It’s been a little over a week since Warren Mayor Jimmy
Fouts wrote his laughable guest column for The Macomb Daily in which he apologized
for using “inappropriate” language in a taped conversation with one of his
appointees. It’s time that I set the record straight.
Fouts wrote his laughable guest column for The Macomb Daily in which he apologized
for using “inappropriate” language in a taped conversation with one of his
appointees. It’s time that I set the record straight.
Fouts seems to believe that if he simply denies something
or publicly claims that the things written or said about him are untrue, that’s
the end of the story.
or publicly claims that the things written or said about him are untrue, that’s
the end of the story.
Beyond that, Fouts just doesn’t get it. It wasn’t merely
the language he used on that tape, it was the fact that his ranting sparked a
Michigan State Police investigation as he sounded like a thug, a gangster, who
excitedly expressed a desire to murder one of his political opponents with a
baseball bat. That is the type of man who is emerging in a series of taped
conversations that have been leaked to the media.
the language he used on that tape, it was the fact that his ranting sparked a
Michigan State Police investigation as he sounded like a thug, a gangster, who
excitedly expressed a desire to murder one of his political opponents with a
baseball bat. That is the type of man who is emerging in a series of taped
conversations that have been leaked to the media.
The latest revelation is the remarks he made about city
Treasurer Carolyn Moceri that were lewd, offensive and outrageous. Watch for an
upcoming news story in The Macomb Daily by Norb Franz that will explain that
situation.
Treasurer Carolyn Moceri that were lewd, offensive and outrageous. Watch for an
upcoming news story in The Macomb Daily by Norb Franz that will explain that
situation.
His Honor is well known for his hard-nosed, harassing
ways with city employees. Yet, in his Op-Ed column he disingenuously wrote: “Threats
and intimidation are not ways to create a harmonious work environment.”
ways with city employees. Yet, in his Op-Ed column he disingenuously wrote: “Threats
and intimidation are not ways to create a harmonious work environment.”
Compare that bit of pontification to what former
assistant city attorney Jeff Schroder, once a Fouts ally, wrote on Facebook a
couple of weeks ago when The Macomb Daily reported on the first Fouts tape: “I have remained silent for too long. The Warren mayor is a
tyrant, a pathological liar, and a hypocrite. He’s spinning out of control and
I am tired of being mentioned in his paranoid rants. Three years of working for
him drove me right to the edge. This is
worst kind of person you could ever elect to public office because personal
vendettas control his agenda, and not the public good. There — now I feel
better … Rest assured, all of his nutty accusations are fabricated horsesh–
like everything else he says.”
assistant city attorney Jeff Schroder, once a Fouts ally, wrote on Facebook a
couple of weeks ago when The Macomb Daily reported on the first Fouts tape: “I have remained silent for too long. The Warren mayor is a
tyrant, a pathological liar, and a hypocrite. He’s spinning out of control and
I am tired of being mentioned in his paranoid rants. Three years of working for
him drove me right to the edge. This is
worst kind of person you could ever elect to public office because personal
vendettas control his agenda, and not the public good. There — now I feel
better … Rest assured, all of his nutty accusations are fabricated horsesh–
like everything else he says.”
As for Fouts’ feeble attempts in his Op-Ed piece to
refute my column of April 28, the mayor demonstrates that he is in denial. His claims that in his recent State of the
City addresses he never criticized the governor, the attorney general or the
judiciary are bizarre. His comments were made in front of crowds of more than
400 people, and they were caught on videotape. Tapes, whether audio or video,
seem to be the mayor’s enemy.
refute my column of April 28, the mayor demonstrates that he is in denial. His claims that in his recent State of the
City addresses he never criticized the governor, the attorney general or the
judiciary are bizarre. His comments were made in front of crowds of more than
400 people, and they were caught on videotape. Tapes, whether audio or video,
seem to be the mayor’s enemy.
Now we know why the quirky mayor’s annual addresses seem
so mean-spirited – they’re a much more sanitized version of his usual thuggish
ways of acting in private.
so mean-spirited – they’re a much more sanitized version of his usual thuggish
ways of acting in private.
In his speeches, Fouts has coldly criticized the
governor, Legislature, attorney general and the judiciary, as well as officials
from neighboring Center Line and Sterling Heights and nearby Royal Oak. He has
belittled Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. He has called for the resignation of local
school superintendents. He said his 2011 election opponent, then-councilwoman
Kathy Vogt, was such a poor candidate that a dead guy’s name on the ballot
would have gotten more votes than she did.
governor, Legislature, attorney general and the judiciary, as well as officials
from neighboring Center Line and Sterling Heights and nearby Royal Oak. He has
belittled Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. He has called for the resignation of local
school superintendents. He said his 2011 election opponent, then-councilwoman
Kathy Vogt, was such a poor candidate that a dead guy’s name on the ballot
would have gotten more votes than she did.
What’s more, the mayor has his Foutsian ways of twisting
the facts so that they fit his narrative.
the facts so that they fit his narrative.
My column repeated the fact that two
years ago Warren Cable TV’s video of the State of the City caught a woman in
the crowd sarcastically chuckling at one of Fouts’ remarks.
years ago Warren Cable TV’s video of the State of the City caught a woman in
the crowd sarcastically chuckling at one of Fouts’ remarks.
The mayor responded by tracking down
who she was and berating her employer (located outside the city) because this
worker failed to show proper respect for the mayor.
who she was and berating her employer (located outside the city) because this
worker failed to show proper respect for the mayor.
The mayor knows this is true. Yet, in
his Op-Ed last week he wrote that it’s “ridiculous” to suggest such a thing
ever happened. The moribund mayor explained that he likes to use humor in his
speeches and enjoys when the audience laughs.
his Op-Ed last week he wrote that it’s “ridiculous” to suggest such a thing
ever happened. The moribund mayor explained that he likes to use humor in his
speeches and enjoys when the audience laughs.
