Source: WRAL
In case anyone thought for a second that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson had changed his ways and become less extreme following his response to Gov. Roy Cooper’s “State of the State” address, he has been working hard to show that’s not the case.
In late March, Robinson spoke at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville, where he doubled down on his rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community and his belief in conspiracy theories, according to a WRAL report.
Robinson claimed during the church service that God created him to fight against the push for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, saying that America is turning into a “hellhole” because of it.
“I was not crafted to be Mr. Nicey-Nice,” Robinson said, according to WRAL. “… God formed me because he knew there was going to be a time when God’s learning was going to be intolerable to the wicked. When children were going to be dragged down to go see the drag show. When pornography was going to be presented to our children in schools.”
Robinson also told attendees that churches accepting of gay and lesbian people make him “sick.”
“Makes me sick every time I see it — a church that flies that Rainbow flag, which is a direct spit in the face of God almighty,” he said.
None of these things come as a surprise to anyone who has followed Robinson’s time in office, but for those who may not even know who he is, what they think of him will depend on which version of him they see.
If someone’s first exposure to Robinson was his rebuttal to Cooper’s address, he might seem like a “normal” Republican – he talked about policy issues, his time growing up as one of 10 children in a single-mother household, and he complained that “thoughtful discussion” has been replaced by “heated rhetoric” – but that’s not who Robinson truly is.
Following his response to Cooper, members of both parties were left questioning which Robinson would show up on the campaign trail once he announces his run for governor. His appearance at Trinity Baptist Church provided a resounding answer to that question – the same bigot that’s been in office for nearly several years now.
“I talk to people sometimes and they tell me, ‘You know, I like you and everything. But I think you should be a little nicer,’” Robinson said while speaking at Trinity. “Nicer? … When I stand up and turn my television set on and what I see is so filthy I can’t even let my grandchildren watch, ‘nice’ goes out the window.”
Robinson didn’t just attack LGBTQ+ North Carolinians at the church, he also defended his belief in various conspiracy theories.
One of those conspiracy theories he has previously admitted to believing is an antisemitic one that says Jewish bankers are working with China, Islamic leaders and the CIA to control the world. Robinson has previously accused Jews of being “globalists” intent on destroying Donald Trump and has used Yiddish slurs to attack them.
At Trinity, he didn’t directly mention any of the theories he believes are true, but he did address those who take issue with them.
“Folks will get mad and say ‘Oh you’re just a conspiracy theorist,’” he said. “OK, I’m going to tell you right now, conspiracy theorists are 42-0. We’re undefeated right now, folks.”
Following his address at Trinity, James Gailliard, a Nash County pastor and former North Carolina State Representative, sent out a press release condemning Robinson’s comments.
“God teaches us to love, not to hate. Mark Robinson’s discriminatory remarks are in direct conflict with our greatest commandment from God – love thy neighbor as yourself,” he said.
Robinson is expected to officially announce his run for governor later this month.
