Editorial Editor Jumps Rachel's
Bodyguard And Her Handicapped Supporters

Greensboro News & Record Staff Blogs
Wednesday, August 30, 2006

My column today: By Doug Clark

Rachel Lea Hunter is the first judicial candidate I've met who travels with a bodyguard.

His name is Curtis. He's big, muscular and not very talkative. Hunter's husband, Connie Mack Berry Jr., makes up for that.

"We've had threats," Berry said. "Rachel's controversial. We don't take any chances."

Maybe Hunter needs a bodyguard. Maybe she doesn't, and Curtis tags along just to attract attention. When it comes to "Madame Justice," it's hard to tell. ...

That was the nickname Hunter asked to have put on the ballot when she filed to run for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court. The State Board of Elections said no, but the bid generated news coverage.

"As P.T. Barnum once said, 'There's no such thing as bad publicity so long as they spell your name right,' " Hunter wrote on her Web site.

Not many candidates would welcome the sort of publicity Hunter seems to relish. The leaders of both political parties have denounced her. She was forced to retract a claim that Dean Smith endorsed her. The legal establishment is virtually unanimous in support of her opponent, sitting Justice Mark Martin. Some say if she wins, it will push the state to eliminate judicial elections.

She's not deterred. If everyone's against her, it just confirms her view that the "system" wants to maintain its power. On her Web site, Hunter comes across as, um, different.

-- Explaining "Madame Justice": "The name was made up by me in 1998 when I was active on the Internet. I used the name as a screen persona or identity. I envisioned, when I created the name, a female dominatrix or costumed crime-fighting character from the comic books."

-- Replying to a critic: "Thank you for your campaign advice. Have you ever run for office yourself in the hope of bringing a bit of change for the better to our society? No? Then I will consider your advice after you have done so and not before. You are not naive, ignorant, perhaps. Education is the cure for ignorance, but there is none for stupidity."

-- On her brain tumor: "Why is it that I am running? Because I am disgusted by what I see in office and I am disgusted by the behavior of those who call themselves judge or justice and hold office. What do you think the cause of my brain tumor is? Extreme stress over what I saw happening."

The tumor, which was removed in May, indirectly accounts for why Hunter, from Cary, visited Greensboro last Thursday. She joined people protesting fare changes for the city's SCAT service. Since her surgery, which left some facial paralysis and partial deafness, she identifies with disabled people.

"I have the use of my legs, but I'm handicapped, too," she said. In an interview, Hunter portrayed herself as a champion of regular people and individual rights.

Beyond rhetoric, her record is thin. She's never been a judge and has practiced law in North Carolina only since 2001. Before that, she was a judicial law clerk in Pennsylvania for 12 years.

"Martin has a nice resume," she said of her opponent, who's also served as a Superior Court judge and on the N.C. Court of Appeals. "If you compared our resumes, he'd win."

Unfortunately, voters don't always consider judicial candidates' qualifications.

Hunter also ran for a Supreme Court seat two years ago and finished third in a field of eight -- first in Guilford County.

She's better known now, thanks to her oddball campaign, which seems to be engineered by her husband. Berry says the effort will be "self-financed" with about $250,000. A frequent commentator on North Carolina blogs and a political gadfly, Berry says he helped elect Jesse Ventura governor of Minnesota in 1998 and claims he's a friend of Mel Gibson, sometimes appearing in his movies.

After meeting Hunter, who's more dignified in person than I'd expected, I wonder if she'd be noticed much at all if it weren't for Berry's guidance.

Well, that's a mystery. Anyway, without the controversy, what would Curtis do?

Posted by Doug Clark at August 30, 2006 08:33 AM
Comments

Well, that's a mystery. Anyway, without the controversy, what would Curtis do?* Doug

He goes to Raleigh after she wins in November as her personal driver and security adviser. You are invited to come Doug in January along with many of her fans and handicapped supporters.

Yours, Eight ball Mack

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 30, 2006 10:05 AM

Time will tell, 8Ball. Thanks for reading.

Posted by: Doug at August 30, 2006 10:41 AM

Time will tell, 8Ball. Thanks for reading.* Doug

Correction! That should be "Minnesota Skinny Fats Jesse Mel sidepocket trick shot Mack" Please correct on the ballot.

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 30, 2006 12:22 PM

I am a friend of both Rachel and Con. I can testify that the "Madam Justice" tag was used by her on the internet about as long as I have known her. It was fist used, to my knowledge, on the old AncientSites.com website, where Rachel was a constant and valued presence.

