The GOP deserves what it gets if Mark Robinson stays in the NC governor’s race

While I agree that Mark Robinson is unqualified to serve as governor, I don’t think he should quit the race. If the GOP voters who elected him as lieutenant governor in 2020, and as the GOP nominee for governor in 2024 were foolish enough to vote for him then, when there was ample evidence of his unfitness for public office, then they should live with the consequences . Maybe the voters and the party will exercise better judgment in the future.

Robert Harrison, Durham

Josh Stein ads

Josh Stein’s political advertising is misleading to the voters. Stein’s use of the Mark Robinson quote “keep her skirt down” alienates women voters but the full quote admonishes men “to keep their pants up.” The media has played along with this distortion ad nauseam.

The daycare ad, which tugs on your emotions, has Mark Robinson in an orange prison jumpsuit. This is dirty politics.

Jack Granger, Raleigh

Rural NC votes

The author is a former US Representative, NC-01:

In rural North Carolina more than 3 million citizens are speaking up this election with a strong voice. It is imperative that Democrats not only hear but actively engage with issues essential to our communities: from access to health care, access to healthy food, and quality education, to sustainable economics through small businesses and farming.

Rural communities are great places to live; quiet, clean environment, surrounded by nature, outdoor recreation, and good neighbors. However, our communities lack economic opportunities. Our young people are forced to leave for good-paying jobs. The urban and rural job opportunities are vastly different. Agriculture and energy projects offer possibilities.

We challenge all candidates to listen to our experiences, understand our aspirations, and visit our towns and counties. This is more than just winning our votes, it is about ensuring that the voices of rural North Carolina are being heard.

Eva Clayton, LIttleton

Organ harvesting

When you’re a prisoner in a Chinese labor camp, subjected to abuse, why would blood samples be taken? Falun Gong practitioners, imprisoned for their beliefs, have learned the hard way.

When practitioners learn about forced organ harvesting after their release, they realize: The blood draw was for organ and tissue matching. China markets organ transplants worldwide and procures organs by force, largely from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience.

In June, the US House unanimously passed HR4132, the Falun Gong Protection Act, which would impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who are involved in forced organ harvesting in China. On July 31, the Senate introduced companion bill S. 4914. Thanks to Sen. Tillis for co-sponsoring. Please urge Sen. Budd to co-sponsor too.

Diana Lu, Wake Forest

School risks

I would like to thank Gov. Cooper for vetoing the bill that supplies a largess of tax dollars to the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which now offers vouchers for up to $7,500 to any family with K-12 kids, regardless of income level.

I am also surprised our self-described “fiscally conservative” NC General Assembly wants to invest heavily in risky investments like private schools. Private schools hire many unaccredited staff, can’t always account for public monies received, many have religious affiliations (separation of church and state, anyone?) and data show student graduate achievements vary.

Our legislature has a fiduciary duty to spend our tax dollars wisely and conservatively. Investing more in private schools is a risky business.

Crystal Bartlett, Raleigh

Robinson law firm

Regarding “NC’s Mark Robinson hires law firm to investigate what he calls CNN’s ‘salacious lies’” (Sept. 24):

Mark Robinson has hired Jesse Binnall to “leave no stone unturned”? The same Binnall that has been on Trump’s election fraud team, and has been paid $1.8 million from Trump’s PAC Save America? That gives me so much comfort. Given all the crap in Robinson’s history, with all those stones turned up he may want to take the opportunity to crawl back under one and disappear.

Brad Bradshaw, Raleigh

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