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Art Robinson

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Art Robinson
Member of the Oregon State Senate
from the 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2021
Preceded byHerman Baertschiger
Chair of the Oregon Republican Party
In office
August 10, 2013 – February 28, 2015
Preceded bySuzanne Gallagher
Succeeded byBill Currier
Personal details
Born (1942-03-24) March 24, 1942 (age 82)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Political partyRepublican
Other political
affiliations		Ind. Republican (Since 2021)
SpouseLaurelee Robinson (d. 1988)
EducationCalifornia Institute of Technology (BS)
University of California, San Diego (PhD)
WebsiteCampaign website
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of California, San Diego
ThesisExperiments on the synthesis and spectral characterization of cytochrome-related molecules (1967)
Doctoral advisorMartin Kamen

Arthur Brouhard Robinson (born March 24, 1942[1]) is an American biochemist, conservative activist, prominent climate change denier, and politician serving as Oregon State Senator from the 2nd District since 2021. He was the five-time Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives for Oregon's 4th congressional district.

A former faculty member of the University of California, San Diego, Robinson now runs a privately funded laboratory known as the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine in Cave Junction, Oregon,[2] a newsletter called Access to Energy,[2] and publishes the Robinson Self-Teaching Home School Curriculum.[2][3][4][5]

As the Republican nominee for the Fourth District in Oregon, Robinson ran and lost to Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio in five consecutive elections: 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.[6][7][8][9] He served as chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from August 2013[10] to February 2015.[11]

Early life and education

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Robinson was born in Chicago.[1] He received a BS in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1963,[12] and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1968.[13] His doctoral thesis was titled, Experiments on the synthesis and spectral characterization of cytochrome-related molecules.[14]

Scientific career

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Early career

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Robinson was one of the few students ever to be appointed to the faculty of the University of California, San Diego immediately after getting his Ph.D.,[5] but resigned four years later.[13]

He was a co-founder, along with Linus Pauling and Keene Dimick, of the Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine, later renamed the Linus Pauling Institute in 1973.[15][16]

Linus Pauling Institute

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Robinson was the president, director, and a research professor with tenure at the institute.[17]

In June 1978, Robinson was asked to consult with the Executive Committee of the Linus Pauling Institute regarding important decisions involving the Institute. The members of the Executive Committee included Robinson, Pauling, and Executive Vice President Richard Hicks. The same day Robinson was asked to consult, he (Robinson) dismissed Hicks by terminating the fund raising services agreement employing Hicks, claiming that Hicks had failed to generate the substantial donations expected of him.

Disturbed by Robinson's swift actions against Hicks, Pauling declared that he no longer had "trust and confidence in Robinson",[18] and asked him to resign immediately. Robinson requested thirty days to consider the resignation and ultimately refused. Pauling called a meeting of the board of trustees regarding Robinson's refusal to resign. The board granted Robinson a leave of absence, and passed all executive authority to Pauling, later electing him president and director of the institute.[18]

Lawsuit

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Robinson responded to the dismissal by charging that he, not Pauling, had done the experimental work at the institute, and that "Linus has not personally contributed significant research work on vitamin C and human health".[19] Robinson filed a lawsuit against the Institute for $25.5 million, finally settling for $575,000.[18][20]

Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine

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Robinson later moved to Oregon and founded the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) there in 1980.[5]

Robinson is the president of the OISM,[4] which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Cave Junction, Oregon.[21] The OISM's mission statement and purpose is, "research, development, and public education on the biochemistry of molecular clocks and the degenerative diseases of aging, elementary science education, the effects of environment on health and welfare, and disaster preparedness".[21] The institute faculty has included Salk Institute biochemist Fred Westall, the late Nobel prize-winning biochemist Robert Bruce Merrifield, and the late Manhattan project physicist Martin Kamen.[22]

The OISM website states that "several members of the Institute's staff are also well known for their work on the Petition Project" (the Oregon Petition), and that the petition has "more than 31,000" signatures by scientists. Robinson asserted in 2008 that the petition has over 31,000 signatories, with 9,000 of these holding a PhD degree.[23] Most signatories with a PhD hold their degree in engineering.[24] The 2009 report of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC)—a group that "disputes the reality of man-made climate change"[25]—lists 31,478 degreed signatories, including 9,029 with PhDs.[26] The list has been criticized for its lack of verification, with pranksters successfully submitting the names of Charles Darwin, a member of the Spice Girls and characters from Star Wars, and getting them briefly included on the list.[27] A recent revisiting of his report found his chart analysis to be inaccurate when updated with recent years' data.

