Politics

Lengel: Warren Mayor Fouts' Remarks Are a Critical Test in This Trump Era

January 17, 2017, 4:01 PM by  Allan Lengel

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Warren Mayor James Fouts (file photo)

These are not good days for Warren Mayor James Fouts, who finds himself standing in a pile of something very unpleasant.  

Can he survive this onslaught of outrage and resignation demands in light of the latest recordings made public by Motor City Muckraker that have him comparing black people to chimps and calling elderly women “dried-up cunts?”

In the old days, such a damaging disclosure may have been enough to shame a politician in a major metro area to step down.

But these are very different times. These days, political correctness is viewed by some as a stupid liberal imposition, even when it comes to the use of the n-word or saying disparaging things about Mexicans or Muslims.

During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump called Mexicans rapists. He made fun of a disabled New York Times reporter. He was heard on a tape telling TV personality Billy Bush that stardom enables him to walk up to women and “grab 'em by the pussy.” The fact Bush was perceived as being complicit in the conversation was enough to cost him his job at NBC. Trump went on to become president.

Which brings us to Fouts, who denies actually saying these terrible things -- though it sure sounds like him. He says it’s all a set-up to sabotage his job. 

He says he’s doing a great job as mayor  -- which he may be -- and has no plans to leave. That means the citizens of Warren will have to launch a recall if they want to get rid of him.

The operative word is “if.” In the Trump era, the Fouts’ case is a good test of where we stand.

Do we care enough? Do we as society hold our politicians to a high standard when it comes to words? Has the Trump era desensitized us? Does some level of political correctness still apply?  

The people of Macomb County spoke in November.

Let’s see how the residents of Warren react now. 



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