Boston Mayor Michelle Wu did just fine.
Her antagonists on the House Oversight Committee, out to paint Boston as a haven for criminal illegal immigrants, hardly laid a glove on her.
And when they did during Wednesday’s Washington hearing on sanctuary cities denying or limiting cooperation with ICE, she gave back as good as she got.
Wu, though, had an advantage that none of the three other mayors testifying had — New York Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Not only was she the only women mayor to testify, but she brought with her the “Three F’s.” They are her religious faith, which was symbolized by the smudge of an Ash Wednesday cross on her forehead; traditional family values, by bringing her 1-month-old baby to the hearing; and the flag, by describing herself as the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants who loves America.
Who can top that?
In addition, the hearing was held on Ash Wednesday, the Roman Catholic and Christian holy day of reflection and repentance and the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer and fasting that leads to Easter Sunday.
When the priest applies the ashes, he reminds the receiver that “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.”
Not that Ash Wednesday and Wu’s ashes had anything to do with the hearing, although some nonbelievers on the committee may have found it unsettling or even intimidating.
But maybe they did so because it was an open sign of her Christian faith, which may have contributed to her appearance of confidence, balance and serenity throughout the long hearing.
The ashes certainly set her apart as she appeared to be one of the few in the room with ashes; some committee members had them, and they were prominent every time the television cameras centered on her.
Whether her wearing the ashes was part of a committee appearance strategy recommended by her highly paid consultants or not, it clearly gave her an edge, as did having the baby on board.
As tough and, at times, cynical as some of the questions that came from scoffing Republicans were, no one dared comment on the ashes or on having the baby around.
If Committee Chairman James Comer expected Wu to be the weak link among the four mayors, he had to be disappointed. She turned out to be the most articulate.
And rather than get into any confrontation with Comer or any other Republicans on the committee who are deadly opposed to sanctuary cities, Wu skillfully made it a fight between her, the petite but articulate mayor, and the heavy-handed Tom Homan, the deporter-in-chief.
An example was when she went after Border Czar Homan for describing Boston as a sanctuary for violent criminal illegal immigrants, for his threats to bring “hell” to Boston and for his attacks on Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
Homan, among other things, said earlier that Cox should turn in his badge. “You forgot what it’s like to be a cop,” Homan said.
“Shame on him for lying about my city,” Wu said of Homan. “For having the nerve to insult our police commissioner, who has overseen the safest Boston’s been in anyone’s lifetime. Bring him here under oath, and let’s ask him some questions. I am here to make sure the city of Boston is safe. Others may want to bring hell. We are here to bring peace to cities everywhere.”
Homan, of course, was not on hand to testify, even though he may shortly be bringing “hell” to Boston as he goes after violent, criminal illegal immigrants.
Wu, despite being wrong on the issue, not only had a good day in Washington but at the same time, had a good day in Boston. That happened when Josh Kraft, her mayoral opponent, showed up at the demonstration outside of City Hall between pro and anti sanctuary demonstrators.
Kraft came down on the side of sanctuary cities.
Kraft, like Wu, is wrong on the issue and wrong on the politics of the issue as well. But Wu had a far better day.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
