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Salisbury, NC— In its
second forum for candidates, the Rowan Salisbury NAACP featured
candidates running for state and federal office. Those few dozen in
attendance also included candidates Ty Cobb, Republican and Mel Watt
Democrat for the 12th District, Bennett for the state senate
race, as well as Coates the incumbent and Fisher, challenger for the
state 77th District seat. Dr. Ada M. Fisher, NC House
District 77 Republican candidate demonstrated her superior knowledge of
health care and the challenges faced by state government in clearly
stating that health care was a privilege not a right nor solely a
responsibility for we are the nation winning Noble Prizes for our
innovations and discoveries, we have been on the path to do the right
things which allowing practitioners some say and nationalized health
care is not in her opinion the way to go. Fisher challenged all to
understand that the game changer for health is a meaningful job not
medicines or insurance per public health studies.
Addressing the issue of the VA
closing, all the panelist to some extent showed concern but only Fisher
and Watt talked in depth about the lack of inclusion of veterans, the
employees and this community in such a decision which has state wide
implications. Interestingly Watt stated he was glad he was not running
against Fisher for she will take it where he didn’t want to go. Dr.
Fisher seized on this to talk about the lack of transparency in
government noting decisions made behind closed doors which impact
stakeholders so profoundly should have a hearing before they are
implemented. Reiterating her concern about how veteran’s benefits are
handled and the fact that they will have to compete for care with those
who crowd the emergency room, Fisher referred to her website
GetADoctorInTheHouse.com which highlights some of the ways to alleviate
the health care crisis.
On illegal immigration, Fisher
was stunned that all including the incumbent were now singing her song
about illegal immigration. Concerned that much of this is disingenuous
given people’s past record Fisher demonstrated compassion in noting the
need to do emergency care, but from personal experience as a physician
also cited that too many illegally here flood the emergency rooms for
basic care and that is not that operations’ job. Discussing the cost of
care and ways to help, Fisher talked specifically about existing laws
that can help and other things that should be considered.
As a licensed teacher and
previous Rowan County Board of Education member, Dr. Fisher noted that
the No Child Left Behind Act was a good idea which unfortunately became
an unfunded state mandate due to lack of federal funds, has too much
testing and its remediation efforts leave much to be desired which would
be better served in looking at best practices around the state.
In her own way, Fisher got in
the fact that the state is wasting money, noting the Jet which the state
almost bought (which the incumbent approved), the more that 700 million
in COPS which accrued on the incumbents watch, the outsourcing to India
of jobs which affect information dispersal for social security, and the
lack of inclusion of retired state employees health care and pension
benefits which threaten us with bankruptcy. She closed in stating that
this county and state can measure her record of service, her commitment
to helping people regardless of party and circumstance and her
consistency in making sure we put Citizens First and serve people
fairly.
Candidate's
Schedule:
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October 7,
2008 - Gov. Sarah Palin will be in Greenville, NC
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October 8,
2008 - Livingstone College at 11 AM for Candidate’s Forum
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October 10,
2008 - Rowan County Jazz Festival
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October 15,
2008 - NAACP Forum at Rowan County Public Library at 6:30pm
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October 16,
2008 - Rowan County Republican Women’s meeting at the Headquarters.
Gov. Sarah Palin in Greensboro, NC for a fundraiser
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October 18,
2008 - Livingstone College’s Homecoming
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October 23,
2008 - Rowan County Chamber of Commerce Forum at 5:45 at Catawba
College
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