Charlie Baker condemns Trump for lack of leadership

After spending much of his first two terms trying to steer clear of national politics, Gov. Charlie Baker jumped right in, condemning President Trump for a lack of leadership after Trump attacked Baker and other governors for being “weak” responding to rioting and looting.

Baker has often faced harsh criticism from Democrats for failing to speak out against Trump but on Monday the Republican governor did not hesitate, firing back at the president.

“I heard what the president said about dominating and fighting. I know I should be surprised when I hear incendiary words like this from him, but I’m not,” he said.

“At so many times during the past several weeks, when the country needed compassion and leadership the most, it was simply nowhere to be found. Instead we got bitterness, combativeness and self-interest.”

Growing emotional, Baker added, “This is not what we need in Boston, it’s not what we need right now in Massachusetts and it’s definitely not what we need across this great country of ours, either.”

The president derided governors in a videoconference call on Monday — a call in which Baker did not participate.

“Most of you are weak. You have to arrest people,” Trump said, responding to protests that turned violent in Boston and other cities in response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis Police officer.

“You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again,” said Trump. “We’re doing it in Washington, D.C. We’re going to do something that people haven’t seen before.”

Baker has often been pressed by the media and Democrats to respond to Trump’s many controversial statements, but the governor has staunchly resisted most of the attempts, saying he has no interest in playing national politics.

Asked why he didn’t speak out sooner against Trump, Baker replied, “I think my comments today kind of speak for themselves. I’ve spoken out more than once and probably more than many of my colleagues.”

Except for a statement released Sunday night, this was the first time Baker commented on the weekend of violence and riots across the country.

Baker did not make a public appearance since Friday even after the National Guard was called in Sunday to help Boston Police contain the violence and looting, which included dozens of stores being smashed in and police cars destroyed, including one that was set aflame by rioters.

“I think it was most appropriate to let the comments I made on Friday stand,” he said.

He made the comments about Trump during a press briefing on the reopening of some stores and day care centers in response to a decrease in cases of the coronavirus. But he was clearly ready to take questions about the violence that spread out across the city Sunday night.

Baker indicated that he approved the deployment of the National Guard, in consultation with city officials.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2XoDqWU