I was there as a delegate yesterday. My primary motivation was to support Rob Bell for AG, who lost narrowly to the establishment candidate Mark Obenshain, although I believe he will be a reliable conservative when he takes office.
There were seven candidates for Lieutenant Governor, and I hadn’t sorted all that out in my mind before I went to Richmond Friday. A couple of observations:
Delegate Scott Lingamfelter had my attention. He was endorsed and introduced by Allen West who had served under him in the Army. Pretty strong recommendation. One shallow point that struck me was when I stopped by his hospitality suite on Friday was the five piece country band playing the theme song from “Petticoat Junction.” It occurred to me that that was out of synch with 2013 Virginia voters.
Entrepreneur Pete Snyder is a newcomer to politics, but has credible conservative chops. He had a strong endorsement too, as it was Oliver North that introduced him to the convention. The night before, his hospitality suite, which was right next door to Lingamfelter’s had buzz: the placed was packed, and there was a rockin’ country duo providing the music. Quite a contrast.
When it came time for the candidates to address the convention, I made my way to the side of the stage, and just waited in the wings to observe. I would have been happy with six of the seven speakers, but before EW Jackson took the stage, I liked him on paper, but was afraid that he might be voted in as a token.
Jackson raised the roof and brought down the house. As someone noted above, he proudly exclaimed that he was an American, not an African-American. He is dedicated to constitutional principles, the sanctity of life and the roll-back of Obamacare and its associated evils. I am aware that he has a bankruptcy in his past, but I see that as evidence of his authenticity: he is not someone who has spent decades preparing a saccharine resume to prepare for a political career. I am also impressed that he has spent several years in a campaign to warn Blacks to abandon the Democrat party.
I had the opportunity to meet Jackson and speak with him during the course of the day, and my impression that he is an authentic conservative and patriot only deepened, and so I stayed later than I had intended to help him clinch the nomination on the fourth ballot.
I am confident that he will stay true to his principles and has an excellent chance to win in November.
Bishop of what?
Virginia’s GOP Lt. Gov. Nominee: Obama Has ‘Muslim Perspective’ Toward The World
by Meenal Vamburkar
10:09 am, May 19th, 2013 » 18 comments
Virginia Republicans have chosen have conservative minister E.W. Jackson as the nominee for lieutenant governor — making him, according to the Associated Press, the first black candidate the party has nominated for statewide office since 1988. In the past, it appears Jackson has made some charged remarks about President Obama.
As BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski noted, Jackson is the man behind STAND America PAC, which aims to “recruit and support conservative black candidates to run against liberals in Congressional Black Caucus districts.”
Jackson also ran a blog where he wrote about Obama’s “Muslim perspective” toward the world and Israel. Citing the Muslim Brotherhood, Jackson further pointed to a “strain of anti-Semitism” that has influenced the president.
“Obama clearly has Muslim sensibilities. He sees the world and Israel from a Muslim perspective,” Jackson wrote. The post — which is archived here and here — went on to say:
His construct of “The Muslim World” is unique in modern diplomacy. It is said that only The Muslim Brotherhood and other radical elements of the religion use that concept. It is a call to unify Muslims around the world. It is rather odd to hear an American President use it. In doing so he reveals more about his thinking than he intends. The dramatic policy reversal of joining the unrelentingly ant-Semitic, anti-Israel and pro-Islamic UN Human Rights Council is in keeping with the President’s truest – albeit undeclared – sensibilities
Those who are paying attention and thinking about these issues do not find it unreasonable to consider that President Obama is influenced by a strain of anti-Semitism picked up from the black community, his leftist friends and colleagues, his Muslim associations and his long period of mentorship under Jeremiah Wright. If this conclusion is accurate, Israel has some dark days ahead. For the first time in her history, she may find the President of the United States siding with her enemies. Those who believe as I do that Israel must be protected had better be ready for the fight. We are. NEVER AGAIN!
Jackson will run alongside Ken Cuccinelli.
Pete offered BBQ sauce, youth, good looks, and his personal wealth. Jackson offered maturity and substance. He was genuine, and it was obvious he has a solid, incorruptible core. Pete was the candidate from central casting, Jackson touched something that our souls are longing for, and the delegates felt it.