Virginia. For example, he went on-record as saying that practicing Yoga can lead to satanic possession. He also has gone out of his way to talk about how evil homosexuality is, even tweeting that gays are "icky." Does this sound like a man who is running for the #2 office in a swing state? If Bishop Jackson is being marginalized, it is solely because he himself has placed himself on the margins of today's Virginia.

As far as being persecuted, only overly-sensitive politicians say that. He is not being persecuted, he is being called on his crap.  There is a huge difference between the two. Politics is an arena where you have to learn how to take a hit. This is what happens when you put yourself out there in the spotlight for millions of people to see and hear. People will disagree with you no matter what position you take on any given issue. When they disagree, they will voice that disagreement. That is how democracy works. That is how freedom of speech works. Those are clearly two notions with which Bishop Jackson is unfamiliar. I guess being in a church where everyone agrees with you has made Bishop Jackson unfamiliar with dissent. Jackson needs to realize that he is on a statewide stage engaging in a dialogue with potential constituents to whom he would have to answer, not in a church performing a sermon. If he can not stomach hearing disagreement then his skin is far too thin for politics.

I also believe that it is categorically pretentious of Jackson to say that he is representing every Bible-believing Christian. Wrong again Sir. I am sure there are lots of Bible-believing Christians in the Commonwealth who hear what this guy has to say and think "Is this guy for real?" Sure, he represents SOME Christians, but only the ones who are to the far right of the political spectrum. The mere fact that Bryan Fischer, the leader of a group (the American Family Association) which is widely considered to be a hate group is on his side, speaks volumes. Both men are incredibly out of the mainstream of America in general and Virginia more specifically.

After their 2012 autopsy it seemed clear that the GOP needed to modernize and get in-line with an ever-changing America, especially in swing states like Virginia. Apparently the GOP's Virginia sect did not get the memo. Now they are stuck with a candidate who acts like he is running for Preacher-in-Chief. Instead of focusing on the bread-and-butter issues facing the Commonwealth, he is focusing on fire and brimstone. Virginia needs (and deserves) serious candidates and serious problem-solvers, not punch lines.

RWNJ: Women Were Designed To Be Ruled

Fischer: Gays Responsible for Economic Crash

Gay Marriage (Somehow) Equals Inequality

The Religious Wrong: No Gay Football Players

RWNJ: Does Obama Have A Soul?

Conservative Group Attacks Tim Tebow Over "Big Gay"

From the Huffington Post:

Commenters criticized Fischer for damaging Tebow's evangelical message and asked why such a hateful church like First Baptist [the church where Tebow was to speak] deserves respect. 

Still, Jeffress [the pastor of First Baptist Church] claims Tebow never cancelled his appearance at First Baptist Church of Dallas. In an interview with the AFA's Tim Wildmon, Jeffress said that Tebow has merely rescheduled the speech to a later date once the controversy blows overs, Right Wing Watch reports. 

Jeffress' inflammatory preachings have made headlines for the past 15 years.

In 1998, he checked out all books from the Wichita Library that included gay parents and refused to return them, The Advocate notes. He called homosexuality "filthy" and "degrading" in a 2008 speech, titled "Gay Is Not OK." In 2010, he claimed Islam is a religion that "promotes pedophilia." During the 2012 presidential election he advised his congregation to vote against Mitt Romney and claimed Mormonism is a "cult."

Terminology: Homofascist

Homofascist (noun):

1) A word used by social conservatives referring to a gay person who wants equal protections under the law.

2) A word used by social conservatives referring to a gay person who want to be treated as...a person.

It is believed that this term was coined by Bryan Fischer of the so-called American Family Association, a designated hate group.

 

Bryan Fischer: Lesbians Have Lots Of Abortions

Bryan Fischer on Connecticut Shootings

 

Bryan Fischer is the scum of the Earth.

Bryan Fischer & Gay Exorcisms, ETC...

Bryan Fischer: Diversity = Poisoned Candy

From Think Progress:

FISCHER: Parents need to understand that this is about pressuring public schools and students in public schools to accept homosexuality as a normal healthy alternative to heterosexuality. You know, it’s interesting to me that they’re doing this October 30, the day before Halloween, and what this problem is, it’s like poisoned Halloween candy. Somebody takes a candy bar, injects it with cyanide, the label looks fine, it looks innocuous, it looks fine — it’s not until you internalize it that you realize how toxic it is. And we want parents to be aware that any program that comes from the Southern Poverty Law Center is going to be toxic to their student’s moral health.

Bryan Fischer: Compromise on LGBT Equality

Bryan Fischer is Pro-Kidnapping

Bryan Fischer Predicts Another Civil War

Remember what happened the last time states tried to secede?

Bryan Fischer: Liberals Opposed Civil Rights

How is abolishing slavery conservative? There was a time when the GOP was progressive and liberal. The thing is that there is a phenomenon that Fischer has apparently never heard of: political realignments. The South saw this, in large part, because of the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's. Yes these states were Democratic bastions up to that point. They clearly no longer are. The GOP was once the party of social justice. Now, the party is obsessed with keeping rights from the LGBT community, women, racial minorities, and so on. We see it in voter ID laws the disproportionately affect the poor, the elderly, college students, and other groups that are likely to vote against the GOP. The party with greats including Teddy, Abe, and Ike died a long time ago.

Bryan Fischer clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Then again, that fact is not news.

The Religious Wrong: Gays Are Driven By Demons

Honestly, I'm starting to get bored with Bryan Fischer. He is pretty much saying the same thing repeatedly. He needs new material.

The Religious Wrong: Mandate Church For Health

Once again Bryan Fischer show that he has zero understanding of the United States Constitution, especially with regards to the first amendment since this would obviously be a violation of the establishment clause. Also, I would like to see his sources on the whole "church-goers are healthier than Atheists" claim. My hunch is that this is something he just made up...like most of the things he says.

The Religious Wrong: Liberals Are Duped By Satan

The Wrap-Up: June 28, 2012

Former first lady Laura Bush and former vice-president Dick Cheney are being called out, but not by the left.

Congressional Republicans are coming up with lots of "reasons" to impeach President Obama.

Bryan Fischer, leader of the conservative, Christian group American Family Association thinks that we should let poor sick people die. I think he needs to reconsider his religion, since he has zero understanding of the Bible.

The U.S. may cut aid to Uganda because of the African nation's crackdown on the gay community.

The president of Exodus International takes about a half step towards being more progressive, admitting that homosexuality can NOT be cured (although the rest of us knew this ages ago). Half a step is better than nothing.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) along with about 36 other representatives will today be launching a congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus. It's that this is necessary, but good that kids will (hopefully) be protected.

Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber were on the House of Representatives? Wait for the explanation...

A committee in the California state assembly has approved a bill banning "reparative therapy."

And lastly, Republicans with delusions of grandeur. It must have been hard to narrow this down to just five, but these five are pretty big ones (especially the final one on this list).

NOTE: The Supreme Court will handing down their ruling on the Affordable Care Act (I believe) at or before 2 PM Eastern.