FOX 8: Robinson “Called For An Almost Total Ban On Abortion.” According to FOX 8, “Lt. Gov Mark Robinson, who heads the Senate and is a likely candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, last week called for an almost total ban on abortion in the state.” [FOX 8, 1/26/23]
Robinson Said He Wished He Could Pass An Abortion Ban With No Exceptions. According to WNCT, “The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina went on a radio talk show this weekend, saying in part that if he had the authority, abortion would be completely illegal in the state. Mark Robinson appeared on a WSIC program called ‘Taking Care of Iredell with NC Representative Jeff McNeely,’ primarily talking about his position on abortion […] The two men discussed, briefly, Mark Robinson’s own experience with abortion, which he has publicly expressed regret for. He has remained consistent in his staunch anti-abortion views. ‘If I had all the power right now, say I was the governor and had a willing legislature, we could pass a bill right now that says you can’t get an abortion in North Carolina for any reason. Would that stop abortions? No. People would get in their car, they’d go to Georgia, they’d go to South Carolina,’ he said, although South Carolina has passed an abortion ban and has proposed a bill that would make abortion legally tantamount to murder. ‘They would go to Virginia, they’d go wherever they could. They’d get pills online. Passing a law is one thing, I’d love to pass a law. I’d love to see a heartbeat bill proposed in our legislature.’” [WNCT, 3/1/23]
WRAL: “Robinson Said That If He Were Governor, He’d Like To Sign A Bill Completely Banning All Abortions.” According to WRAL, “On Monday, in a radio show hosted by Republican Rep. Jeffrey McNeely of Iredell County, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said that if he were governor, he’d like to sign a bill completely banning all abortions — mentioning no exceptions like for rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.” [WRAL, 2/28/23]
WSPA 7News: Robinson “Supports A Total Ban On Abortions.” According to WSPA 7News, “Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who many think will be the GOP frontrunner to succeed Cooper, has said he wants North Carolina to be a ‘state for life’ and supports a total ban on abortions.” [WSPA 7News, 4/4/23]
FOX 8: Robinson “Supports A Total Ban On Abortion.” According to FOX 8, “Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the state’s highest-ranking Republican and de facto president of the Senate, who is expected to announce on Saturday pursuit of the GOP nomination for governor, supports a total ban on abortion. ‘How can you have life and liberty if you end life in the womb, and do not give people their freedom after they’re born?’ Robinson said at a rally in January. ‘This nation is built on those ideals. And so we have to stand up for life.’” [FOX 8, 4/21/23]
FOX 8: Robinson “Has Said He Favored A Total Ban On Abortion.” According to FOX 8, “Saying that this is a bill that supports the rights of both mothers and children, leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly on Tuesday announced an agreement to modify the state’s abortion law […] The Democratic Governors Association issued a response to the bill that went after Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a GOP candidate for governor, who has said he favored a total ban on abortion.” [FOX 8, 5/2/23]
WFAE: Robinson “Has Advocated For A Total Ban With No Exceptions.” According to WFAE, “’This Republican legislature will keep coming, and keep coming, until they have completely and totally banned abortion and taken away our freedom and our power. But friends, we will not let them,’ Stein said. He pointed to his likely opponent in next year’s race for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has advocated for a total ban with no exceptions.” [WFAE, 5/3/23]
FOX 8: Robinson “Has Said He Favored A Total Ban On Abortion.” According to FOX 8, “Saying that this is a bill that supports the rights of both mothers and children, leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly on Tuesday announced an agreement to modify the state’s abortion law […] The Democratic Governors Association issued a response to the bill that went after Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a GOP candidate for governor, who has said he favored a total ban on abortion.” [FOX 8, 5/2/23]
WFAE: Robinson “Has Advocated For A Total Ban With No Exceptions.” According to WFAE, “’This Republican legislature will keep coming, and keep coming, until they have completely and totally banned abortion and taken away our freedom and our power. But friends, we will not let them,’ Stein said. He pointed to his likely opponent in next year’s race for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has advocated for a total ban with no exceptions.” [WFAE, 5/3/23]
Robinson Supported Legislation To Ban Abortions After A Fetal Heartbeat Is Detected, Which Typically Occurs Six Weeks After Fertilization. According to The Associated Press, “Robinson said Saturday he wants to make North Carolina a ‘destination state for life,’ which he said includes his support for legislation preventing abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal cardiac activity, typically about six weeks after fertilization. State law currently bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks.” [AP, 4/22/23]
