Michigan Sen. Rick Jones compares female PR political executive to hooker

January 5, 2012

Senator Rick Jones

January 05, 2012 By Susan J. Demas | MLive.com Contributor – Truscott Rossman founder Kelly Rossman-McKinney has asked Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) to look into the fact that Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) compared her to a prostitute.

In a MIRS story on Dec. 28, Rossman, head of a top Lansing public relations firm, named Jones and House Democrats as the biggest losers of the year, calling the senator “unavoidable for comment. He is all about the media release rather than the public policy.”

Jones then called and emailed MIRS with an unsolicited response to Rossman’s remarks: “As an elected Senator I am honored to fight on behalf of my constituents for the best public policy.  Unfortunately Kelly, like a ‘hooker’, works for whichever client hires her — policy be damned. She always gets worked up when I oppose her clients. Business must be tough. I find it funny that she took on a Republican partner.”

Kelly Rossman-McKinney

Rossman told MIRS that she has sent a letter to Richardville. “It just proves what I initially said that Rick Jones is unavoidable for comment,” she said. “Not only couldn’t he resist commenting, but he surpassed his own record for political incorrectness, sexism and tastelessness. All in all, typical Rick Jones.”

Jones told MIRS that he was surprised Rossman was offended. “She took a shot at me. I took a shot back. It was meant in humor,” he said.  Richardville spokeswoman Amber McCann has declined to comment.

However, Steve Linder, a key adviser to Richardville and owner of the political consulting firm Sterling Corp., fired back at Rossman later this week, suggesting her clients should get their money back.

“Lobbyists calling Senators losers?” said Linder. “I thought Kelly charged people to learn how to effectively lobby legislators. I’d ask for a refund.”

Jones’ comments comparing Rossman to a hooker have been criticized by many on Twitter.

He made the statement less than a month after Tea Party leader Joan Fabiano filed a formal Senate complaint against the senator for a Facebook message in which he asked if she used “head meds.” At Richardville’s request, Jones apologized to Fabiano.

“Senator Jones’ apology to me was anything but sincere and only done for political expediency and Senator Jones has a pattern of bullying women,” Fabiano said. “If there are other victims unknown at this time, I would urge them to come forward. And unless Jones receives strict consequences for his actions, the list of woman who are the victims of his bullying will continue to grow.”

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