Mark Robinson controversy takes center stage on Sunday talk shows

The controversy surrounding North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson took center stage on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Earlier this week, CNN reported that current Lieutenant Governor Robinson had made a series of highly provocative comments on the message board of a pornography website more than a decade ago. It said he had referred to himself as a “black NAZI!” and expressed support for reinstating slavery. Robinson has denied the allegations. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that if true, the allegations against Robinson would make him “unfit to serve.” “The charges are beyond unnerving,” Graham said. “If they’re true, he’s unfit to serve for office. If they’re not true, he has the best lawsuit in the history of the country for libel.”

Robinson’s Democratic opponent in the governors race, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, said that candidates should be held accountable for continuing to support his opponent, according to The Hill. 

“Look, Robinson exists because Donald Trump has lifted him up throughout, and candidates up and down the ballot in North Carolina need to have, they need to be held accountable for supporting Mark Robinson and being part of his entire campaign,” Stein told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” 

Arkansas GOP Senator Tom Cotton was pressed by Tapper on the same show as to whether he thinks Robinson should be the next governor of North Carolina and if he likes him. 

“Look, I’ve seen these allegations, Jake, and they’re concerning allegations,” Cotton said when asked whether he likes the lieutenant governor and thinks Robinson should be the next governor of North Carolina.

“He owes the people of North Carolina more answers about it,” Cotton said.  

“But we’re talking about the presidential race here that matters to everyone, not just the people of one state,” he continued, adding, “Kamala Harris owes the American people a lot more answers.”

When asked whether former President Trump should still support Robinson’s bid for governor, Cotton said, “I’ll leave that to President Trump, and most importantly, I’ll leave it to the people of North Carolina.”