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U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., holds a news conference in the parking lot of Palo Verde High School before a rally for Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan at the school, Aug. 14, 2012. Berkley is running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev.
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
- Heller, Berkley, tout business endorsements (08-10-2012)
- Heller, Berkley duel takes to Spanish-language airwaves (08-02-2012)
- Berkley, Heller increasingly rely on out-of-state donors (07-26-2012)
- Heller-Berkley worthy successor to Reid-Angle (06-13-2012)
- More Sun political news
The idea seemed good to Democrat Shelley Berkley’s campaign at the time: Hold a news conference in front of the Social Security building in Reno to hammer home the accusation that Republican Dean Heller wants to end Medicare and privatize Social Security.
Unfortunately for Berkley, all manner of obstacles from angry security guards to the Heller campaign and even Mother Nature conspired to block that message from getting through.
Although it’s common practice for campaigns to set up a counter-rally at an opponent’s event, they rarely encroach on the actual space being used for a news conference.
But repeating the tactic they used in Las Vegas just one day earlier, Heller’s supporters showed up en masse with a slew of campaign signs — including one measuring 5 feet in width — and crowded into the backdrop of Berkley’s news conference.
Sen. Dean Heller is shown during a dedication ceremony for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Las Vegas Medical Center (VASNHS) in North Las Vegas Monday, August 6, 2012.
Although it was Berkley’s event, her supporters were a fraction of the number that Heller’s camp turned out, meaning Heller signs outnumbered Berkley signs. One miffed Berkley supporter complained it was a "slimy tactic."
Heller's group was so large that supporters spilled onto the grounds of the Social Security Administration building, prompting security guards to push the entire event onto a narrow sidewalk in front of the building. (Political events aren’t allowed on federal grounds.)
When she arrived, Berkley politely greeted supporters from both campaigns and thanked them for attending.
Then, as heavy traffic whizzed by inches from reporters’ backs and Heller supporters stood silently in the backdrop, Berkley did her best to deliver her prepared remarks.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Berkley said, accusing Heller of protecting tax breaks for oil companies. “The big guys don’t need our help; they’re doing just fine. … He is playing for the wrong team.”
Meanwhile, Berkley’s staff continued trying to placate the antsy security guards, holding them at bay while she finished her remarks.
Berkley’s Democratic strategist, Zac Petkanas, said the Heller campaign’s tactics hardly fazed Berkley. But he argued the tactic represents “an escalation” of aggressive behavior on the part of Heller’s camp.
“Look, she can handle anything; it actually motivates her,” Petkanas said. “However, I have never seen the level of disrespect for personal space for a campaign that I saw from the Heller campaign.”
Heller’s spokeswoman, Chandler Smith, said supporters simply took advantage of an opportunity.
“The public press conference presented an opportunity for volunteers to quietly and respectfully express their support for Dean Heller, which is a perfectly fair and normal activity in any campaign,” she said.
When it was time for questions at the event, the first one had nothing to do with Berkley's message of the day.
“Why here? This is crazy! I can’t even hear you!” the first reporter called out.
“It’ll never happen again!” Berkley responded.
And as questions were just wrapping up, almost as if on cue, it began to rain.
So Rochelle, it's OK for you to disrupt a Paul Ryan appearance but now when it's done to you, it's sleazy. Oh, such a shame. You deserve what you get.
What's the old saying? What goes around, comes around! Shades of the Senate race in 2010 when Sue Lowden was stalked by the chicken! Demorats didn't seem to mind that type of intrusion. Now Scary Shelley is getting a little bit of the same treatment although no chicken. Come on Demorats, this is typically your game plan, don't like it in reverse do you?
What an amazing day!! Two stories where the dumbocrats get it stuck to them. God Bless America!! (if he exists :))
Something calling itself "BCDave" starts out by lying about it's identity and then complains that Paul Ryan was disrupted (I assume it means in Iowa though it doesn't make this clear). Would that be the Paul Ryan who voted for TARP? I thought a true conservative would vote to let business fail? Doesn't this make him a hypocrite?
As for Ms. Berkley's appearance, boorish behavior is widely apparent on the right and much less so on the left. It is the media busy making a false equivalency argument.