According to Bloomberg.com, starting in about 2013 Robinson began collecting "thousands of vials of human urine" which he claims hold "the key to extending the human life span and wresting control of medicine from what he calls the 'medical-industrial-government complex'." As of early 2016, there were 14,000 urine samples stored in freezers at the OISM lab.[2] According to Zachary Mider of Bloomberg, it is "hard to judge the credibility" of Robinson's claims. Although Robinson earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in the 1960s, "he hasn't published peer-reviewed research on diagnostic medicine in decades." In reply Robinson stated, "we've completed experiments here, which we could easily publish, but we want to wait until they are perfect."[2]

In his monthly newsletter "Access to Energy", Robinson has reported on experiments showing that ionizing radiation can be good for you, advocates for a revival of cheap nuclear power, attacks climate science as a "false religion" that will enslave mankind, and condemns public education, instead favoring home schooling.[2] "Access to Energy" was originated by Petr Beckmann; Robinson began writing it with the September 1993 issue.

OISM also publishes material relating to civil defense and disaster preparedness.[22][28]

Political career

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2010 congressional election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2010 § District 4

In May 2010, Robinson won the Republican primary for Oregon's 4th congressional district, taking 79% of the vote to businesswoman Jaynee Germond's 20%. He faced Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio in the November 2010 general election.[6] Six weeks before the election, $600,000 worth of TV advertisements started to appear in the district, portraying his opponent as "a puppet of the Democratic leadership". It was later revealed that the advertisements, reportedly a surprise to Robinson, were paid for by conservative billionaire hedge fund manager Robert Mercer.[2] (Mercer provided "six-figure financial support" to Robinson again in 2012 and 2014.)[2] Robinson was defeated by 145,091 votes (53.6%) to 120,307 (44.5%) but it was the "best performance" by a Republican in the district "in decades".[2] Robinson vowed to try again in 2012.[29]

2012 congressional election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2012

Robinson, running unopposed, became the Republican nominee for Oregon's 4th congressional district, to again face incumbent DeFazio, who had defeated Robinson's son Matthew in a landslide in the Democratic primary.[30] In the general election, DeFazio defeated Robinson by 212,866 votes (59.1%) to 140,549 (39%).

2014 congressional election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2014

Robinson ran for a third time for Oregon's 4th congressional district in 2014. He was unopposed in the Republican primary and faced another rematch with DeFazio in the general election, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Robinson lost the election with 116,534 votes to DeFazio's 181,624.[7]

2016 congressional election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2016
Robinson in 2016

Robinson ran for a fourth time for Oregon's 4th congressional district in 2016. He ran against Jo Rae Perkins, a former Linn County Republican party chairwoman, in the primary election and won with 67 percent of the vote. In the general election on November 8. Robinson once again faced DeFazio, who won his primary election with 93 percent of the vote. DeFazio prevailed once more, 55%-40%.[8]

2018 congressional election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2018

Robinson challenged DeFazio for a fifth time in Oregon's 4th congressional district. He faced four primary challengers this time, Perkins, again, plus former Eugene mayoral candidate Stefan Strek, Curry county commissioner Court Boice, and Michael Polen. Robinson won the nomination with 45.7% of the vote.[31] DeFazio defeated Robinson 56%-41%.

2020 State senate election

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2020

Robinson filed to run once again against DeFazio but dropped out on the final day of the registration period to run for Oregon State Senate District 2, instead, to replace retiring Republican incumbent Herman Baertschiger Jr.[32] Robinson defeated his Democratic challenger, Jerry Allen, with 64.01% to 33.52%.

