With terrible timing, Wu blunders on crime
'My condolences and all of our thoughts,' she said as the cameras rolled, 'are with the family of the individual whose life has been lost.' She used her opening words not to praise the quick-thinking cop who likely prevented one or more homicides, not to reassure the public that Boylston Street was safe, not to express compassion for the two people who were nearly stabbed — not even to announce that, as with all police killings, an investigation was immediately being opened.
Get The Gavel
A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Enter Email
Sign Up
No: Wu's first instinct was to offer condolences for the knife-wielding aggressor who had been killed before he could commit homicide.
Advertisement
As a matter of simple empathy, it is natural to offer words of comfort to the loved ones of someone who has died suddenly and terribly. Whatever wrongdoing Jaramillo may have been involved in, there is no reason to be unkind to his family as they
Advertisement
Even before the shooting, Wu was scheduled to appear Wednesday at a high-stakes hearing on Capitol Hill. She has been summoned, along with the mayors of New York, Chicago, and Denver, to testify Wednesday before the US House Oversight Committee about the city's so-called sanctuary policy and its impact on public safety. The committee's Republican majority has been touting the hearing as a showdown that will link the Democratic mayors to dangerous crimes committed by immigrants without legal status.
In reality, Boston is not notorious for harboring criminal offenders;
Advertisement
I doubt that Wu intended to suggest she cares more about criminals than about victims. But it isn't hard to understand how such a subtext could be inferred. Expressing sympathy is a natural human response, but the wrong context and timing can transform a moment of compassion into a political liability. Wu's words reinforced that Democrats and progressives have
But the mayor's miscalculation on Boylston Street is a reminder that in our unforgiving political climate, every utterance can ignite partisan flames. Now, her impending congressional appearance becomes even more daunting. With critics poised to seize on every nuance, she faces the double challenge of defending both her policies
and
her lapse in judgment.
To subscribe to Arguable, Jeff Jacoby's weekly newsletter, visit
.
Jeff Jacoby can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
19 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Protesters crowd into streets, parks and plazas at anti-Trump ‘No Kings' demonstrations across US
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Demonstrators crowded into streets, parks and plazas across the U.S. on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump before a Washington military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary that coincides with the president's birthday. Atlanta's 5,000-capacity 'No Kings' rally quickly reached its limit, with thousands more demonstrators gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. In Minnesota, organizers canceled demonstrations as police worked to track down a suspect in the shootings of two Democratic legislators and their spouses. Intermittent light rain fell as sign-carrying marchers gathered for the flagship rally in Philadelphia's Love Park. They shouted 'Whose streets? Our streets!' as they marched to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they listened to speakers on the steps made famous in the movie 'Rocky.' 'So what do you say, Philly?' Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland shouted to the crowd. 'Are you ready to fight back? Do you want a gangster state or do you want free speech in America?' In some places, organizers handed out little American flags while other demonstrators brought larger versions to wave amid signs that ranged from pro-democracy and immigrant-rights messages to a variety of anti-Trump sentiments. In Los Angeles, thousands gathered in front of City Hall, hundreds gathered on the lawn in front of Mississippi's state Capitol and marchers in downtown Little Rock walked across a bridge over the Arkansas River. Protests were planned in nearly 2,000 locations across the country, from city blocks and small towns to courthouse steps and community parks, organizers said, but no events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will take place in the evening. The 50501 Movement orchestrating the protests says it picked the 'No Kings' name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. The demonstrations come on the heels of protests that flared up across the country over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire. Philadelphia Thousands gathered in downtown Love Park, with organizers handing out small American flags and many people carrying protest signs saying things like 'fight oligarchy' and 'deport the mini-Mussolinis.' Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse who drove up from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with a large group of people showing her support. 'I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,' she said. She is concerned about the Trump administration's layoffs of staff at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fate of immigrant communities and the Trump administration trying to rule by executive order, she said. A woman wearing a foam Statue of Liberty crown brought a speaker system and led an anti-Trump sing-along, changing the words 'young man' in the song 'Y.M.C.A.' to 'con man.' One man in Revolutionary War era garb and a tricorn hat held a sign with a quote often attributed to Thomas Jefferson: 'All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.' Los Angeles Thousands gathered in front of City Hall in a boisterous crowd, waving signs and listening to a Native American drum circle and dance performances. Signs included 'Protesting is not a crime,' 'We carry dreams not danger' and 'ICE out of LA.' One demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tall (60-centimeter) Trump pinata on a stick, with a crown on his head and sombrero hanging off his back. North Carolina Crowds cheered anti-Trump speakers in Charlotte's First Ward Park and chanted 'we have no kings' before marching behind a 'No Kings' banner through the city, chanting 'No kings, no crowns, we will not bow down' and 'Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go.' Marchers stretched for blocks, led by a group of people holding a giant Mexican flag and bystanders cheering and clapping for protesters along the way. Jocelyn Abarca, a 21-year-old college student, said the protest was a chance to 'speak for what's right' after mass deportations and the deployment of the National Guard to deal with protesters in Los Angeles last week. 