At The 25th Annual Rally And March For Life, Robinson Said He Wanted North Carolina To Be A “Destination State For Life,” Not Abortion. According to The Charlotte Observer, “About a thousand people marched through downtown Raleigh on Saturday calling for an end to abortion. It was North Carolina Right to Life’s 25th Annual Rally and March for Life, and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to put abortion restrictions in the hands of state legislatures. The keynote speaker at the rally on Halifax Mall, which is behind the Legislative Building, was Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the presumed Republican frontrunner for the 2024 governor’s race […] He said rather than North Carolina becoming ‘a destination state for abortion’ because of more restrictions in nearby states, he wants the state to be a ‘destination state for life.’” [Charlotte Observer, 1/14/23]
HEADLINE: “Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Calls For North Carolina To Become ‘Destination State For Life’ In Anti-Abortion Speech” [FOX 8, 1/17/23]
Asheville Citizen Times: Robinson “Has Made News With Extreme Anti-LGBTQ And Anti-Abortion Sentiments.” According to The Asheville Citizen Times, “On the Republican side, far-right Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has all-but announced […] Along with being the first Black person to hold the lieutenant governor's office, Robinson has made news with extreme anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion sentiments.” [Asheville Citizen Times, 1/25/23]
Robinson Said, “Abortion Is Not Compatible With This Nation, The Same Way Slavery Was Not Compatible With This Nation.” According to The Charlotte Observer, “Robinson went on to say that ‘abortion is not compatible with this nation, the same way slavery was not compatible with this nation. We speak of life and liberty, how can you have life and liberty if you end life in the womb, and do not give people their freedom after they’re born? This nation is built on those ideals. And so we have to stand up for life.’” [Charlotte Observer, 1/14/23]
Robinson’s Stance On Abortion Changed In A Matter Of Months. According to WRAL, “Robinson’s position on the issue has evolved over the past two years, as his run for governor has gotten closer. Last month, when he announced his candidacy, Robinson said: ‘We need common-sense legislation to prevent abortions after a heartbeat is detected.’ Heartbeat laws typically ban abortion at six weeks. One in South Carolina was recently ruled unconstitutional. In February, before he officially launched his gubernatorial campaign, Robinson had a different stance. He said if he were governor he would sign a bill banning all abortions — with no exceptions for issues such as rape, or to save the life of the mother.” [WRAL, 5/4/23]
As North Carolina Republicans Finalized Passage Of A 12-Week Abortion Ban, Robinson Said He Was “Not Interested In Talking About Abortion Anymore.” According to WFAE, “The leading Republican candidate for North Carolina governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, said Thursday he was ‘not interested’ in discussing the topic of abortion, just as Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly finalized the passage of a bill banning most abortions in the state after 12 weeks of pregnancy. When asked to comment on the legislation, Robinson declined to weigh in. ‘I'm not interested in talking about abortion anymore. What I'm interested in talking about now is how we're going to make life better for folks after they're born — saving lives in the womb and then enhancing those lives once those lives come into the world. I'm tired of talking about abortion. I don't want to talk about it anymore,’ Robinson said.” [WFAE, 5/4/23]
Robinson Would Not Answer When Asked If He Was Satisfied With A 12-Week Abortion Ban. According to WFAE, “Asked on Thursday if he was satisfied with a 12-week abortion ban or if he would seek more restrictions if elected governor, Robinson said he would leave the discussion up to lawmakers. ‘Look, that's going to be a discussion (lawmakers) are going to have. We're going to let them have that discussion. But my focus, again, is not on abortion. It's on how we can make the lives of people in North Carolina better,’ Robinson said. Robinson was in Charlotte for a monthly meeting of the North Carolina State Board of Education, of which he is a member.” [WFAE, 5/4/23]
Robinson’s Campaign Did Not Respond When Asked To Comment On The 12-Week Abortion Ban. According to WRAL, “Robinson, one of the lieutenant governor’s few official duties is to preside over the state Senate, has not been at the legislature this week as the abortion bill rolled out. His campaign has not returned messages requesting comment on the bill. And when Robinson was asked about it in person Thursday at an event in Charlotte, he told reporters: ‘I’m tired of talking about abortion. I don’t want to talk about it,’ according to WFAE. That shocked some observers of state politics, considering Robinson’s reputation for outspoken beliefs — especially on the issue of abortion, which he has frequently and harshly criticized in the past.” [WRAL, 5/4/23]
