North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Mark Robinson Under Fire for Racist Comments
North Carolina's Republican gubernatorial nominee, Mark Robinson, has come under fire following a CNN investigation that revealed a series of incendiary, explicit, and racist comments he made on a pornographic website over a decade ago.
The report, published on Thursday, focused on comments made by an account with the name "minisoldr" on the website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. The account used the name "mark robinson" in its profile and included biographical details that aligned with Robinson's own history. CNN also reported that Robinson appeared to use the same username on other platforms, including YouTube and Pinterest, and that the email address associated with the account belonged to him.
On the Nude Africa forum, the user expressed a desire to "bring [slavery] back" and "buy a few" slaves, while identifying himself as a "black NAZI." He also used racist language to vilify civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. and expressed a preference for Hitler over former President Barack Obama's administration.
Robinson has denied making the comments and has refused to drop out of the race. He claims that the story is a fabrication by his Democratic opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. However, CNN has presented evidence that the account belonged to Robinson, including matching email addresses and biographical details.
The report has sparked concern among Republicans about Robinson's prospects in the upcoming election. Senator Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican, has said that he needs more information before deciding whether Robinson should step down.
If elected, Robinson would become the first Black governor of North Carolina. However, his past comments have raised serious questions about his suitability for the office.