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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 | 12:30 p.m.
Sun Archives
- More political stories
- Berkley continues to raise money from kidney care industry (07-27-2012)
- 2006: Inside the campaign (10-10-2006)
WASHINGTON — So far, Sen. Dean Heller has mostly left it up to his campaign to take shots at his Senate challenger, Rep. Shelley Berkley, over her pending ethics investigation.
But Berkley’s latest ad appears to have pushed him past the point of caring about such political niceties.
“The most unethical, corrupt person I’ve ever met in my life is Shelley Berkley,” Heller told reporters this afternoon in the Capitol.
Berkley’s campaign began airing an ad this week highlighting Heller’s past relationship with Eddie Floyd, a radio personality who was sentenced to four years behind bars for drug trafficking and laundering $175,000 through a front company.
“Meet Eddie Floyd, a crooked businessman who pled guilty to laundering drug money. A friend of Dean Heller’s,” the Berkley ad begins, after Berkley herself informs the viewers that she personally “approves this message.”
“Floyd bragged Heller was instrumental in speeding the process along to establish his business, and Heller promoted Floyd’s company, the company Floyd used to launder money,” the ad’s voiceover says. The ad also uses an old video clip of Heller introducing Floyd as “my good friend.”
Heller dismissed the ad as “just an old story” Wednesday and told reporters it was simply the Berkley Senate campaign’s “next tier of desperation.”
Making an ethics accusation is arguably dangerous territory for Berkley, who is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee. The probe is focused on whether her role in promoting policies on Medicare reimbursement rates for kidney care would have financially benefited her husband’s medical practice. She also joined with Heller and then-Rep. Jon Porter to urge the Bush administration not to shutter a kidney transplant program at Nevada’s University Medical Center, for which her husband’s medical firm has the sole contract.
Heller was quick to point out the irony.
“She’s saying that all these people that I know are corrupt and unethical? She’s the most corrupt and unethical person that I have met,” Heller said Wednesday, suggesting Berkley run an ad of him making that comparison.
It’s not the first time Democrats have tried to pin Heller to Floyd. Democrats brought up the claim in 2006, when Heller was running for Congress against Jill Derby. Heller denied close personal ties with Floyd then and now.
The closest Heller ever officially got to that case was when Drug Enforcement Administration officials seized a race car belonging to Floyd’s son that Heller had helped build. Authorities never tied him personally to the case.
Corrupt politicians?......anyone working in Washington for more than one term is suspect to me.
I well be voting for the one who well represent Nevada and look out for our needs and the needs of the country. The pot and kettle are both black!
I am disgusted at Heller's personal attack on Shelley Berkley. She has served our communities and stood up for those who need the support of an elected official in Washington. Shelley has saved lives in our community. What has appointed senator Heller done for Nevada? Nothing. Sitting on his hands voting NO to jobs - NO to healthcare - NO to Veterans - leaves Nevadans in to say Heller NO!
Heller would have us believe that Berkley "twisted arms to get federal dollars to bolster just her husband's business." In fact, her husband was among MANY who benefited (including patients), and her efforts were supported by the entire Nevada congressional delegation -- INCLUDING unelected Sen. Heller. Yes -- even Heller supported NOT shuttering the only kidney transplant facility in Southern Nevada. So, what is it that he prefers, that people needing medical treatment would have to travel to Southern Utah or Southern California? That wouldn't surprise me given that he voted for Mr. Ryan's Path to Poverty budget not just once, but twice AND voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act as well. So, here's my question for you, Mr. Heller: Are you in the business of trying to make it exceptionally difficult for people in need of health care to be able to get effective and quality care? Clearly, Ms. Berkley does NOT have that as her main goal in life.
I have known Ms. Berkley since her days as a Regent. She has always been the most personal and professional politician. When I was met her originally I was a young man, she treated me with respect. Over the years, our paths has crossed but the last time was ten years when she sent my parents condolences when my brother passed. She has my vote. It is nice to see a nice person choose to be in politics. Heller is what I hate about politics and politicians.
The last comment by(JP Cortez) is a paid adviser to Berkley. I think we should throw out all incumbents and start with a new page. I don't want too hear this Cr** about we need their experience and leadership. Senate leader Reid has been a Senator for 30 + yrs and has gotten to be a multimillionaire . Need I say more!
Shelly Berkley's ads states she is champion for the unemployed and foreclosures, if that is the case, Shelly Berkley why does Nevada lead the nation in both categories???? Berkley help pass Obamacare because her husband did benefit from its passing, the cost of healthcare did not go down, the price of million Americans insurance premium went up.
I have lived in Nevada since 1973, and have witnessed the careers of both Dean Heller and Shelley Berkley.
