Republicans are blaming artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain their support of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) after yesterday’s bombshell report of his porn website comments from 2008 to 2012. His comments declared himself a “Black Nazi,” expressed racist sentiments, admitted to spying on women in showers, and declared his love of transgender porn and threesomes with his sister-in-law.
Democrats, however, are tying Robinson to former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly endorsed and praised him. Democrats say the bad news could sink Republicans’ chances in the state.
Related:
When asked about the report, out White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied, “Antisemitism is never acceptable. It is wrong. It is wrong. And so, we have to be really clear about that. Elected leaders have to be really clear about that. They need to be responsible about calling that out.”
Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024
Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter.
“As far as the ongoing stories and as it relates to this race, I just don’t have any comment for you,” she said when asked if President Joe Biden had any comment.
Robinson denied making the comments and insinuated that they were somehow AI-generated. His claim is likely a lie since it’s unheard of for the technology to create online comments timestamped from over a decade ago while using his private accounts.
“Look, I’m not going to get into the minutia about how somebody manufactured these salacious tabloid lies, but I can tell you this: There’s been over one million dollars spent on me through AI by a billionaire’s son who’s bound and determined to destroy me,” Robinson told CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski yesterday. “The things that people can do with the Internet now is incredible. But what I can tell you is this: Again, these are not my words. This is simply tabloid trash being used as a distraction from the substantive issues that the people of this state are facing.”
Here’s Mark Robinson on @CNN claiming he’s being framed, insisting that all the bizarre things he wrote on “Nude Africa” were generated by AI.
AI is powerful, but it can’t rewrite internet history from 15 years ago. It’s the same nonsense we saw this summer from Laura Loomer… pic.twitter.com/fcgfXXi1ub
In a statement released yesterday evening, the state Republican Party said Robinson’s denial “won’t stop the Left from trying to demonize him via personality attacks… because if voters are focused on policy, Republicans win on Election Day.”
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) also echoed the comments, saying, “What I read was very concerning, but given the degree of electronic manipulation that can happen these days with AI, with everything else, who the hell knows what’s true and what’s not.”
However, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) told The Hill that the details about Robinson’s comments were “not good.” Similarly, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, called the report “very concerning.”
“My hope is that [the] lieutenant governor can reassure the people of North Carolina that the allegations aren’t true,” Hudson said. “He said they’re not true. I think he needs to have the opportunity to explain to the people in North Carolina exactly how these allegations aren’t true.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) said the public is seeing “an implosion by this candidate, the likes of which we’ve never seen in North Carolina, frankly.”
“Normally someone running for governor, even if they turned out to underperform, wouldn’t be someone who would impact the rest of the ticket, but this isn’t normal,” he continued, adding, “He could swing a whole bunch of elections, including the presidential election.”
Republican former congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who has endorsed Harris, told CNN, “This is devastating from a campaign perspective. Obviously, he’ll lose North Carolina. But the Trump campaign ought to be very concerned because if there are people disheartened by him, they’ll either not show up or maybe they’ll vote for Kamala.”
Robinson was already polling far behind his Democratic opponent, state Attorney General Josh Stein, before the scandal broke. Political pundits say that the new wave of bad press could cause a “reverse coattails effect” that drags down Trump’s and other Republicans’ chances of winning the state.
“I think you’re going to see a bunch of Republicans who strongly endorsed Robinson start to walk it back,” Jackson told CNN. “Robinson was the person you wanted at your fundraiser if you were a Republican in North Carolina for the last several years. They all have photos with him. They all heaped praise as soon as he started running. I think they’re going to have to start walking that back.”
The Harris-Walz campaign quickly posted numerous social media posts reminding voters of former President Donald Trump’s repeated appearances with and endorsement of Robinson. Trump called him “better than [Black civil rights icon] Martin Luther King” and “Martin Luther King on steroids.”
On Friday afternoon, the Harris campaign posted a new 30-second political ad highlighting Robinson’s comments against abortion and his belief that the procedure is only for women who can’t keep their skirts on.
The Trump campaign issued a statement that didn’t mention Robinson or the accusations.
“President Trump’s campaign is focused on winning the White House and saving this country. North Carolina is an vital part of that plan,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in the statement. “We are confident that as voters compare the Trump record of a strong economy, low inflation, a secure border, and safe streets, with the failures of Biden-Harris, then President Trump will win the Tarheel State once again. We will not take our eye off the ball.”
“This is not good for them for a very close state,” he continued. “It could bring down some of the enthusiasm. I mean, this is like a gut punch to anybody who’s a Republican in North Carolina to learn this. In a race that’s gonna be so close, any kind of an attack on motivation can make a huge difference.”
Robinson has previously said that he considers LGBTQ+ people as “filthy” “demons” who “mentally rape” children. Among his many anti-LGBTQ+ statements, he has called homosexuality “an abominable sin,” has compared LGBTQ+ people to cow dung, and Satanic demons, and said trans people should defecate on public street corners outside rather than using bathrooms matching their gender identity. He has also made numerous racist and antisemitic comments. He also wrote on social media, later adding, “Note to liberals; I’ll accept ‘Gay Pride’ when you accept ‘White Pride.’”
