Candidate for NC governor Mark Robinson’s controversial remarks

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Candidate for NC governor Mark Robinson’s controversial remarks

North Carolina *********** gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson recently spoke at Lake ******* in Bladen County where he was video-taped saying “Some folks need killin’,” during his half-hour long talk on the importance of Independence Day and freedom. 

His remarks, first reported by

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, made waves on social media from Democrats saying he is too extreme for North Carolina and from Republicans saying his quotes lacked context.  

In a neck-and-neck race for the opening in the executive mansion, could Robinson’s rhetoric harm his chances of winning the seat that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has held for almost eight years? Here’s a look at what Robinson said and how North Carolina political scientists think it could influence his campaign.  

What did Mark Robinson say? 

In the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, Robinson says the country has strayed from its roots, and that “We now find ourselves struggling with people who have evil intent,” Robinson said, “There was a time when we used to meet evil on the battlefield, and guess what we did to em’, we ******* it.” 

The Donald Trump-endorsed candidate later said, “When the ********* bombed Pearl Harbor, what did we do? We flew to Japan, and we ******* the ********* army and navy. We didn’t even quibble about it.” 

“Some folks need killin’,” he continued. “It’s time for somebody to say it. It’s not a matter of vengeance, it’s not a matter of being mean or spiteful, it’s a matter of necessity. We have wicked people doing wicked things, torturing and murdering and *******,” he said standing behind a pulpit wrapped in ********* flag decorations.  

Later, he called on the “guys in green” and the “boys in blue” to solve the country’s issues, although it’s unclear what specific issues he was calling on to be fixed in present day.  

Finally, he said the country is at risk as he sees the “tenets of socialism and communism start coming into clearer focus” referencing cancel culture and social media, saying “they’re watching us.”

Democrats jump on Robinson’s remarks, Republicans ****** back 

Josh Stein’s Democratic campaign released a statement, saying Robinson’s words were part of a pattern.  

“Mark Robinson’s repeated and repulsively violent rhetoric fits into his pattern of spewing division and hate rather than serving North Carolina families,” Morgan Hopkins, a spokesperson for the campaign, said in an email statement. “We cannot have a Governor who calls for extrajudicial killings. Mark Robinson is divisive and dangerous.” 

The statement is in line with the party’s main ******* on Robinson: He is too extreme. They have also repeatedly called into question Robinson’s comments about the LGBTQ community, *********, and education.  

Robinson on *********:

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

The Democratic Governors Association agreed, saying his rhetoric should concern voters. 

“After calling for ********* against federal law enforcement and spreading hateful *********** theories, Mark Robinson is continuing his pattern of chaos, hate, and *********,” Democratic Governors Association Communications Director Sam Newton said in an email statement. “His continuing calls for political ********* are incredibly serious, deeply dangerous and he must immediately answer more questions explaining who he was targeting.” 

The *********** candidate’s remarks have lacked context, Robinson’s campaign communication director Mike Lonergan said via email.  

“He’s speaking about the enemies of the U.S. and the Allied Powers during World War II, the Nazis and the Imperial ********* Army and Navy,” Lonergan said.  

“We’re certain winning World War II is still very popular among North Carolinians of all walks of life,” Lonergan said in response to whether Robinson’s comments would harm his chances of winning moderate votes.  

Too extreme for North Carolina? 

The last time North Carolina voted for a governor and a president, they split the ticket. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper won the Tar Heel state by almost 5 percentage points and Donald Trump won by just over 1 percentage point in 2020.  

Four years later, Michael Bitzer, politics department chair at Catawba College, said he thinks this race will be close and there’s one group of North Carolinians that are going to decide it.  

“North Carolina elections are decided by a very small sliver of the electorate,” Bitzer said. Further saying he believes about 95% of the electorate has already made up their minds, leaving a small, persuadable group.  

MLK III on Robinson:

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

David McLennan, a political science professor at Meredith College who directs the Meredith poll, said Robinson’s recent speech likely only reaches his base voters.  

“Robinson is definitely going after the Trump base voters with his extreme statements,” McLennan said. “Although risky with independent voters, he is currently running very close to Stein in the most recent polls.” 

It’s unclear if this strategy could win over swing voters, Bitzer said.  

“Whether this kind of intense rhetoric will alienate them, I don’t think anybody knows per se, but I would have to hazard to guess it probably doesn’t persuade them to vote for Robinson if they are much more mainstream or moderate in temperament,” Bitzer said.  

Jason Roberts, political science professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said, these types of comments from Robinson are likely the greatest threat to his chances at winning. 

“As to this specific speech, it is hard to say if it moves the needle,” Roberts said. “There are lots of controversial remarks out there from other Robinson speeches, so I do not think this is likely to provide a lot of new information to voters or a lot of new material for the Stein campaign.” 

Susan Roberts, professor of political science at Davidson College, said these comments will be tough to walk back even with the context.  

“I can’t see these remarks urging, really persuading unaffiliated voters to get out there,” a group she sees as an important part of the puzzle this election cycle.  

Despite Robinson being the *********** nominee, beating out two competitors in the primary with over 60% of the vote, she can’t see Robinson’s words being representative of all Republicans. 

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Candidate #governor #Mark #Robinsons #controversial #remarks

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up