Happy MLK Day:
Martin Luther King Jr. was just an “ersatz pastor” and a “communist,” and the 1960s civil rights movement was “crap,” according to a series of Facebook posts by Mark Robinson, the leading Republican candidate to be North Carolina’s next governor.
Robinson, who is currently the state’s lieutenant governor, regularly criticized King and the civil rights movement for years on Facebook ― specifically on MLK Day ― HuffPost found amid a review of his posts. The Black politician also downplayed slavery, rejected the idea that he’s part of the African American community, and attacked the late congressman and civil rights icon, John Lewis.
These posts are surfacing at a time when Robinson, who is on track to be the GOP nominee for governor in November, has been trying to soften his rhetoric, and celebrate King and the civil rights movement.
Last month, former President Donald Trump hailed Robinson as “better than Dr. Martin Luther King” at a campaign event, and Robinson responded by saying he “took it as a compliment” and “knowing what I know about him, and the history thereof, you know, those are big shoes to fill.”
His social media posts tell a different story.
In January 2018, Robinson mocked people who celebrate King, who he said was just a subpar pastor. He didn’t mention King by name, but he was clearly talking about the civil rights leader in his series of messages posted on MLK Day that year.
Click here to read more about his remarks.
Meanwhile, over on Team Blue:
North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein raised more than $5.7 million during the past six months, his campaign said Thursday, a total that should keep the Democrat at or near the top of collections when all 2024 gubernatorial candidates report their donations.
Stein's organization revealed what it expects to post on his campaign finance report for the second half of 2023.
The Josh Stein for North Carolina campaign already reported raising $5.98 million during the first half of 2023, an amount which was by far the largest among the announced gubernatorial candidates at the time.
Health and Democracy are on the ballot next year and we need to get ready to flip North Carolina Blue. Click below to donate and get involved with Stein, Jackson or any of the Democratic candidates of your choice and with the North Carolina Democratic Party:
Governor:
Josh Stein
Mike Morgan
North Carolina Supreme Court:
Allison Riggs
Lora Cubbage
Lt. Governor:
Rachel Hunt
Attorney General:
Jeff Jackson
Secretary of State:
Elaine Marshall
North Carolina Democratic Party
