Does anyone have any feelings or information to share about tomorrow's labor commissioner run-off?
I was less than thrilled with the roster of candidates in the primary. Now, in the run-off, we have two. John Brooks, who's old and I've read really varying opinions about his prior history as labor commissioner. My reading of his history was enough to convince me to vote for him in the primary.
And I did so mainly because I couldn't see any reason to vote for Marlowe Foster based on HIS history. Here it is in a nutshell:
Pfizer, Inc.
Marlowe W. Foster is presently with the Pfizer Corporation and previously served as Executive Director of The North Carolina Association of Health Plans (NCAHP). Foster directs legislative and regulatory strategies for the association on behalf of its members. He also oversees lobbying efforts representing member companies before
the North Carolina General Assembly.
Prior to joining NCAHP, Foster served as corporate affairs manager for Lowe's Companies, Inc., a Fortune 50 home improvement retailer. Fosters' previous public relations and public policy work, prepared him to address policies impacting the business community population at
large as well as the managed care industry.
Foster holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Why the hell should I trust a big pharma & health insurance cartel lobbyist to suddenly represent workers instead of being a plant who favors industry? The only reason I'm even questioning my vote is because about an hour ago I discovered he has a Blue NC blog and there was a spirited debate about Brooks v. Foster. My hunch is he started a blog there pretty late in the game as an electioneering move.
I still intend to vote for the old codger Brooks tomorrow as I don't trust Foster at all -- am I wrong? If so, why?
= new reply since forum marked as read
he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
My first email (sent to his campaign manager, which he passed on and I got a reply from MF):
Sorry I'm writing at the last minute, but I'm trying to decide tonight and up 'til my vote tomorrow. I voted for Brooks in the first primary.
I'm rethinking after reading some of the support MF received on Blue NC, though that was only a few people. I'm wondering if he was simply successful at snowing a few people and saw the benefit of starting a Blue NC blog. I didn't see any posts there with any real substance, just electioneering kinds of posts.
I didn't vote for MF mainly because of his history. Why should I vote for a lobbyist for two of my most despised industries in this country, those that regularly screw Americans with high drug prices & health insurance that benefits the insurance companies, their CEOs & stockholders more than people they're gouging -- big pharma and the health insurance cartel?
Why would I trust him to suddenly be the voice for workers when his prior work history has been influencing politicians to vote in favor of these crooks and not in favor of the actual workers and citizens of NC and, by extension, the United States?
I still intend to vote for Brooks tomorrow unless I can get a reasonable (i.e. non-BS) answer.
Marlowe Foster's reply:
Thanks for your note.
I believe in being very honest and forthright. My parents, both educators, raised me to push to achieve everything I could in life. I don't agree that Lowe's Home Improvement and Pfizer Inc are two of the most despised companies in the country. My focus at Lowe's was to help stores get built so that homeowners could undertake do-it-yourself projects and improve their homes. At Pfizer, I have worked to ensure that participants in North Carolina's State Health Plan and NC Medicaid have prevention and wellness benefits, a comprehensive health plan and medications to treat disease. I am very proud of my work at these two companies.
I am running for Labor Commissioner to focus on ensuring workplace safety first and foremost. Making sure inspectors are inspecting companies that have not made workplace safety a priority. Secondly, I want to focus on being a strong supporter of North Carolina's Community College system. Ensuring adequate resources for training and re-training of our workforce is critical to helping the state address the 9.4% unemployment rate.
Finally, this race is critically important to the entire Democratic ticket. Having a candidate that can appeal to a cross section of voters and help drive vote for our other candidates is critically important. Our candidacy can help other Democrats statewide, in House districts and in Senate districts. I hope you will give me consideration on tomorrow. I really need your vote and know I provide the best opportunity for the Democratic Party to again hold the office of Labor Commissioner.
Thanks so much for your outreach.
Marlowe Foster
Democratic Candidate for NC Labor Commissioner
The runoff election is critical to the Democratic Party.
My reply to that total bullshit response:
I appreciate your prompt response. I was referring not to Lowe's but to Pfizer/big pharma & your position as Executive Director of Health Plans -- as a person with preexisting conditions who was initially one of millions screwed by private insurance and then was unable to get insurance, I have strong feelings about the health insurance cartel. Though I support President Obama, I am displeased with the Democratic plan -- I'm a single payer advocate. The prime problems in this country in terms of health care are the health insurance cartel and big pharma, among others. Corporate power over government must stop in this country, and that includes health insurance and big pharma.
And I made that very clear in my original email.
And yes, the health insurance industry and big pharma are despised for very good reason, but you know that.
I'm glad you're proud of your work as a lobbyist. You must know that lobbyists are reviled as part of the problem in this country, part of the system of corporations owning our political system and writing/supporting laws that benefit corporations and hurt Americans.
I'm sorry, sir, I find your answer disingenuous, full of empty rhetoric and I'll be voting for your opponent tomorrow.
Needless to say, that's the last I heard from him.
i like that. the only time i come close to that is when i'm writing to Burr - i never fail to remind him that his job is to represent his constituents, not his party. i ask him if he will ever do that.
one of my co-workers didn't know it was election day and he asked me who to vote for - i told him Brooks and that Foster may be a republican plant. 
thanks for being so diligent.
Sigh. I voted today. Now, I have a fairly quiet school in which to vote, which is nice. But damn.....I voted at 1:15 -- polls had been open since 6 a.m. I was the 28th person to vote. Sigh, sigh, sigh! There were 3 wonderful women, 2 of them pretty elderly and one middle-aged, there running everything.....bless them! Had a nice conversation with one of them.
We've taken the same approach to Burr.....guess he's not persuaded by us, huh? When I get a response, I get the same bullshit kinds of responses from his staffers -- pat emails which usually don't have anything to do with the reason I've contacted him. Doesn't matter -- he'll keep hearing from me as long as he's there.
I don't know what to make of Foster -- what I do know is I don't trust him and didn't vote for him! 
i was there about 5:30 pm and was number 55. 