It just got better!! Mschaffer is in full delusion mode. Why do you care what somebody calls themselves? The left invented idiotic protests..... nice to see revisionist history in action.
As Ms. Damon noted, we Heller supporters were silent before, during, and after the Congresswoman's press conference. We were also silent while being scolded by a couple of Berkley's supporters before the event.
Ms. Damon made a couple of minor errors in her story, however: The lectern was set up on the sidewalk before the Heller supporters and reporters arrived, and the sign was eight feet long.
The hellar supporters were paid and bussed in.
just like the fake supports in florida who stopped the vote recount.
there is no free elections in the US any more. They are run by money and special interests.
And this is just another example.
This is just an example of repugnican job creation- fake jobs of fake support.
I really hate this, no matter which side is doing it. I don't mind the protests outside a building or whatever, but this kinda thing or what happened to Paul Ryan at the Iowa fair earlier this week is just "low-class".
Let the candidates speak ask them hard questions, but let them respond.
Bob****************************************** Speaking of issues when is sleaze going to release his tax returns? Fr what I and more reliable sources know sleaze has been working for the gov for 40 yrs and has a net worth of between $5-10 M . He says because of good investments. i bet. The land deal was one of them . Also having some inside info on some stocks (which was legal until recently) Speaking of busing how about this ILLEGAL act(amnesty) that was done without approval of Congress ?Do u think it will generate votes for the Community Organizer? As for job creation the true #s for jobs under BO is minimal if any . We have an unemployment of 20% (true unemployment) and this man has the CHUTZPAH to say he has created jobs? Give me a break!!!!
The FACT remains, Dean Heller Voted TWICE to privatize Medicare and turn it into a Coupon System. He can SAY whatever he wants now, however it's ALL about the way he VOTED to Privatize Medicare in the HOUSE and SENATE as the ONLY Washington Politician to do so. Don't get fooled a Third Time.
Bob365,
We were all unpaid volunteers, and we arrived in our own cars. We're retirees, middle-aged folks with flexible work schedules, and a few college Republicans, and we all either received an email that morning or a call from a friend.
Despite the fact that we heard about the press conference only four hours before it began, we outnumbered Berkley's supporters by nearly two to one. Passion to elect Republicans is what got us out there, and good feelings about a job well done our only remuneration.
It is important for Berkley to go to the US Senate.
There is tons of work to be done.
Her husband needs more money.
She should release her tax statements to show how much money she kept flowing into her family hands by harassing government officals not to cut rates for kidney programs.
Come on....release your tax statements for the past two years.
I'm disturbed by anyone who rudely interrupts a speaker. Civility has disappeared from our political discourse. It's gotten worse since the Tea Party arrived on the scene.
Well Mark Schaffer moron, if you truly followed local issues, you would know that Rochelle strategically held a press conference outside Palo Verde High School before Paul Ryan spoke. Of course you are not that educated, only hear what the left wing nuts tell you to do, and probably are one of the many Clark County residents who not only do not vote, but do not register for fear of jury duty.
Well Reno is backwards and therefore has a majority of registered Republicans. They are welfare queens taking more from the state coffers than they put in and shortchanging the South. As Dave Raulino notes Republicans have "passion" and "feelings" but it is too bad they don't do any critical thinking.
Heller and Berkley are both borrow and spenders. Heller pretends like he's a fiscal conservative, but check out his website and see if he has anything resembling an actual plan to balance the budget.
Ernie Floyd and his pot farm pot car and the DEA raid on Heller House should be brought up. Heller wants to destroy medicare with the von Ryan plan and cause seniors to die from lack of medical care.
"Well Reno is backwards . . ."
And whose county commissioner gets drunk and shoots at trees in his backyard?
And how many politicians from the north have been thrown in prison while in office?
And whose education stats bring down the scores for the entire state?
And what city does the medical school dean choose to live in, hire after hire?
I could go on and on . . .
Trying to silence those who disagree with you is un-american. Stay classy Nevada!
Now we know what Oliver Hardy would look like wearing a pink suit.
And is that makeup she's wearing for an audition in a clown act?
Jeez...having one embarassing Harry Reid in the Senate is enough.
