In Context: E.W. Jackson's statement on the Democratic Party

E.W. Jackson, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, has been widely criticized for calling on blacks to end their "slavish devotion to the Democratic Party," which he has accused of waging "a rebellion against God."

Jackson, a Christian minister, made the comments in a video presentation released Sept. 18, 2012. His organization, Staying True to America’s National Destiny, launched an effort, dubbed "Exodus Now," to encourage black voters to stop voting for Democrats on the heels of the party supporting a gay marriage plank at last year’s national convention.

Since Jackson won the GOP nomination on May 12, Democratic organizations have called him as an extremist and uploaded some of his past speeches on the web. Jackson has stood by his statements, saying they "were spoken in my role as a minister, not a candidate."

We decided to offer Jackson’s comments in context so you can draw your own conclusion. Here’s a transcript of his full remarks from the Sept. 18 video.

"My name is Bishop E.W. Jackson, chairman of Ministers Taking A Stand, with a message to Christians in the black community.

"It is time to end the slavish devotion to the Democrat Party. They have insulted us, used us and manipulated us. They have saturated the black community with ridiculous lies: "Unless we support the Democrat Party, we will be returned to slavery, we will be robbed of voting rights, the Martin Luther King holiday will be repealed."

"They think we’re stupid and that these lies will hold us captive while they violate everything we believe as Christians. 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. And the Democrat party and their black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide.

"The Democrat Party has equated homosexuality with being black, which is another outrageous lie. They can keep their homosexuality private; you and I cannot hide being black. I need not recount to you the painful history of slavery, Jim Crow, lynchings and sterilizations -- all because of skin color. Anyone who dares equate the so-called gay rights movement with the history of black Americans is exploiting the black community.

"They say opposition to same-sex marriage is the same as opposition to interracial marriage. That is an insult to human intelligence. It is a lie. No Christian should support this. Yet the Democrat Party has now declared same-sex marriage an official part of its platform and black Christians remain in that party?

"The civil rights establishment has embraced the lies and betrayed the black community and God Almighty for 30 pieces of silver from the Democrat Party. We, as Christians, ought to know better. Shame on us for allowing ourselves to be sold to the highest bidder! We belong to God. Our ancestors were sold against their will centuries ago, but we’re going to the slave market voluntarily today. Yes, it’s just that ugly.

"What do you call it when Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and my sins and paid the price for our freedom and you join in covenant with a political party that doesn’t even want God mentioned in their platform? And gets offended at the very mention of Jesus’ name?

"If your pastor tells you to vote for a party that disrespects Jesus, you need to leave that church. Black pastors are also going to have to answer whether they serve Jesus or the Democrat Party. The black community will never prosper by betraying God and following leadership that curries the favor of the Democrat Party. It is time for Christians to have the faith and courage to refuse to associate with a political party that has over the years become anti-Christian, anti-church, anti-Bible, anti-life, anti-family and anti-God. The Democrat party is also becoming increasingly anti-Israel and God said, "I will curse those that curse Israel." Do you want to be cursed with them?

"It is time to come out of the Democrat Party and to refuse to support its candidates in their rebellion against God. It’s not about party, but principle. It’s not about race, but righteousness. And you will stand before God to give an account for your choices and motives. We don’t need the Democrat Party or any party. We need God. God will take care of us. It’s been a long time coming, but the time has come to take a stand. Come out from among them. Exodus now."