Another silly response by His Honor
came in response to his over-the-top criticisms of the state’s new fireworks
law. “The law was changed following my objections,” he wrote. Uh, no, not even
close. The law was not changed; proposed amendments were hammered out several
days after Fouts wrote his rant; and the Warren mayor, based on his bizarre
critique of the law’s sponsor, state Rep. Harold Haugh, is the last person who
would have influence over the amendments.
came in response to his over-the-top criticisms of the state’s new fireworks
law. “The law was changed following my objections,” he wrote. Uh, no, not even
close. The law was not changed; proposed amendments were hammered out several
days after Fouts wrote his rant; and the Warren mayor, based on his bizarre
critique of the law’s sponsor, state Rep. Harold Haugh, is the last person who
would have influence over the amendments.
Haugh, a former fellow mayor, of Roseville,
played a lead role in crafting the amendments to his initial bill. One other
thing: The amendments barely address Fouts’ complaints and the mayor will
certainly oppose them.
played a lead role in crafting the amendments to his initial bill. One other
thing: The amendments barely address Fouts’ complaints and the mayor will
certainly oppose them.
Finally, we have the eccentric mayor’s
outrageous allegation that I somehow advocate suicide – in particular his
suicide.
outrageous allegation that I somehow advocate suicide – in particular his
suicide.
What I wrote was that, if Fouts, a
longtime politician, sees his career ruined by these controversies, “someone
should keep a close eye on him.
longtime politician, sees his career ruined by these controversies, “someone
should keep a close eye on him.
“Fouts without a political spotlight
is more than just a man in the dark.
is more than just a man in the dark.
“While many chuckle about Fouts’
misfortune, in all seriousness and with all due respect, it should be
remembered that Warren also has a history of politicians who have chosen death
over disgrace.”
misfortune, in all seriousness and with all due respect, it should be
remembered that Warren also has a history of politicians who have chosen death
over disgrace.”
I realize that was a controversial piece of writing but
here is how Fouts interpreted my remarks:
“… Since I had disgraced myself, I should consider suicide.”
here is how Fouts interpreted my remarks:
“… Since I had disgraced myself, I should consider suicide.”
The Foutsian nonsense continued as he suggested that I
believe suicide is an acceptable alternative to withstanding a political
downfall. From there, the mayor arrived at the conclusion that I was sending a
terrible message to kids: “There are too many teens who make that terrible
decision.”
believe suicide is an acceptable alternative to withstanding a political
downfall. From there, the mayor arrived at the conclusion that I was sending a
terrible message to kids: “There are too many teens who make that terrible
decision.”
What kind of chief executive is Fouts? He chose a public ceremony
attended by several hundred people to mark the National Day of Prayer to
complain about the tapes and the press coverage he had received.
attended by several hundred people to mark the National Day of Prayer to
complain about the tapes and the press coverage he had received.
As I write this, the weirdness that is Jim Fouts lingers
in the background. Franz is across the newsroom trying to conduct a phone interview
with the mayor about the latest tape (the remarks about Moceri) and Fouts is
interrupting at every turn. Once again, the delusional mayor believes that a
small cadre of Macomb Daily reporters starts each day with a strategy session
on “How do we damage Jim Fouts today?”
in the background. Franz is across the newsroom trying to conduct a phone interview
with the mayor about the latest tape (the remarks about Moceri) and Fouts is
interrupting at every turn. Once again, the delusional mayor believes that a
small cadre of Macomb Daily reporters starts each day with a strategy session
on “How do we damage Jim Fouts today?”
Maybe His Honor should stop whining about taped
conversations that he doesn’t want to be made public and stop blaming others
for his problems and start living by the words of his hero, Harry Truman, who
famously said, “The buck stops here.”
conversations that he doesn’t want to be made public and stop blaming others
for his problems and start living by the words of his hero, Harry Truman, who
famously said, “The buck stops here.”
In the meantime, the mayor is starting to sound a bit irrational,
a bit paranoid, kind of like a different ex-president: Richard Nixon.
a bit paranoid, kind of like a different ex-president: Richard Nixon.
Shame on Fouts for choosing a National Day of Prayer public event to air dirty political laundry!
What about the gun?
Quit stealing my work off the "Warren Forum" or at the very least give me the credit for statements such as "The buck stops here". I posted that on the Forum before your piece.
Check out my last post on the Forum, I think you'll enjoy that one also.
Excellent blog. Many of the things I've been stating for a very long time now.
Again this mental midget tries to deflect and blame others for his vile comments. Why can't he be a man and admit what he did. And does he really think anyone will want his endorsement in 2015? Talk about denial.
Chad what are the chances this article will make it to the print edition???? Frank Vogt
Richard Nixon? Naw. Even on his worst day Nixon was never recorded as wanting to have his political enemies killed.
Thank you for this description of Mr. Fouts, Mayor of Warren. Third largest city in Michigan. It is accurate it is profound and it is right on. We who did not vote for this man have been embarassed by his leadership and his actions for over 30 years as he climbed the council ladder from member to president of council and then to Mayor. What a disgrace he has been and it is so unbelievable that a man of such incredible ignorance of the law and how to be a leader has risen to be where he is. And now he is visable again after not being taken down by his actions the past few years,,, and is in the news talking through his A-hole about Prop 1 on the ballot. He knows it will pass and he being the only opponent knows that will give him TV time,,,, because he will be running again and wants his face to be out there getting the old folks to support him again. He has folks around him who are politically savey about how to minipulate the public… When is he going to be charged with his threats his lying his behavior???