Candidate for Lt. Governor in Virginia called homosexuality "poison," then said criticism he received is rooted in "a growing hostility against Christianity, a growing hostility against those of us who believe in the Bible as truth."

E.W. Jackson, the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in Virginia, kicked off the evening session of the Values Voter Summit by declaring that he has not and will not ever apologize or repudiate any of the crazy or bigoted things he has said in the past, saying that the criticism he has received for his statements is rooted in "a growing hostility against Christianity, a growing hostility against those of us who believe in the Bible as truth."

Jackson later declared that he was running for office simply because he loves America, which "has been the greatest blessing given to mankind, other than Jesus himself":