Dean Heller was a congressman for many years. He represented what I refer to as the "cow counties" in Nevada. He was appointed to the Senate by GOP Governor Brian Sandoval. He was not elected to the Senate. His prior constituency was GOP all the way, so his election, and reelection was guaranteed. Now, he must run against Ms Berkley STATEWIDE. There is a difference. The majority of the electorate is in Clark County, not the desolate region that supported Heller for Congress for many years.
Heller does not represent the majority of voters in this State. He does not represent the middle class, the working poor, women's rights and so on.
This has become the dirtiest campaign I have witnessed in many years. No talking on the issues, just sly and provocative "ads" slandering a REAL Congresswoman who has served Nevada admirably. I will vote wholeheartedly for Shelley Berkley, and with a clear mind. I know how she has worked tirelessly for Nevada, not just a knee jerk constituency in parts of Nevada that don't "get" the urban population that makes up the majority of voters in this state.
If Shelley Berkley is the most corrupt person Dean Heller has ever met, I would suggest that he needs to get out more. That being said, I will vote for Heller.
Bad politics. Mormons never have a kind word to say about anyone. We need to have better representation than Heller.
Am I the only one that wants to puke when he hears two little rich brats calling each other names? How the heck did we get two such undeserving people to vote for?
I guess Elder Heller hasn't met John Ensign, Jim Gibbons, Little Tark, Sue Lowden, Kathy Augustine, Elizabeth Halseth or Joe Heck at any Republican party gatherings, eh?
"Mormons never have a kind word to say about anyone."
Nothing hypocritical about someone that bashes a whole group of people they don't belong to, and yet they cry because their people were bashed. Not one democrat has said a kind word about one republican nor has one republican said one kind word about one democrat.
These are the "people" you have chosen to represent you. if you want change then start within your own party? Demand negative politics not be allowed and that politicians run on a platform.
Here is my take "idiots" never have a kind word to say about anyone and are the biggest hypocrites". Guess I'm an idiot, but what is your excuse?
In my opinion regardless of party it is improper and unethical to vote on an issue that benefits you, your friends, or your family financially, end of story!!!
This article is such a JOKE!!!!
Heller voted TWICE against medicare for us. He voted against the Violence Against Women act and he will vote to ensure we have NO HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND MAKE US ALL USE THOSE CRAPPY VOUCHERS THE GOP WANT TO PUSH ONTO US SO THEIR CEOs CAN MAKE MEGA-BUCKS OFF US!
These attacks are paid for by Karl Rove, the Koch Brothers and that Las Vegas BILLIONAIRE! The most corrupt shysters today!
VOTING FOR BERKLEY....VOTING FOR ANYONE EXCEPT HELLER!
I am entirely uncomfortable in letting Shelly Berkley be the face of Nevada in Congress.
Dean Heller distanced himself from fellow Mormon Mitt Romney today over the 47% video.
Can't fault the man for that.
Dean Heller deserves to be terminated. Look at his leader King Romney
We will not be able to straighten out this mess in congress unless Heller and Heck get thrown out of office.
signed one of the 47%
Shelly Berkley is far and beyond qualified to be a US Senator. Heller is not qualified to be anything more than he is; a shill for the elitist 1%'ers, and another career government moocher. Let's vote this clown car passenger out of office, FOR GOOD.
BERKLEY FOR SENATE 2012.
Shelly Berkley is a terrible candidate. She must not be elected!
chaz, you don't know me. What I wrote, I wrote from my heart. What I wrote is what I meant. You don't know me from "Adam".
So Nick, if you don't like Mormons, did you vote for Harry Reid? I bet you did, if you even vote at all.
That would be a BI-partisan committee who put her under an ethics investigation. More than likely not the first time her conduct has raised eyebrows.
I've been "represented" by Berkley for more years than I can count and, as always, am disgusted by the fact. She has no morals, no ethics and no conscience. She does not and cannot dispute the fact that she suggested to her then boss, Sheldon Adelson, that he bribe Clark County commissioners with jobs for their relatives in order to "insure" his applications to build The Venetian would be approved. To his credit, Adelson told Berkley to not let the door hit her in her big fat rear end on the way out. Berkley is the poster girl of what is really wrong with Dumbocrats. They don't care about honesty, integrity, morals or ethics. As long as it fits their "entitlement" or their "execute the unborn" agenda, they are all for it and anyone who sides with them.
So when Mr Heller signed that letter next to Mrs Berkley was he involved in this corruption . If she is guilty of corruption so is he his name is on the letter right next to Mrs Berkley .
I guess Heller has never met the last 2 Clark County DAs.
Huh?!? I thought for sure he and Harry Reid had met before.
Dean Heller is an idiot.
Sorry, but that's the 'unvarnished truth.'