Robinson Argued That Rather Than The Decision To Get An Abortion Being The Choice Of The Mother Who Would Be Forced To Carry The Child, “Everybody Should Have A Voice And Everybody Should Be Able To Speak Up.” According to an interview with Robinson on AACONS, “‘But there are men who genuinely want these babies and do not want their girlfriends or wives to abort. And so we need to start listening to men and the regret and the stories such as yours as we discuss this issue in the community.’ Robinson: ‘That's exactly right. Everybody has a voice in this issue because this issue is not just about the man or the woman. This issue is really about the life that's in that womb and what we do in regards to protecting that life. And everybody should have a voice and everybody should be able to speak up.’” [Mark Robinson, AACONS, 11/25/22]
Robinson On The Decision To Get An Abortion: “We Want Them To Sit Down And Think, You Know, If I Don’t Want To Find Myself In This Situation, Then Maybe I Should Be A Little Bit More Responsible With My Body Before I Make Those Decisions.” According to an interview with Robinson on AACONS, “We want people to think before the baby. Yes. We want them to think before the action. We want them to sit down and think, you know, if I don't want to find myself in this situation, then maybe I should be a little bit more responsible with my body before I make those decisions. And of course, we know these things are going to happen, but we really want people to have those conversations and we want young men to be part of those conversations because it's not a him or her. It's a him and her issue.” [Mark Robinson, AACONS, 11/25/22]
WRAL: Robinson Said “He’d Get Behind Measures That Outlaw Abortion In All Cases.” According to WRAL, “If elected as North Carolina’s next governor, he says he’d get behind measures that outlaw abortion in all cases, ban same-sex marriage and reshape how public schoolchildren are taught.” [WRAL, 9/18/22]
Robinson Wanted To Make North Carolina “The Most Pro-Life State In The Union.” According to WRAL, “Robinson thinks the 20-week ban doesn’t go far enough. He said he wants to make North Carolina the ‘most pro-life state in the Union’ and impose ‘dire consequences’ on doctors who unlawfully perform the medical procedure. ‘I don’t think abortion should ever happen,’ he said.” [WRAL, 9/18/22]
Robinson Said There Should Be “Dire Consequences” For Doctors Who Perform Illegal Abortions. According to WRAL, “Robinson said he supports a narrower enforcement of abortion restrictions that focuses on medical providers. ‘There should certainly be dire consequences for somebody who performs an illegal abortion just like it should be for anyone who performs an illegal medical procedure,’ he said.” [WRAL, 9/18/22]
Robinson Supported Banning Abortion Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest. According to The East Carolinian, “Abortion is a topic that Robinson said he will not budge on. He said the main question he is asked on his pro-life stance is on cases where a woman gets pregnant through either rape or incest. He compared the pro-choice stance of abortion in the case of incest and rape to arguments on seat belt enforcement that he had when he was younger. ‘You know what that argument (abortion in cases of rape and incest) reminds me of? It reminds me of the argument about seatbelts. I can remember this as a young man when we were arguing whether or not we should be required to wear seatbelts or if we should wear seatbelts. I can always remember there would be one person who would say ‘what if I get stuck on the railroad tracks and my seatbelt won’t come off.’ Number one, if you are stuck on the train tracks, that is (Charles) Darwin, that’s not any of my concern, that is Darwin. I cannot help you.’” [East Carolinian, 6/5/21]
Robinson Said He Wanted North Carolina To Be A “Destination State For Life,” Not Abortion. According to The Charlotte Observer, “About a thousand people marched through downtown Raleigh on Saturday calling for an end to abortion. It was North Carolina Right to Life’s 25th Annual Rally and March for Life, and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to put abortion restrictions in the hands of state legislatures. The keynote speaker at the rally on Halifax Mall, which is behind the Legislative Building, was Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the presumed Republican frontrunner for the 2024 governor’s race […] He said rather than North Carolina becoming ‘a destination state for abortion’ because of more restrictions in nearby states, he wants the state to be a ‘destination state for life.’” [Charlotte Observer, 1/14/23]
Robinson Said, “Abortion Is Not Compatible With This Nation, The Same Way Slavery Was Not Compatible With This Nation.” According to The Charlotte Observer, “Robinson went on to say that ‘abortion is not compatible with this nation, the same way slavery was not compatible with this nation. We speak of life and liberty, how can you have life and liberty if you end life in the womb, and do not give people their freedom after they’re born? This nation is built on those ideals. And so we have to stand up for life.’” [Charlotte Observer, 1/14/23]
Robinson Said, Abortion Was “A Moral Evil Like Slavery.” According to Christianity Daily, “Abortion is a ‘moral evil like slavery’ according to North Carolina's Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson during the annual March for Life Rally held last Jan. 16 […] ‘If we do not purge abortion from our shores for the cause of life the same way we purged slavery for the cause of liberty, this nation will not continue to stand,’ he stressed.” [Christianity Daily, 1/27/21]