As to snide remarks about a body guard, any candidate for any office who has had threats of physical harm would be crazy NOT to have one.

Con was in Mel Gibson's movie "The Patriot," specifically the scene where Mel's character is signing up recruits in the tavern. It was a minor speaking part.

Were I a North Carolina resident, I would not hesitate to vote for Rachel.

Posted by: Al Schlaf at August 30, 2006 01:52 PM

That's all nice to know, Al. Her "dominatrix" explanation is a little scarier.

I believe anything Connie says about his acting career.

Posted by: Doug at August 30, 2006 02:10 PM

Her "dominatrix" explanation is a little scarier.

Obviously, you are unfamiliar with online role play. There are plenty of things scarier.

Posted by: Al Schlaf at August 30, 2006 02:17 PM

But we're talking about a candidate for Supreme Court. It's maybe not the image she should want to project. But, that's just my opinion.

Posted by: Doug at August 30, 2006 02:30 PM

But we're talking about a candidate for Supreme Court. It's maybe not the image she should want to project. But, that's just my opinion.* Doug

Think back Doug! 9 years ago if you were on the net in a revolutionary ancient history site as budding writer like most of the persona's. Would you have consider limiting your comments knowing that you would be a editoral editor on a major market media paper in the future?

Al! Didn't we have a Federal Supreme Judge husband pretending to be a clown on the site giving ancient roman history lessons to a chariot load of College Profs?

Did't he get wash away in Katrania last year with the Saints football team?

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 30, 2006 06:05 PM

I believe anything Connie says about his acting career.* Doug

I don't! In my minor bit part! I was the Slavemaster and force Vernon Robertson to fight in my place for his freedom. Mel turn him down since he was drunk from drinking that hot warm Tory Brit Ale and didn't know until later what he said. In fact he has beg 1 st class private milita Vol Vernon to forgive him for not getting shot by the Redcoats and dying as a hero in his next congressional race.

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 30, 2006 06:16 PM

Al! Didn't we have a Federal Supreme Judge husband pretending to be a clown on the site giving ancient roman history lessons to a chariot load of College Profs?

Indeed. At AS and its successor, Ancient Worlds.net, we have and have had IRL judges, attorneys, doctors, nurses, members of the military, academics and at least two very successful authors. Many of these chose rather whimsical names and/or personae. It is worth noting that none of them became any less worthy IRL as a consequence of this.

Now, it IS odd that some are so desperately opposed to Rachel that they have nothing better to do than fall back on silliness of a nickname, the fact she has a bodyguard or a spouse single-mindedly devoted to her candidacy rather than issues. Do I hear hysterical shrieks of fear? Yess, I think I do...

Posted by: Al Schlaf at August 30, 2006 07:55 PM

Do I hear hysterical shrieks of fear? Yess, I think I do...* Al

Not only that Al, but it appears that the campaign mailbox is filling up with blowback comments from other new bloggers in the area.

Rule 1 in politics Al. Never pick on handicapped folks nor women in politics and call them undignified as a person.

Surely the Chairman of the State Republican party must know that rule with his judical candiates.

"nasty" article by Doug from Dr arahmad

Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006
From: Dr arahmad
To: rachel@rachelforjustice.com
Subject: Fw: New & Record editorial on Rachel Hunter

Dear Mr. HMack,

I hope my note finds you well.

I am passing along a rather "nasty" article that appeared in the News and Record today. It's by that Mr. Clark you mentioned.

I also thought you'd like to know that I have Ms. Hunter's bumper sticker up at my office in the main hall where everyone can see. My door faces out where everyone has to take a look.

Also, we've started a blog to begin putting out our own message Here's the link.

Anjail Rashida Ahmad

A world of peace, a world of joy is what many desire. The acts and intentions of one human soul can make all the difference.

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 30, 2006 08:40 PM

Sumbody's a few fries short of a Happy Meal! Posted by: Billy Hill at August 31, 2006 08:55 AM Sumbody's a few fries short of a Happy Meal!* Billy Hill

I agree Billy Bob! Certainly calling Dr Anjail Rashida Ahmad and her group of handicapped folks is not a very smart political move on your part. Have you consider working as a political consultant for the Klan in the field of anger mangement and a food service rep for Mac Donalds in a clown suit? Better yet! Maybe the national Republican party just might have a postion open for you as a image maker for their compassion loving agenda.

Posted by: Connie Mack Jr at August 31, 2006 12:19 PM