Boston Mayor Michelle Wu did simply tremendous.
Her antagonists on the Home Oversight Committee, out to color Boston as a haven for prison unlawful immigrants, hardly laid a glove on her.
And once they did throughout Wednesday’s Washington listening to on sanctuary cities denying or limiting cooperation with ICE, she gave again pretty much as good as she acquired.
Wu, although, had a bonus that not one of the three different mayors testifying had — New York Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Not solely was she the one girls mayor to testify, however she introduced together with her the “Three F’s.” They’re her spiritual religion, which was symbolized by the smudge of an Ash Wednesday cross on her brow; conventional household values, by bringing her 1-month-old child to the listening to; and the flag, by describing herself because the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants who loves America.
Who can high that?
As well as, the listening to was held on Ash Wednesday, the Roman Catholic and Christian holy day of reflection and repentance and the beginning of Lent, the 40-day interval of prayer and fasting that results in Easter Sunday.
When the priest applies the ashes, he reminds the receiver that “From mud you got here, and to mud you’ll return.”
Not that Ash Wednesday and Wu’s ashes had something to do with the listening to, though some nonbelievers on the committee might have discovered it unsettling and even intimidating.
However perhaps they did so as a result of it was an open signal of her Christian religion, which can have contributed to her look of confidence, stability and serenity all through the lengthy listening to.
The ashes definitely set her aside as she seemed to be one of many few within the room with ashes; some committee members had them, and so they had been distinguished each time the tv cameras centered on her.
Whether or not her sporting the ashes was a part of a committee look technique really helpful by her extremely paid consultants or not, it clearly gave her an edge, as did having the newborn on board.
As robust and, at instances, cynical as a few of the questions that got here from scoffing Republicans had been, nobody dared touch upon the ashes or on having the newborn round.
If Committee Chairman James Comer anticipated Wu to be the weak hyperlink among the many 4 mayors, he needed to be upset. She turned out to be probably the most articulate.
And moderately than get into any confrontation with Comer or some other Republicans on the committee who’re lethal against sanctuary cities, Wu skillfully made it a battle between her, the petite however articulate mayor, and the heavy-handed Tom Homan, the deporter-in-chief.
An instance was when she went after Border Czar Homan for describing Boston as a sanctuary for violent prison unlawful immigrants, for his threats to carry “hell” to Boston and for his assaults on Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
Homan, amongst different issues, stated earlier that Cox ought to flip in his badge. “You forgot what it’s wish to be a cop,” Homan stated.
“Disgrace on him for mendacity about my metropolis,” Wu stated of Homan. “For having the nerve to insult our police commissioner, who has overseen the most secure Boston’s been in anybody’s lifetime. Carry him right here beneath oath, and let’s ask him some questions. I’m right here to ensure the town of Boston is secure. Others might need to carry hell. We’re right here to carry peace to cities in all places.”
Homan, after all, was not readily available to testify, regardless that he might shortly be bringing “hell” to Boston as he goes after violent, prison unlawful immigrants.
Wu, regardless of being fallacious on the difficulty, not solely had a superb day in Washington however on the similar time, had a superb day in Boston. That occurred when Josh Kraft, her mayoral opponent, confirmed up on the demonstration exterior of Metropolis Corridor between professional and anti sanctuary demonstrators.
Kraft got here down on the aspect of sanctuary cities.
Kraft, like Wu, is fallacious on the difficulty and fallacious on the politics of the difficulty as nicely. However Wu had a much better day.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas could be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
