May 22, 2006

Dear Friends and Voters,

My last statement caused a bit of a stir among the media and others. We have a presumption in law that paragraph headings are not to be taken as the text of the statute itself and they are not controlling. So too are the headings on my website. They are there to get attention but the readers are encouraged to READ the statement.

Had they done so, they would have noticed that I did not say that anyone had endorsed me. The statement said that I had met Dean Smith. I did. He told me a story about Andy Griffith and politics and we took the picture and moved on. I did not say that he endorsed me. He is free to support and endorse anyone and the question of how he votes and for whom he votes is between him and his Creator.

I have changed my website now and hopefully this will clarify things and allow Dean Smith to get back to work at UNC and me to move forward with my campaign.

However, I find the attention to both him and myself unwarranted. We have major problems facing our country and there are also issues of import in North Carolina. The people would be better served if the media pursued some of these issues with the same zeal that they pursued my meeting various people.

I also take issue with the calls for me to apologize. Has President Bush been asked to apologize to the American people for lying about going to war with Iraq or for secretly monitoring our phone calls? Has Vernon Robinson been asked to apologize for insinuating that Congressman Brad Miller was a homosexual because he was childless? Has Nathan Tabor been asked to apologize to me for trying to get me fired while I was recovering from surgery? Has Ferrell Blount, the NC GOP Chairman, been asked to apologize for attacking me, when instead of getting condolences for my illness, as Elizabeth Edwards received, I get comments like "I hope the bitch dies" instead?

The answers are no, no, no and no. When these individuals apologize, I will think about apologizing. Until then, I will not apologize as I have done nothing wrong.

Benjamin Franklin told a story to Thomas Jefferson when the latter winced at the editing that was made to the Declaration of Independence.

John Thompson, Hatter, makes and sells hats for ready money,' with a figure of a hat subjoined. But he thought he would submit it to his friends for their amendments. The first he showed it to thought the word 'Hatter' tautologous, because followed by the words 'makes hats,' which showed he was a hatter. It was struck out. The next observed that the word 'makes' might as well be omitted, because his customers would not care who made the hats. If good and to their mind, they would buy them, by whomsoever made. He struck it out. A third said he thought the words 'for ready money' were useless, as it was not the custom of the place to sell on credit. Every one who purchased expected to pay. They were parted with, and the inscription now stood, 'John Thompson sells hats.' 'Sells hats!' says the next friend. 'Why, nobody will expect you to give them away. What then is the use of that word?' It was stricken out, and 'hats' followed it, the rather as there was one painted on the board. So the inscription was reduced ultimately to 'John Thompson,' with the figure of a hat subjoined."

The point of the story is that while people have suggestions, one should not always take the advice that is offered.

We are all creatures of habit and as we age, we like change even less. I understand that and I understand that my campaign may make some individuals uncomfortable. But as I said in my last statement, I am a different kind of candidate and am running a different kind of campaign. And while I value your thoughts and opinions and will give them due consideration, in the end I will decide about how my campaign should be run and I will accept the consequences that follow.

Best wishes,

Rachel Lea Hunter
Candidate for NC Supreme Court Associate Justice