Robinson on the run

Robinson begins his paid media campaign disavowing his own words.

Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is running from his record—or at least his words since he really doesn’t have a record. Robinson has been pledging to end abortion without exceptions for years. He’s belittled women who became pregnant unexpectedly and claimed that their bodies are not their own. Now, he’s back peddling as hard as he can.

In an ad released last week, Robinson and his wife talk about the abortion they had 30 years ago before they were married. He calls it a “very difficult decision” and says “that’s why I stand by our current law” which allows abortion up to 12 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. That’s not what he’s been saying and his flip-flop indicates that the Stein campaign’s message is getting through to voters.

Stein has been hitting Robinson with an ad for weeks, using his own words against him. The spot as no narration, just videos and recordings of Robinson pledging to end abortion without exceptions. In the first clip, Robinson tells a reporter, “Let’s say I was governor and had a willing legislature. We could pass a bill that says you can’t have an abortion in North Carolina for any reason.” In the next clip, Robinson doubles down, saying, “For me, there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference how or why the child ended up in that womb.” Robinson then denigrates women, claiming, “…It’s about killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down.” The spot closes with Robinson shouting, “It’s not your body anymore.” It’s devastating and is clearly taking its toll on Robinson.

Robinson’s campaign must be seeing his numbers deteriorate because of the ad. A PPP poll released last week shows Robinson trailing by six. With the introduction of Kamala Harris into the presidential race and the renewed interest among young people, those numbers actually might be worse for the lieutenant governor.

Robinson might not have had any good options, but in responding to the ad, he has opened himself up to a new line of attack—credibility. Expect to see a new ad from Stein or one of his allies asking, “Which Mark Robinson do you believe? The one who for years has been demanding an end to abortion without exceptions? Or the one who is backtracking on those claims now that he’s trailing in the polls?”

Robinson is an internet creation. He built his entire brand making inflammatory and controversial remarks, pandering to the far right flank of the GOP. He’s staked out the most extreme positions on cultural issues. He’s for banning abortion without exception. He’s called gay people “filth.” He flirted with Holocaust denialism. He’s made blatantly antisemitic comments. And he’s done it all in print or on video.

The same medium that created Robinson is the one that will bring him down. It’s hard to dispute what you say on camera, especially when expressed with Robinson’s arrogant bravado. He makes his inflammatory statements with the conviction and self-righteousness of an evangelical preacher. Something is clearly phony, either his decade of bold declarations or his humble mea culpa last week. Voters will see through the charade.

Right now, the Stein campaign is letting Robinson define himself. Over the next three months, they will work their way through what is surely one of the largest opposition research books in political history. They will force him to defend his derogatory statements about people and groups in North Carolina and then defend his abysmal record managing his personal and business finances. They will pummel Robinson relentlessly, forcing him into a constant defensive posture.

Candidates who begin their paid media campaign defending themselves instead of defining themselves are usually in trouble. Robinson should be releasing some sort of bio piece, but instead he’s been forced to release a response ad. Anytime you are defending or explaining in politics, you’re losing. And Mark Robinson is a loser.