Republican Group Erases Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson from Website
A Republican committee focused on electing state legislative candidates has eliminated all mentions of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson from its website. This action was taken following a CNN report revealing that Robinson had posted several inflammatory comments on an internet porn forum, including calling himself a “Black Nazi.”
Robinson is the Republican contender for the North Carolina governor’s race, challenging Democratic candidate and current state Attorney General Josh Stein.
Before the report’s release on September 20, Robinson served as the chairman of the Right Leadership Network, a group focused on recruiting and training candidates for state legislature elections. The Right Leadership Network operates as a division of the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC). Robinson’s name and photo have since been removed from the organization’s website.
The RSLC has not responded to inquiries about Robinson’s removal, his current status with the organization, or whether they condemn his statements.
According to CNN, Robinson made posts on the online forum “Nude Africa” from 2008 to 2012, using offensive language to describe Black people, Jews, and members of the LGBTQ community. He also admitted to voyeuristic behavior involving women in locker rooms.
The Right Leadership Network had recently announced its “spotlight candidates” for 2024, who will receive digital campaign support from the RSLC. Chairs of the Right Leadership Network were instrumental in selecting these candidates. A press release mentioned that the candidates were chosen for their diversity and their representation of community values.
Among the spotlight candidates are two North Carolinians: Stacie McGinn, running for state senate in district 42, and Ashlee Adams, running for state senate in district 18. Both candidates were asked about their support for Robinson’s campaign and their reaction to the CNN report, but no responses were received.
This is not Robinson’s first controversy. On September 16, HuffPost discovered a 2022 video where Robinson argued young women do not need access to birth control, suggesting they should “get this under control” while gesturing towards his crotch.
Robinson made a similar comment in 2019, stating, “Abortion in this country is not about protecting the lives of mothers. It is about killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down.”
Robinson has supported both a six-week abortion ban and a total abortion ban. Despite these positions, he has admitted to paying for his wife to have an abortion in 1989. In a recent advertisement, Robinson claimed he would not advocate for stricter laws beyond North Carolina’s current 12-week abortion ban, which includes exceptions for rape and incest. Shortly after the ad, he reiterated his support for a total ban at a town hall event.
In 2021, Robinson referred to gay and transgender individuals as “filth.” He also indicated on “Nude Africa” that he enjoys pornography featuring transgender performers.
A September poll conducted by Emerson College showed Stein leading Robinson by eight percentage points.