Mark Schaffer writes, "Well Reno is backwards and therefore has a majority of registered Republicans. They are welfare queens taking more from the state coffers than they put in and shortchanging the South."
Wall, ah gess theres no foolin' you 'bout us here Reno rez'dents.
Resorting to insults, Mark? When I left the Silicon Valley for Northern Nevada, I thought I'd also be leaving these silly regional rivalries behind.
Nope Dave,
Just acknowledging reality. Countrywide the states that receive more money from the federal government than they pay in are strongly Republican. The Northern part of Nevada has always taken more from the state coffers than you put in so, collectively, you are are welfare queens. The rural part of Nevada benefits quite a bit from federal spending so, far from "standing on your own feet", the rurals are welfare queens as well. Deal with it.
Reno-Dave, Insults are all Mschaffer has. He is scared to death his honey-wagon gravy-train welfare existence will come to end when Obama gets the boot.
I do find it reprehensible that Obama is going to Reno yet again, because, according to Mschaffer it's the parasite of NV.
Mschaffer's delusions know no boundaries.
"good feelings about a job well done our only remuneration."
Never has the payoff for the support of Republicans and their self serving, hypocritical policies by average Americans been articulated with more sad and unfortunate clarity.
"Never has the payoff for the support of Republicans and their self serving, hypocritical policies by average Americans been articulated with more sad and unfortunate clarity."
So let me get this straight:
If we had been paid (we weren't,) that would be bad.
If we do it because we think it's the right thing to do, and we feel good afterwards for following our strategy of showing our colors without infringing on Con. Berkley's right to speak, that is also bad.
Some kind of logic, huh?
I get a kick out the Democrats saying the protesters were paid to go there..... that is what the Dems do all the time. Even the scumbag unions hire hobos to walk the picket line. Priceless...just priceless.
They can't get their heads around somebody willingly going and protesting.
I am a member of HELLER'S HOBOES, a rapid strike force available to break up opposition candidate rallies and press conferences. We are a un-employed group that is on-call 24/7. Whenever Elder Heller calls, we turn off Fox News and Rush Limbaugh and respond. We believe in all right wing memes, fears and superstitions and will drown out the free speech of any opposition. We believe in the supremacy of Elder Heller, Elder Romney and the white peoples Republican party.
Yours in Christ,
Rob Whitetrash - Pahrump Deluxe Trailer Park
If Berkley isn't smart enough to know that the plan the Republicans and Heller support would actually SAVE Social Security and Medicare, then she deserves to get shouted down. Sick of loonie leftists lying.
Another dumb move by a politician. You cannot hold a political rally at a Federal Governemnt Office. This liberal is what wrong with government. She has no idea that the government is going bankrupt and MEDICARE will be insolvent in 12 years. America is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends, most of it from our pals the Communist Chinese. The recommended changes to Medicare and Social Security will not effect anyone over 55 and those on the program will see no changes, younger people will have other options..
Berkley Says,
"The big guys don't need our help; they're doing just fine. " He is playing for the wrong team."
So where all the people in the stands oil company execuitives? It's funny how democrats say that the republicans are only for the 1%. If that were true, you wouldn't need to give your speeches, you would already have a landside victory.
Vote democrat so you can be told what to do, when to do it, and live by their rules. I'll pass, and I'm very far from a 1%er.
I will show my support for Ms. Berkley @ the polls...
and, as much as a vote 'for' Shelly, it will be a vote AGAINST the 'appointed one', Dean 'Hobo' Heller.
As far as I have been able to discern, Dean Heller hasn't had an original thought in decades.
He's a follower of all things TeaNutlican.
That's not 'leading', nor is it good for Nevada.
Don't forget to REGISTER TO VOTE!
I registered online, and it was quick & painless!
http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/elect...
let's be realistic. Most people are Republicans because they dream of being in the 1%, no matter how far from reality that notion is for them. If Republicans really were for less government, they would be pro-choice and pro-gay marraige. The current "Republicans" preach about individual freedoms, but it appears the only one they really care about is the right to have assault rifles, armor piercing bullets, and bullet proof vests.
This isn't going to happen to Heller as he is always bunkered doen in his offices and never does this type of event.
Oil companies don't get any more tax breaks than any other company. A lie almost as tired as Shelley looks.