Journey to Governor – Seeing Things Rightly

Running for Governor, I am learning…involves striving to see things rightly, taking advice warmly given and criticism holding ground, while also considering the critic’s point. While I have long done this, running for office notches things up.

On occasion, I console myself with TR: “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better…but the man…in the arena.” Some days, it seems an arena.

Several World War II veterans taught me, often with determination, what they knew, what they thought, and what they expected of me, and should have expected of me.

Most were conservative. One was liberal. Rather than sidestep his acerbic wit, I relished those conversations. He had experience to push me, I had tenacity – or maybe it was insolence – to push back. We stayed friends until he died in his 90s. He taught me many things, among them how to defend my views.

He was big on Gaza, I was big on Israel. He was big on Johnson; I rather liked Reagan. He was vocal about Republican failings; I accepted when he was right, then doubled back with Democrat fails.

In the meantime, he taught me how to work on engines and with fiberglass, how to hammer, scrape, paint, polyurethane, use power equipment, and stand my ground – even with him. I admired him, put him in a book, and never stopped listening.

His kids never knew me, but seem to have fallen close to the tree. One took me to task the other day on Facebook for taking on corrupt Democrats: “I’m so glad my father did not live to see what you’re trying to do…he’d be ashamed.” Would he? She has no idea who I am, no idea what I believe, but she has his spirit.

I pondered the comment, so conclusive, no conversation. The swiftness with which modern activists pounce – not interested in real understanding, sure they have it – is a token of our times, and a moral hazard for those who dare step up. So be it.

There are wonders of another sort, the two ladies in their 80s, passing me in a grocery parking lot, eager to chat – telling me how grateful they are for my work, willingness to stand for their views, then offering chapters in their lives, one a firm Republican, one a firm Democrat, and best of friends.

Or the older lady from Boothbay who approached with friends, just to say she loved one of my books, it gave her fresh hope, even her dogs knew she was happy. She left me speechless. How do you tell someone they are the wind in your sails?

Some days are filled with speaking, others listening, most both – making them complete. It is rather fun, really. You think back about people at day’s end, and then how great this nation is, the process of picking our leaders. We are so lucky.  

It does fill your sails, so many people counting on you to honor their hope with fidelity; it makes you “up your game,” and do all you can while you can.

What did Stephen Grellet say? “I shall pass this way but once. Any good I can do, or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” That is the spirit we should have, lifts you.

I wonder at times, because anyone would, whether I am getting through, helping people connect the dots, see why things are as difficult, or just wasting my breath. I wonder if they see it, after all, that we can together fix the mess, because we can.

I try every day, persuading critics, grateful for fellow warriors in the field, one eye to Heaven and both feet on the ground – to get things right, know the truth, say it.

I am reminded of George Washington’s words, They are so simple. “The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.” I hope so, believe so. If I can do that, things will turn – for all of us.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!