In Charlotte, former President Obama calls out ‘crazy stuff’ from NC’s Robinson, Morrow
Former President Barack Obama told a Charlotte rally Friday Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson makes former President Donald Trump “look almost normal,” while endorsing Democrats running for statewide office.
Obama spoke to a crowd at the Charlotte Convention Center during the rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. A lively crowd filled the ballroom as Obama spoke about immigration, his personal values and criticized Trump and Robinson.
“This man called the Civil Rights Movement ‘crap,’ called LGBTQ people ‘filth,’ self identified as a Nazi, suggested bringing back slavery,” Obama said of Robinson. “I think it’s fair to say you do not need a governor who makes Donald Trump look almost normal.”
Obama’s comments partially draw from a CNN report that alleged Robinson made racist, misogynistic and antisemitic comments on a pornography website over a decade ago. Robinson has denied making the comments and has announced a lawsuit against CNN for the report.
Earlier in the rally, Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee for governor, told the crowd ”not a single person in this room tonight” needed the CNN story to know “that man is unfit to be our governor.”
Obama said Stein has done a great job as attorney general by fighting for survivors of sexual assault, helping families impacted by the fentanyl crisis and defending the right to vote.
“As your governor, he’ll do even more: cutting taxes for workers, expanding technical education, paying teachers what they deserve,” he said. “Stein believes that if you work hard and take responsibility, you should be able to get it.”
Obama also cast his support for Mo Green, Democratic candidate for North Carolina superintendent of public instruction. Obama made a reference to Republican candidate Michele Morrow’s comment that she would like to see Obama “in front of the firing squad,” on X in 2020.
“l’ve taken special interest in following the school superintendent race down here. Apparently the Republican candidate has been spreading conspiracy theories and thinks I should face a firing squad,” Obama said. “We can’t have somebody just saying crazy stuff running your school system, purchasing textbooks, allocating resources for our kids. We need somebody like Mo Green.”
Ahead of Obama’s appearance in Charlotte, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Republican Party called the rally “desperate.”
“The desperate final days of the Harris campaign are here,” spokesperson Matt Mercer wrote in a statement to The Charlotte Observer. “Bringing divisive figures like Barack Obama back to North Carolina is a reminder that President Trump will once again fix the economy, fix the border, and make America respected again on the world stage.”
Obama talks about Trump
Obama spent much of his speech criticizing Trump.
He expressed his disappointment with Trump’s COVID-19 response, his plans for a mass deportation of immigrants and his efforts to spread misinformation. Obama referenced conspiracy theories spread by Trump in the wake of Hurricane Helene that FEMA allocated disaster relief funds to migrant services rather than to Helene victims, which FEMA says is false.
“When did that become OK?” Obama said. “When Donald Trump lies or cheats… people make excuses.”
Obama also noted Trump was accused by his former Chief of Staff John Kelly of saying positive things about Hitler, including that he “did some good things.” Trump is not fit to be president again, Obama said.
Trump has since denied making the comments and told reporters this week he is “the opposite” of Hitler.
“His behavior has become so commonplace that people don’t take it seriously anymore,” he said. “Some of the people who know Donald Trump best have been saying in no uncertain terms that he should not be president again.”
Obama also said he knows many people are struggling financially, including to afford health care. Harris has a plan to help working class Americans get access to health care, Obama said. Poking fun at the former president’s comments during the presidential debate, Obama said Trump has “concepts of a plan.”
Obama closed his speech by telling voters this election is about preserving American values and democracy.
“We know that real strength’s about working hard and taking responsibility and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient, and that real strength’s about helping people who need it and looking out for your neighbors,” he said. “That’s what we should want in our daughters and our sons, and that’s what I want to see in the president of the United States.”
Obama was joined at the rally by a host of North Carolina Democratic officials, including U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat whose district covers Charlotte.
“None of the polling, (none of the) endless news cycles, none of it means anything if we don’t turn this mother out,” Adams said. “Bring real change to North Carolina, change to the United States.”
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 10:16 PM.
