In Fayetteville, Mark Robinson tones down but stands by past remarks, some branded anti-Jewish

North Carolina governor candidate Mark Robinson joined supporters and other Republican candidates in a small but packed-out library last Saturday at Freedom Christian Academy on Gillespie Street., U.S. 301.

The state’s lieutenant governor is known as an incendiary figure. His rally had originally been scheduled for a Fayetteville church that supports the kind of LGBTQ+ rights that Robinson opposes, and the pastor, who first learned of the booking last week, canceled it.

More:Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks to supporters at Republican rally in Fayetteville

But Saturday, local and statewide Republicans received the toned-down version of Robinson.

Robinson, whose voice can travel from low to a boom in a millisecond, gave what was for me a surprising defense of school teachers from the Republican side of the aisle, given the hostile turn much of the party has taken toward public education.

He did say he would give public education in the state a big “F” with a circle around it. But he said he would not deposit the failing paper on teachers’ desks, instead blaming state leaders such as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Teachers and police same level, he says

He said he put teachers on the same level as police officers, who he said also were judged by the bad apples.

Toned-down Robinson said now was the time to build a statewide economy, not just one that is strong along a few urban corridors. He pointed to a budget surplus he attributes to GOP control of the state legislature.

More:LGBTQ+ friendly Fayetteville church will no longer be site of planned Mark Robinson rally

“It’s just a matter of making the right investments in the right places at the right time,” he said.

Again, I was caught off guard. Although I am sure I would disagree with Robinson on details, there were grounds for agreement in those words.

The other Mark Robinson

But Robinson has said and written other words.

• In 2018, he wrote on Facebook that “Hitler disarming millions of Jews and killing them in concentration camps is a “bunch of Hogwash.” It is one of several instances where his past comments have been called out for antisemitism.

More:Mark Robinson rally finds new site; LGBTQ+ friendly church in Fayetteville had canceled out

• He called the 1960s Civil Rights movement “crap” and “communist” in a Facebook post from 2017, as reported recently in The Huffington Post. In 2018, he wrote that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an “erzatz” pastor followed by “a bunch of atheists.” I.e. he was calling one of the country’s most cherished heroes — and the reason he is able to even run for governor — a weak substitute minister.

• He has called transgenderism and homosexuality “filth” in widely criticized remarks and has taken many shots against people in those communities.

Separating people

On Saturday, Robinson told his supporters that journalists don’t like when he uses that word, “filth.” 

“They hate that word,” he said about the press. “They hate it when I say it.”

I say it depends on context. Saturday, he used it to describe pornography, which he claims is in schools.

But that word filth and words like it are too often used to separate a targeted group from the rest of humanity. 

In that way, it is similar to “vermin,” which Trump used to demagogue his political opposition last fall. It is textbook authoritarian language.

Robinson is a big Trump fan, and Trump has endorsed Robinson.

Press not his mama

Robinson took several obligatory shots at the press, which was red meat for his audience. 

My favorite is what he claims he says when people tell him he is in trouble with the press. He said the last time he checked the press was not his mama, they don’t have a belt and he is not a small child. 

Gail Morfesis, a local Republican activist and past political candidate, looked over at me with a large smile during Robinson's remarks on the press, and helpfully, pointed at me. It was no biggie, she and I have fun with each other over politics. I was glad she was enjoying herself. Earlier, she led attendees in the National Anthem.

Antisemitic remarks inconvenient for Republican Robinson

Robinson’s past remarks about Jews have been inconvenient at a time when many Republicans have adopted a pro-Israel stance in the war in Gaza. In October, he announced a  “North Carolina Solidarity With Israel Week,” and participated in a prayer to support Israel against Hamas. His critics, including Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Josh Stein, have dismissed the actions as stunts. 

Robinson has said his past comments on Jews were poorly worded but were not antisemitic. I don't know how he figures that.

In the schoolhouse library on Saturday, he stood by his past comments. 

“I didn’t mention anything about any social issues,” he said. “Because that's what people think. That's what some of these reporters in here think. They’re thinking, ‘Mark Robinson is just a guy who hates everybody and talks about social issues all the time.’"

He continued: “Let me be clear on this: Y’all know where I stand on the issues. I made it plain. I’m not like some of these lily-livered politicians that tiptoes through the tulips about it.”

Robinson allowed himself yet another shot at the transgender community: “I’m gonna stand on what I believe. And I can tell you right now, all this stuff of pushing kids to have transgender surgery, this stuff about pornography in schools, men competing against women in sports, I can tell you what the answer is right now:  No! N-O!”

Set social issues aside?

The toned-down version of Robinson appeared.

“We could argue about these social issues all we want to,” he said. “The bottom line is this — what is it that’s best for North Carolina?  

“How can we set those issues aside for a few minutes, and agree on the things that we agree on?”

I can see why he would want to set the social issues aside to help his campaign for governor.

However, he said what he said.

There is much value in sounding the alarm that, were he governor, his more toxic views could create danger for groups he opposes.

Opinion Editor Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.