Is there something wrong with Art Robinson?

[Ramulux]

I realize that there have been a million threads about Rachel's interview but I just wanted to bring up something. While watching this interview, I began to increasingly feel like something was sort of off about Mr. Robinson.

Now, I dont like judging people or being too analytical and I dont want to sound insulting, but I think there was something else behind Mr. Robinson's behavior tonight. There was something about the way he seemed unable to communicate with Rachel that seemed to go beyond simply not understanding the satellite delay or being unwilling to have a conversation. I couldn't tell if it was alcohol or maybe a prescription drug, or maybe some type of mental disorder, but there seemed to me to be something about the way he conducted himself that seemed unnatural.

It was like this was the first time he had ever spoken with another human being. He didn't seem to understand that conversations usually involve 2 people listening to what the other has to say and responding as necessary. He would listen to a question, disregard it and just start insulting Rachel and then he would get pissed at her when she tried to repeat her question. He would spend 3 minutes talking, and then immediately say that he was not being allowed to speak whenever Rachel would try to say anything. It was almost surreal listening to this interview, because Mr. Robinson was not communicating in the way most individuals communicate with one another.

The reason why I ask if there was some other element involved besides just being an ignorant asshole, is because this interview reminded me strongly of conversations I have attempted to have with my conservative, alcoholic grandfather. I am not saying Mr. Robinson is an alcoholic but there was something about his demeanor that hinted strongly at him not being in a normal state of mind.

Maybe I am just reading too much into this and Mr. Robinson is just your everyday ignorant, unintelligent, and extremely rude conservative, but I felt like there was something more to this.

[tabatha]

1. senile, grumpy old man

who is also full of himself

[bluestateguy]

2. He is also an AIDS denialist

which is like 10 times more offensive than being a global warming denier.

[HuckleB]

3. Yes, something is very wrong with Art Robinson.

AND he is the end goal of the GOP. He is the perfect Republican.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Reminded me of both alcohol and also

of aspergers....

Or other autism...

as well as... not being able to listen. Oh wait, but you are right.

[sandnsea]

5. No. He's just nuts.

I'm in DeFazio's district. This guy is and always has been BONKERS.

And the rumors of big money backing him were swirling around earlier this year. It's not just an out of the blue thing.

[Ken Burch]

6. He also sells homeschool textbooks that compare Africans to "retarded children"

(that's an actual quote from the text):

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/06/30/art-robinson-oregon-gop-candidate-for-congress-sells-book-comparing-africans-to-retarded-children/

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Upstanding person of course

I am sure he has also no knowledge of WHITE slavery.

[Johonny]

20. Read his wiki page

I think it's pretty clear whatever is wrong with him happen soon after grad school and basically ruined his career. He appears to be a professional crank. Not unlike most of the "new" Republicans this year. There isn't anything new about them. These people have been cranking for years. I feel bad for him in a way. To go from Linus Pauling to guy that contributes to Discovery Institute is a pretty big fall (fail) in life.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_B._Robinson

[Poll_Blind]

8. He is....BIZARRO! Actually, he struck me as very assertive and sharp.

Not what I was expecting, given your description. Before I go into that, I will say that he's got one hell of a tell going on when Rachel asks him to confirm that he does not know anything about his anonymous benefactor and he says "That's correct."

Right after he says that, look at his mouth. It's worth a quick glace if whomever reading this didn't spot it the first time through- I think at about 1 minute 10 seconds into it or something like that.

That...Well, that told me that he knew, or felt he knew, and that he was pleased because he felt that nobody else would know. That was....interesting.

Otherwise, I didn't feel he was nuts or weird. I only watched the first part. He argued like a man who has had many, many arguments. Not political arguments, though. He was arguing with Rachel like a hated spouse: Accusing of lies to stall and misrepresentation and then, when there is some possible "in" which he can take offense at, wrapping the entire conversation/argument in it.

Basically he's perpetually framing and re-framing their "conversation" in terms of her being the "liar" and he being the victim. And because he kept calling her a liar (sort of Orren Hatch style if you've seen that scumbag put on a show) he didn't really have to address anything: Everything, in his opinion, was a misrepresentation. Even his kookier statements- as he said, nobody could understand what he really meant without, say, reading everything he'd ever written.

But interestingly, and this was super-interesting to me, he seemed to have a very short, very un-detailed list of things he kept hammering Pete with. Puzzling character.

I wouldn't call him an idiot, etc, etc. He deserves to be taken more seriously than that. It would crucify me (I live in DeFazio's district) if this asshole gets elected. I know he's got support in Eugene from other assholes, the ones who only come down from homes in the South Hills to make Market of Choice runs.

PB

[Javaman]

15. "He was arguing with Rachel like a hated spouse"

nailed it. You summed up in that one sentence exactly what was going on.

This guy is mr. passive aggressive anger management issues.

[Matariki]

9. It's a Republican strategy.

To talk nonstop over people, avoid directly answering questions, try to contol the message, and accuse people of doing exactly the thing they are actually guilty of.

[me b zola]

10. Yes

[PADemD]

11. The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans

http://www.amazon.com/Verbally-Abusive-Relationship-recognize-respond/dp/1440504636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286535816&sr=8-1

It is well worth reading.

[lunatica]

12. He came to the table ready to blast Rachel no matter what

He never intended to have her interview him for real. He thought that pushing her verbally against the wall would make her cower and back down but when that didn't happen he started getting more hysterical in his accusations. He acted like a man who is accustomed to winning arguments by belittling, bellowing and talking over his opponents. Like a bully in short. It was fucking amazing to watch the meltdown of a bully.

Rachel literally had the last laugh. And she also knows no teabagger will ever come on her show now.

And yeah, I see what you mean about the way alcoholics get stubborn and irascible and impossible to talk to.

[Viking12]

13. You had to ask????..

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Oregon_Institute_of_Science_and_Medicine
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Arthur_B._Robinson

[HughBeaumont]

14. Figures Inhuffer would give this bag of nuts legitimacy.

Good links . . .

[progressoid]

16. He didn't seem any more "wrong" than any other rabid RWer.

I used to work with a couple. They were pretty much the same flavor of crazy.

[cascadiance]

17. Mr. Robinson...

And down with you, Mr. Robinson
Devil loves you more than you will know (wo wo wo)
God damn you please, Mr. Robinson
Hell holds a place for those who prey
(Hey, hey, hey... Hey, hey hey!)

[drm604]

18. Standard right-wing interview tactics.

I think they must give classes on this. I see it all the time.

• Talk loudly and rapidly, dominate the conversation, and when your opponent tries to get a word in edgewise, angrily accuse them of interrupting and not letting you talk.
  
• When they ask a question you don't want to answer, accuse them of being confrontational or sarcastic, or pretend that you're still trying to answer the previous question and they aren't letting you.
  
• Never let it become an actual discussion of issues. Instead, whine about how unfairly they're treating you.

[CTyankee]

22. So he can say to the guys in the bar "Yeah, I really shut that bitch down!"

Women voters in Oregon must be so much in love with this guy...:sarcasm:

[madinmaryland]

19. Just a typical Republicant. No more, no less.

[southernyankeebelle]

21. This man was just loaded for bear. He wasn't going to let her trap him. So he kept attacking her

and he ended up looking silly.

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

23. Remember when Rand Paul called her "shrill"?

That's pretty blatant code to my ears. This guy just didn't bother to encode it at all.

"This... FEMALE... is questioning me? My worldview is shaken, I better make myself look big."