Arthur B. Robinson

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Arthur B. Robinson
Art Robinson.jpg
Born (1942-03-24) March 24, 1942 (age 82)
Chicago, Illinois
Residence United States
Nationality American
Fields Biochemistry
Institutions University of California, San Diego
Alma mater California Institute of Technology,
University of California, San Diego
Thesis Experiments on the synthesis and spectral characterization of cytochrome-related molecules (1967)
Doctoral advisor Martin Kamen
Spouse Laurelee Robinson (Died 1988)
Website
www.artforcongress.com

Arthur Brouhard "Art" Robinson (born March 24, 1942[1]) is an American biochemist, conservative activist and three 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 at San Diego, Robinson now runs a 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 2010, 2012, and 2014.[6][7] He served as Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from August 2013[8] to February 2015.[9]

Early life and education

Arthur Robinson was born in Chicago.[1] He received a B.S. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1963,[10] and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1968.[11] His doctorial thesis was titled, Experiments on the synthesis and spectral characterization of cytochrome-related molecules.[12]

Scientific career

Early career

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 later resigned in 1972.[11]

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.[13][14]

Linus Pauling Institute

Robinson was the president, director and a research professor with tenure at the institute.[15]

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]",[16] 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 and the board granted him a leave of absence passing all executive authority to Pauling, later electing him president and director of the institute.[16]

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".[17] Robinson filed a lawsuit against the Institute for $25.5 million, finally settling for $575,000.[16][18]

Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine

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.[19] 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".[19] Robinson states his staff has included Salk Institute biochemist Fred Westall, the late Nobel prize-winning biochemist Robert Bruce Merrifield, and the late Manhattan project physicist Martin Kamen.[20]

The OISM (in collaboration with the late Frederick Seitz[21]) circulated the so-called "Oregon Petition" urging the United States government to reject the global warming Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and similar policies,[21] declaring that "the proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment," the advance of science, and human "health and welfare".[21] The OISM website states that "several members of the Institute's staff are also well known for their work on the Petition Project", and that the petition has "more than 31,000" signatures by scientists.[20][22]

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 at 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 argues that nuclear radiation can be good for you, advocates for a revival of nuclear power, attacks climate science as a “false religion” that will enslave mankind, and condemns public education favoring home schooling.[2] The institute also publishes material relating to civil defense and disaster preparedness.[20][23]

Political career

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.[24]

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.[25] 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]

Political views

In addition to believing 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 restoring sound money and 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.[26] Robinson is a signatory to A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism, a petition circulated by the Discovery Institute to promote intelligent design.[27]

Oregon State University controversy

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.[28] 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."[29] 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.[28][30]

Personal life

Robinson is a non-denominational Christian and lives in 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]

Selected publications

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ James Powell. The Inquisition of Climate Science, Columbia University Press. August 30, 2011
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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