'If we don't stop it now, it's just going to keep getting worse,' she said of the Trump administration's actions. Minnesota Before organizers canceled demonstrations in the state, Gov. Tim Walz took to social media to issue a warning after the shootings . 'Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,' he wrote. Florida About a thousand people gathered on the grounds of Florida's old Capitol in Tallahassee, where protesters chanted, 'This is what community looks like,' and carried signs with messages like 'one nation under distress' and 'dissent is patriotic.' Organizers of the rally explicitly told the crowd to avoid any conflicts with counterprotesters and to take care not to jaywalk or disrupt traffic. Organizers say that one march will go to the gates of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis warned demonstrators that the 'line is very clear' between peaceful demonstration and violence, and not to cross it. Urging calm and calling out the National Guard Governors and city officials vowed to protect the right to protest and to show no tolerance for violence. Some urged calm, while Republican governors in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri were mobilizing National Guard troops to help law enforcement manage demonstrations. There will be 'zero tolerance' for violence, destruction or disrupting traffic, and 'if you violate the law, you're going to be arrested,' Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told reporters Friday. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe issued a similar message, vowing to take a proactive approach and not to 'wait for chaos to ensue.' Some law enforcement agencies announced they were ramping up efforts for the weekend. On social media, Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, called for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure Trump doesn't send military to the state. 'Donald Trump wants to be able to say that we cannot handle our own public safety in Washington state,' Ferguson said. ___ Associated Press journalists across the country contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Hill
21 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump, lawmakers react to ‘horrific' shooting of Minnesota legislators
Top leaders condemned a Saturday attack on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers as party tensions boil across the country. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband were killed and State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot multiple times in a 'politically motivated' attack that was condemned by elected officials on both sides of the aisle. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,' President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 'God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!' he added. Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to investigate the incident and prosecute those involved to the fullest extent under the law while GOP leaders wrote Saturday posts on social media echoing the president's outrage. 'Horrified at the events unfolding in Minnesota. Kimberley and I are praying for the loved ones of the state lawmaker and her husband who were assassinated and the state senator and his wife who were also injured in this assassination attempt,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote on X. 'Political violence has no place in our nation.' Former Vice President Harris said she was 'devastated by the loss of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a horrifying act of violence' in a post on X. 'Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in our nation. Elected officials must be safe to do their job on behalf of the people. The hate and division that dominate our political discourse must end,' she added. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said, 'Such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) shared an emotional statement during the Saturday briefing where he gave updates on the criminal investigation and mourned the loss of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a 'dearest' friend. 'Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,' Walz wrote on X, in a follow up post after the briefing. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) urged protestors to stay home while also commending Hortman for her service to the state. 'Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion,' Klobuchar wrote. 'Melissa's legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply,' she added. Authorities say Hortman and her husband were shot after opening the door for a man impersonating a police officer. State Sen. John Hoffman (D-Minn.) and his wife were shot under similar circumstances. 'We cannot tolerate allowing our political differences to explode into political violence that threatens our safety and our democratic form of government,' Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said in a post on X. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn) said the Saturday deaths left her 'devastated' by the heinous crime while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the tragedies were 'deeply disturbing' and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called in an 'assault on democracy.' 'We must give hate and extremism no safe harbor and we must all unite against political violence as a nation,' former President Biden said on X. DNC Chair Ken Martin also pleaded for peace. 'This senseless violence must end. These heinous murders are a reflection of the extremism and political violence that have been fomented in our country,' Martin said in a statement sent to The Hill. 'Lawmakers should be able to do their job without fear for their lives.
28 minutes ago
Trump admin live updates: Crypto, Bibles, properties -- how Trump made $600M in 2024
New financial disclosure forms were released Friday showing how much President Donald Trump made in income from his various personal businesses. Earlier this week, a new analysis from the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office released Thursday showed Trump's megabill would reduce resources for the poorest U.S. households by about $1,600 per year while households in the top 10% would see gains of about $12,000 per year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump also defended the mobilization of National Guardsmen and Marines to Los Angeles amid objections from Democrats about their domestic deployment. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Washington for a massive military parade to mark the Army's 250th birthday.