Political positions

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In addition to asserting that global warming is a hoax, Robinson opposes abortion and supports gun rights,[1] cutting taxes, increasing border security and building new power plants.[1] He argues for balancing the federal budget, defunding earmarks and ending special-interest influence in Washington.[1] He also supports ending the Federal Reserve System. Robinson is against bailouts to Wall Street banks.[citation needed] He also supports a strong national defense, but with a more restrained foreign policy.[33] Robinson is a signatory to A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism, a petition circulated by the Discovery Institute to promote the pseudoscientific intelligent design theory.[34]

Oregon State University controversy

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In 2011, Robinson alleged that Oregon State University (OSU) was part of a conspiracy to retaliate against him for his political activism by expelling his three children, all of whom were graduate students there.[35] When asked what proof he has of the university discriminating against his children, Robinson stated, "I don't have definitive proof, [...] That is what I believe. Basically, I know what happened. I cannot tell you the motives of the people doing it."[36] In a statement, OSU would not comment on matters concerning the students without their consent, but declared all the other claims, including those about the faculty, to be unfounded.[35][37]

2023 Unexcused absences

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While participating in a Republican-led walkout in May 2023 Robinson reached the 10 unexcused absence threshold set by measure 113, disqualifying him from running for reelection after his current term ends.[38] In October the Oregon Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to the measure.[39] On February 1, 2024, the Court unanimously ruled against the Republican Senators, confirming Robinson's disqualification after his current term ends in January 2025.[40]

Personal life

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Robinson is a non-denominational Christian and lives in Cave Junction, Oregon.[5] He was married to Laurelee Robinson until her death in 1988.[1] His six children were all home schooled.[5] As a hobby, Robinson buys unwanted pipe organs from churches and reassembles them on his property.[2] Among the instruments in his collection is the organ formerly owned by famed Christian Gospel singer George Beverly Shea.

Electoral history

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2010 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 4th congressional district [41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio 162,416 54.5
Republican Art Robinson 129,877 43.6
Pacific Green Mike Beilstein 5,215 1.7
Write-in 544 0.2
Total votes 298,052 100%
2012 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 4th congressional district [42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio 212,866 59.1
Republican Art Robinson 140,549 39.0
Libertarian Chuck Huntting 6,205 1.7
Write-in 468 0.1
Total votes 360,088 100%
2014 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 4th congressional district [43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio 181,624 58.6
Republican Art Robinson 116,534 37.6
Pacific Green Mike Beilstein 6,863 2.2
Libertarian David L Chester 4,676 1.5
Write-in 482 0.2
Total votes 310,179 100%
2016 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 4th congressional district [44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio 220,628 55.5
Republican Art Robinson 157,743 39.7
Pacific Green Mike Beilstein 12,194 3.1
Libertarian Gil Guthrie 6,527 1.6
Write-in 476 0.1
Total votes 397,568 100%
2018 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 4th congressional district [45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio 208,710 56.0
Republican Art Robinson 152,414 40.9
Pacific Green Mike Beilstein 5,956 1.6
Libertarian Richard R Jacobson 5,370 1.4
Write-in 443 0.1
Total votes 372,893 100%
2020 Oregon State Senator, 2nd district [46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Art Robinson 48,627 63.9
Democratic Jerry Allen 25,559 33.6
Libertarian Thomas Griffin 1,792 2.4
Write-in 124 0.2
Total votes 76,102 100%

