This is a sort of “point of personal privilege” article, but it has direct connection to the politics of the day. So, I might as well dive in.
When Maine held its primary a week ago, most of the country was, understandably, focused on the race for U.S. Senate. I was watching it, as well, but I was also looking closely at the race for governor. That’s because I’d been following the candidacy of Hannah Pingree.
I’ve never met Hannah Pingree. I know that she served in Maine House of Representatives for four terms. And was the Democratic Majority Leader. And then served as the Speaker of the House. But I also sort of, kind of know -- though we haven’t been in touch for years -- Chellie Pingree. Chellie is the former Democratic Majority Leader in the Maine Senate and currently one of two members in the U.S. Congress from Maine. She also is Hannah Pingree’s mother.
In fact, if you watched Lawrence O’Donnell’s show on MSNOW this past Tuesday, he interview an official from Maine to discuss the political situation in flux there. That official was Chellie Pingree.
It was back in 2020 when I met Chellie. The Democratic Convention was being held in Los Angeles that year, when Al Gore was nominated, and I covered it for the Writers Guild of America publication, “Written By.” It was a memorable week.
Slight digression. Earlier in convention, I was wandering around outside the convention hall when I ran into a “correspondent” out on the street. I say “correspondent” in quotes because he was really there on behalf of a comedy TV program, The Daily Show. It was somewhat early in his TV career, but I knew and liked his work. A fellow named Steve Carrell. I don’t remember much of our conversation, other than that he was very nice. (I got a chance to remind him of how friendly he’d been when years later I visited the movie set of Get Smart, which my friends Michael Ewing was producing, and Peter Segal directed.) That’s also the convention I wrote about here when I met and “saved” former CIA Director and former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
But how I met Chellie Pingree, and stayed in touch for a long while, is at the same level for me. And therein lies the tale. I wrote about it on the Huffington Post 20 years ago – and did a second, follow-up article a few years later. But given the title of that first article – “Paradise Found! An Actual Good Person in Government” – I not only am so pleased that my first impression has held true, but I thought this was a great reason to repost it here. On her behalf and to help explain why I wish her accomplished daughter Hannah well, too.
By the way, I think Hannah Pingree has a strong chance to win. In the Maine primary, Democrats cast 200,000 votes in their gubernatorial race, while MAGOPs cast 120,000. That isn’t proof of anything, but it’s a great starting point.
Paradise Found! An Actual, Good Person in Government
People have been cynical about politicians since the Roman Empire. (“O, that Marcus Aurelius. He too hath a lean and hungry look.”) It’s just that these days – between Bill Frist diagnosing brain-dead strangers via television, the Vice-President shooting someone without investigation, and the White House outing a covert agent for spite – Republicans have turned cynicism into an art form.
However, it’s important to remind oneself that there actually are incredibly good people in government service. I don’t mean “people I agree with.” I mean, simply, good people. Kind, decent, thoughtful. While banging my head against the wall, weary of yet one more outrage (I think it was conservatives comparing Al Gore to Hitler), I was saved a concussion when I thought of Chellie Pingree.
It’s good to always recognize that the Chellie Pingree’s of the world exist. It brings comfort.
I was covering the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. In fairness, “covering” is too grandiose. I was covering it like one snowflake covers the Alps. I was doing a single article for the Writers Guild of America magazine.
A delegate from Maine named Chellie Pingree saw my press badge. Mentioning that I’d worked briefly in Maine and loved it, that’s what we talked about. Politics didn’t enter into the conversation.
This was the National Democratic Convention. If two mimes met, politics would have entered into the conversation. But we talked about Moody’s Diner, Campobello Island and wild blueberries. She just wanted to chat.
But after 15 minutes, I didn’t even know what this Pingree person did. She was about to floor me.
“Oh, I’m a delegate from my local area,” she said, and left it at that. So, I had to drag out more. How’d you get to be a delegate? “Oh, I’m in politics.” Well, okay, what do you do in politics? (By this point, I figured she’s a poll watcher in Waldoboro.) “I’m the State Senate Majority Leader.”
Okay, here’s the thing: that’s not what amazed me. It’s that I still had to do yet more questioning to find that she was running for the United States Senate in 2002.
Again, remember, this was the Democratic Convention. Candidates will trample little children to reach someone with a press badge – but it had to be dragged out of her that she was running for the U.S. Senate There was enough politics there; she just wanted to chat.
But even that isn’t what impressed me most about Chellie Pingree. It was a small matter later – small, as in, “bizarrely insignificant.” But its very insignificance is what speaks volumes.
Over the next year, we exchanged periodic emails. That she took the time during her exhaustive Senate campaign was notable enough. We discussed politics, and chatted frivolities. Once, I even mentioned buying a University of Maine baseball cap while there, but bemoaned losing it. She kindly commiserated.
Many months later, as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, she came to Los Angeles for a fund-raiser. Noticing her get off the hotel elevator, I wandered over to re-introduce myself. But before I could say a word, she greeted me with a big hello, and said, “Wait, I have something for you.” At that, she reached into her bag, and pulled out…a University of Maine baseball c
I didn’t live in Maine, I couldn’t vote for her. I wouldn’t be writing about her. We’d met one time. And yet she listened, tracked down a cap, remembered to pack it, remembered to bring it downstairs, actually recognized me, and the first thing she did at her fundraising event – for the United States Senate – was deliver it.
This was an insignificant act, make no mistake. But the ability to notice small things and be thoughtful about them – even at the times of greatest stress – is what speaks to a person’s character.
I wish the story had a perfect ending. Unfortunately, she got caught in the Republican mid-term steamroller after 9/11. She came close in her race, but lost to Susan Collins.
But at least the story has a good ending. Because of Chellie Pingree’s reputation for decency and ability, she was approached to be President and CEO of Common Cause, positions which she holds today, working for the public good.
I’ve avoided mentioning the issues Chellie Pingree has worked for, because issues color our perception of a person. But basic decency, that’s core.
I have no idea if Chellie Pingree will run for political office again. Or be appointed to some post. Or continue with Common Cause, or elsewhere. But as I look at the mean-spirited, divisive political landscape today and cringe, I only know that whatever she does, we all are served best when people like Chellie Pingree are part of the process.
And this is the very brief update.
As I noted earlier, Chellie did decide to run again for politics. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, 2008. She’s represented her district (one of just two in Maine) since then. And she’s so popular that in the just-concluded primary, she ran unopposed.
We traded emails for a short while and briefly crossed paths, notably at a small luncheon held for her in Los Angeles. Memorable because I got bumped from the adults’ table at the last minute by the late-arriving Rep. Maxine Waters. I held that against Waters for many years, but I finally got over it. When Chellie needed a ride to the airport afterwards, though, I volunteered to drive her. (Hey, you’ll note that Maxine Waters didn’t offer to drive her!)
And so, continued best wishes to Chellie Pingree, and good luck to Hannah Pingree.