Selected publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Arthur 'Art' Brouhard Robinson". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mider, Zachary (20 January 2016). "What Kind of Man Spends Millions to Elect Ted Cruz?". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  3. ^ Benoit, Mary (June 26, 2006). "An expert look at the energy "crisis": an accomplished scientist share his perspective on America's supposed energy crisis and what can be done to remedy the situation". The New American. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  4. ^ a b Soon, Willie (2002). Global Warming: A Guide to the Science. Fraser Institute. p. viii. ISBN 978-0889751873. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  5. ^ a b c d e Bethell, Tom (February 2001). "A Scientist Finds Independence: Art Robinson fights aging with his home-schooled lab rats". The American Spectator. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  6. ^ a b Russo, Edward (May 19, 2010). "Two GOP political novices advance". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  7. ^ a b "Oregon 2014 General Election". Oregon Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Peter DeFazio to face Art Robinson for 4th time for U.S. House seat (election results)". 2016-05-18. Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  9. ^ "Oregon 2018 General Election". Oregon Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. ^ "Oregon GOP picks Art Robinson as new chairman". KATU.com. Associated Press. August 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  11. ^ Templeton, Amelia (February 28, 2015). "Bill Currier Selected To Be Chairman of Oregon Republican Party". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  12. ^ Pauling, Linus (June 1975). "Good Nutrition for the Good Life" (PDF). Engineering & Science. California Institute of Technology. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  13. ^ a b "Robinson Versus Pauling Case Files". California Digital Library. Archived from the original on 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  14. ^ Robinson, Arthur (1967). Experiments on the synthesis and spectral characterization of cytochrome-related molecules. San Diego, California: University of California, San Diego. OCLC 701648249.
  15. ^ Nishikawa, Azumi (November 6, 2006). "Pauling Institute looks back on its 10 years at Oregon State U." America's Intelligence Wire. The America's Intelligence Wire. Archived from the original on 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  16. ^ "The Register of Robinson Versus Pauling Case Files: 1972-1981". Geisel Library. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  17. ^ Goertzel, Ted (1996). Linus Pauling: A Life In Science And Politics. Basic Books. p. 219. ISBN 978-0465006731. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  18. ^ a b c "An Institute for Science and Orthomolecular Medicine (1973-1981) Part 2". Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 2010-11-17. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  19. ^ Severo, Richard (August 21, 1994). "Linus C. Pauling Dies at 93; Chemist and Voice for Peace". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  20. ^ "The Years Alone: Pauling after the Death of Ava Helen (1982-1994) Part 1". Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  21. ^ a b "Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine". National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS). Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  23. ^ Henry, Devin (May 28, 2008). "Climate change petition pits scientists against each other". Minnesota Daily. Archived from the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  24. ^ Morrison, David (2011). "Science Denialism: Evolution and Climate Change" (PDF). Reports of the National Center for Science Education. 31 (5) (September–October ed.). National Center for Science Education: 17–26. ISSN 2159-9270. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  25. ^ Bagley, Katherine (September 19, 2013). "IPCC report: sceptic groups launch global anti-science campaign". The Guardian. London, England. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  26. ^ Idso, Craig; Singer, S. Fred (2009). Climate Change Reconsidered: 2009 Report of the Nongovernmental Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), Appendix 4, The Petition Project (PDF). The Heartland Institute. ISBN 978-1-934791-28-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  27. ^ Mann, Michael E. (2012). The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars. Columbia University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0231152556.
  28. ^ Robinson, Arthur & Gary North (1986). Fighting chance: ten feet to survival. Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine. ISBN 978-0930462109. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  29. ^ "DeFazio wins: Robinson says he'll regroup for campaign in 2012". The World. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  30. ^ Hallow, Ralph Z. (June 3, 2012). "In Oregon, chemist offers GOP a unifying formula". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  31. ^ Moriarty, Liam (May 15, 2018). "Robinson To Face DeFazio in Oregon's 4th congressional District". Jefferson Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  32. ^ Art Robinson won't run for Congress, seeks state Senate seat instead Archived 2023-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, KPIC, March 11th 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  33. ^ "Issues". Art Robinson for Congress. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  34. ^ Powell, James (2011). The Inquisition of Climate Science. New York City: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0231157186.
  35. ^ a b Palmer, Susan (March 8, 2011). "Robinson says OSU targeting his kids: The congressional candidate alleges the school is retaliating for his political activism". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  36. ^ Koopmans, Kelly (March 8, 2011). "Art Robinson vs. Oregon State: 'I don't have definitive proof'". KVAL-TV. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  37. ^ "Statement regarding Internet postings by Art Robinson". Oregon State University. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  38. ^ VanderHart, Dirk; Dake, Lauren (May 18, 2023). "Oregon Republican walkout: 6 more senators are potentially ineligible for reelection". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  39. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (October 24, 2023). "GOP senators' challenge to walkout penalties lands before Oregon Supreme Court". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  40. ^ Shumway, Julia (1 February 2024). "Oregon Supreme Court bars Republican senators who participated in walkout from reelection". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  42. ^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  44. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  45. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Oregon Republican Party
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
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